‘Death in Paradise’ series 8 cast (Photo credit: BBC)

In keeping with the previous seven series of the hit BBC police comedy/drama Death in Paradise, there will be a number of new faces this year headed south to “paradise.”

Series 8 — which kicked off this past Thursday, January 10, on BBC One — stars Ardal O’Hanlon as DI Jack Mooney. He and his team at the Honoré Police Station investigate murder cases on the fictional Caribbean island of Saint Marie.

While Red Dwarf star Danny John-Jules has said goodbye to Saint Marie after his seven-series stint as Officer Dwayne Myers, there will be a number of instantly recognizable faces doing their best to avoid becoming either the weekly casualty or a suspect with their name on the whiteboard in police headquarters.

For series 8, viewers will immediately recognize:

• Charlotte Richie (Nurse Barbara in Call The Midwife)
• Richard James-Collier (Thomas Barrow in Downton Abbey)
• Anna Chancellor (Four Weddings and Funeral, The Hour, Pride and Prejudice, Downton Abbey, The Crown, Mapp and Lucia)

O’Hanlon, the star of Father Ted  and My Hero, joined the cast during series 6 replacing Love Actually star Kris Marshall (Detective Humphrey Goodman), who replaced Ben Miller (Detective Richard Poole).

Miller’s character was killed off in the first episode of series 3 while Marshall’s character left the island in the middle of series 6.

Additional guest stars for series 8 include:

• Blake Harrison (The InBetweeners, Prime Suspect 1973)
• Chizzy Akudolu (Holby City, Green Wing, Twenty Twelve)
• Rebecca Front (The Thick of It, Poldark, Midsomer Murders, Doctor Who, Humans)
• Richard Blackwood (Eastenders, Dancing on Ice 2019)

The new additions to the cast will soon come to the realization that “death” is far more prevalent on the island, making it less of a “paradise” than advertised. Considered the most murderous place in the world, the island will welcome Commissioner Patterson’s niece Ruby, played by Shyko Amos, to the Honoré Police Station for series 8.

Death in Paradise S8 continues Thursday nights on BBC One with a public television broadcast later in 2019.