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Ben Miller (The Armstrong And Miller Show, Primeval) has been cast to star alongside French film star Sara Martins (Tell No One, Little White Lies) in ambitious eight part drama series Death In Paradise. Authored by new television writer Robert Thorogood, the series is being produced by Red Planet Pictures and Atlantique Productions in association with ´óÏó´«Ã½ Worldwide and Kudos Film and Television for ´óÏó´«Ã½ One and France Télévisions, produced with support from the region of Guadeloupe.

Death In Paradise is a fish out of water story about a quintessential English cop posted to the Caribbean island of Sainte Marie. To anyone else it would be paradise, but for Detective Inspector Richard Poole (Miller) it's hell! Totally unsuited to the Caribbean way of life, Richard hates the sun, sea and sand and isn't used to their style of policing. But he is a brilliant detective whose first case on the island is investigating the murder of a British cop. Working with the exotic local Camille (Martins), each week Richard goes about solving an intricate and intriguing murder.

Ben Miller says: "Death In Paradise is my dream job: a fascinating character, great scripts, superb cast and shooting in the Caribbean with French catering."

The deal was brokered by ´óÏó´«Ã½ Worldwide who secured a co-production agreement with French public broadcaster France Télévisions. The series will be co-developed with both broadcasters for audiences in the UK and France.

Tony Jordan, Executive Producer, Red Planet Pictures says: "Death In Paradise will be a real treat for a ´óÏó´«Ã½ One audience, filmed in the Caribbean and starring Ben Miller alongside sexy French siren Sara Martins, I think our winters are about to get a little hotter."

Polly Hill the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Executive Producer and Head of Drama, England Indies adds: "Ben Miller is absolutely perfect for Richard, and we are thrilled to be introducing Sara Martins to a ´óÏó´«Ã½ One audience - together they promise to be an exciting and fiery pairing, and a real treat in the schedule."

This is the first time that France Télévisions is co-producing a drama series with the ´óÏó´«Ã½ and the collaboration between the broadcasters and Red Planet Pictures is taking place across all phases; script, production and casting. The filming is set to take place in Guadeloupe, a French overseas département and the post production will take place in London.

Sophie Gigon, Head of International Drama Co-productions France Télévisions says: "We are delighted with our principal cast, Sarah Martins and Ben Miller, who form a beautiful French-British couple, and will share great adventures together. Their team in Death In Paradise mirrors our France Televisions / ´óÏó´«Ã½ partnership: we are proud to have married them and impatient to see them evolve, episode after episode!"

Ben Donald, Executive Producer International Drama, ´óÏó´«Ã½ Worldwide says: "I am very pleased with the calibre of the cast brought together for Death in Paradise and both broadcasters are delighted with the English and French cast choices. Ben Miller and Sara Martins are perfect for the roles and will be real assets in helping sell the show around the world. This is a true collaboration in every sense."

Klaus Zimmermann, CEO, Atlantique Productions, comments: "With Death In Paradise we are realising the potential for cross border collaboration in drama between the UK and France, and the casting of Sara Martins and Ben Miller in the lead roles exemplifies this beautifully."

The stellar supporting cast will include: Lenora Crichlow (Being Human), Hugo Speer (Five Days, Fully Monty), Don Warrington (Rising Damp, Hamlet), Sean Maguire (Meet The Spartans) , Nicholas Farrell (Chariots of Fire, Collision), Matt Di Angelo (Hustle), Frances Barber (The Nativity), Robert Pugh (Master and Commander, The Shadowline), Miranda Raison (Spooks, Married Single Other) and Neil Stuke (Silk).

Filming is due to commence in spring. Commissioned by Ben Stephenson, Controller, ´óÏó´«Ã½ Drama Commissioning, executive producers are Tony Jordan for Red Planet Pictures, Polly Hill at the ´óÏó´«Ã½, Ben Donald for ´óÏó´«Ã½ Worldwide, Klaus Zimmermann for Atlantique Productions and Sophie Gigon for France Télévisions. Death in Paradise is a Red Planet Pictures/Atlantique Productions in association with ´óÏó´«Ã½ Worldwide and Kudos Film and TV for ´óÏó´«Ã½ and France Télévisions.

NOTES TO EDITORS
Death In Paradise is Robert Thorogood's first television screen credit, he was discovered through Red Planet Pictures annual writing competition 'The Red Planet Prize' and selected as one of the finalists who was then mentored by Executive Producer Tony Jordan and Simon Winstone (Head of Development).

Julia Holmes

RN (UK publicity)