Return to Paradise spin-off Death in Paradise is back for its second season and once again, Mack and Glenn’s will-they-won’t-they takes centre stage.
In the season 1 finale, the detective overheard her former partner declaring his love for her, which wouldn’t have been remotely complicated had he not just gotten engaged.
“Confronting matters of the heart is Mackenzie’s blind spot – anything intellectually difficult, she storms toward; emotionally, she runs,” said lead Anna Samson.
“Episode 1 deals with how she chooses to respond to it all, with the question of what will happen between her and Glenn hanging over the second series. All I can say is it’s not simple, and it’s far from smooth sailing.”
And we wouldn’t want it any other way.
Tai Hara went on to say that his character is “completely unaware that Mackenzie’s heard him confess his feelings for her, so he’s just trying to move on and follow through on his wedding with Daisy.”
“So when she arrives back the very next day, it’s a whirlwind of emotions for him,” he added. “There’s this relief at the possibility for them to explore their unfinished business, but it also complicates his relationship with Daisy at the same time.
“Season 2 for Glenn is really this pursuit of trying to be a decent guy. He’s trying to do his best to remain loyal to both Mackenzie and Daisy.”
Yikes. Rather you than us, mate.
But who else will be joining them in the brand new episodes? And where have you seen them before?
Read more:
Find out about the Return to Paradise cast below.
Return to Paradise main cast
- Anna Samson as Mackenzie Clarke
- Tai Hara as Glenn Strong
- Lloyd Griffith as Colin Cartwright
- Catherine McClements as Philomena Strong
- Celia Ireland as Reggie Rocco
- Aaron McGrath as Felix Wilkinson
- Andrea Demetriades as Daisy Dixon
For more information about the characters and where you’ve seen the cast before, read on.
Anna Samson plays Mackenzie Clarke
Who is Mackenzie Clarke? A detective inspector with the Metropolitan Police in London who reluctantly returns to her hometown of Dolphin Cove in Australia – where she comes face to face with her ex, who she still has feelings for.
“She battles against community, emotion, love, and friendship – all things that we as human beings need; but she thinks she doesn’t,” said Clarke.
“So that’s where a lot of the drama and comedy comes from – and from her being placed back in the community that she left six years ago in quite extreme circumstances. She left someone at the altar. It’s no small thing to have to return to that, and she brings home with her a great sense of guilt. She’s pushing against all the emotions that being back home brings up – old places, memories, and relationships. She’s trying to push them down, but they have a habit of coming back up, don’t they?”
What else has Anna Samson been in? Most people know her as Mia Anderson in Home and Away.
Tai Hara plays Glenn Strong
Who is Glenn Strong? He’s a forensic pathologist and Mackenzie’s ex-fiancée. She abandoned him at the alter several years ago, but in the season 1 finale he admitted that he still loves her… to his dog.
“Season 2 for Glenn is all about building up to the wedding and then figuring out how to deal with the fact that Mackenzie hasn’t left town,” said Hara. “It’s an impossible situation, and we see how it plays out over the course of the series.
“Despite Glenn and Daisy being set to marry, there’s still so much left unsaid between him and Mackenzie.”
What else has Tai Hara been in? You probably know him from Home and Away. You might also recognise him from Colin from Accounts.
Lloyd Griffith plays Colin Cartwright
Who is Colin Cartwright? A detective constable who works closely with Mackenzie.
“Colin is the heart of the community,” said Griffith. “He’s a police officer. He’s been in Dolphin Cove for about five years. He loves the community. He loves the sense of togetherness and belonging. I think it’s something that he probably didn’t have back in England.
“They’ve really accepted him here. They love him. He’s got a slightly different accent, but you know, he pulls his sleeves up, literally and metaphorically, and he just gets stuck in.”
What else has Lloyd Griffith been in? He’s best known for Ted Lasso.
Catherine McClements plays Philomena Strong
Who is Philomena Strong? A senior sergeant. She’s also Glenn’s mum and was all set to be Mackenzie’s mother-in-law before she suddenly left.
Samson described the dynamic between Mackenzie and Philomena as “interesting”, adding: “They are two very strong, intelligent women who deeply respect and admire each other, but are at odds because of what Mackenzie has done.”
What else has Catherine McClements been in? Her credits include Rush, Water Rats and Tangle.
Celia Ireland plays Reggie Rocco
Who is Reggie Rocco? A police volunteer. Griffith described Ireland as “the funniest actor you’ll ever, ever, ever encounter”.
“She’s like the queen of corpse, she’ll just do something,” he added, “and she has this amazing way, like her eyes go when she knows the camera’s not on her.”
What else Celia Ireland has been in? She’s best known for All Saints and Wentworth.
Aaron McGrath plays Felix Wilkinson
Who is Felix Wilkinson? A police constable who is mostly paired with Reggie. He might be the younger one, but it’s Felix who’s often telling reggie to behave.
What else has Aaron McGrath been in? You might recognise him from Glitch, Ready for This, Gold Diggers, Preppers and Back to the Rafters.
Andrea Demetriades plays Daisy Dixon
Who is Daisy Dixon? A bartender at the beach club. Daisy is engaged to Glenn and their wedding is imminent.
“That love triangle between Glenn, Mackenzie and Daisy gets even more complicated,” teased Samson.
What else has Andrea Demetriades been in? She has appeared in Crownies, Janet King and Squinters.
Return to Paradise season 2 guest cast
Episode 1
- Ardal O’Hanlon (Death in Paradise, Father Ted, My Hero) as DI Jack Mooney – Mack’s boss back in London.
- Danielle Cormack (Shortland Street, Wentworth Prison) as Asher Svensson – she runs a company called Sharktech, which explores shark research to stop human ageing.
- Cameron Knight (Blue Bloods) as Brian Chandler – a senior scientist at Sharktech and one of the world’s leading shark experts.
- Michelle Lim Davidson (The Newsreader, Utopia) as Susie Huen – another Sharktech scientist.
- Damian Walshe-Howling (Janet King, Last King of the Cross) as Craig Park – head of operations and Asher’s husband.
- Greg Stone (Neighbours, Fake) as Damo Rocco – Reggie’s ex-husband. He despises Sharktech.
- Ron Smyck (Spiderhead) as Trevor Bongiovanni – a taxi driver who is friends with Glenn. He hates Mack.
Return to Paradise season 2 will start airing at 8pm on Friday 31st October on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
Add Return to Paradise to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more.
Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what’s on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
