Beyond Paradise season 3: Hugh Dennis and Steve Oram guest star in cast of episode 1
By Helen Fear | Wed Mar 26 2025Beyond Paradise returns with season 3, and the much-anticipated six-parter kicks off with a great guest cast list in episode 1.
The hit spin-off from Death in Paradise sees DI Humphrey Goodman and his fiancée Martha juggle the growing demands of their life by the Devon coast.
As well as their new family addition (see more below), there's obviously going to be a crime just around the corner... And not just any crime, the series kicks off with a murder...
Here's everything you need to know about episode 1 of Beyond Paradise season 3, including the fabulous guest cast.
What happens in Beyond Paradise season 3 episode 1?
DI Humphrey Goodman and his partner DS Esther Williams are called to investigate a murder as season 3 of Beyond Paradise kicks off.
Fans of the BBC One show will know that, unlike Death in Paradise which includes a murder every week, Beyond Paradise focuses on a broader range of cases. Crimes in 2023's season 1 included car thefts, art robberies, disappearances, and a spate of arson attacks.
However, series 3 DOES kill someone off. A synopsis tells us: "When a body is found in a river on the county border between Devon and Cornwall, Humphrey and Esther are forced to work alongside their Cornish counterparts.
"While their rivals are quick to brush off the death as a tragic accident, Humphrey's instincts tell him there may be more lurking under the surface."
Meanwhile, Martha (Sally Bretton) decides to expand the business by opening a new café, Martha's old flame Archie Hughes returns, and Martha and Humphrey must "overcome unexpected hurdles as foster parents" when they take charge of a nine-year-old girl.
Hugh Dennis guest stars as Arthur Donalan in the cast
Popular actor Hugh Dennis joins the cast of Beyond Paradise season 3 as intimidating local councillor Arthur Donalan, who has links to the dead man.
Of course, Hugh is arguably most famous for playing family man Pete Brockman in Outnumbered, a role he's played on and off from 2007 to the recent Christmas special in 2024.
He has also played Toby in Lee Mack's Not Going Out ever since series 7 in 2024.
While his character in Beyond Paradise is far from likeable, Hugh is actually best known for his funny, comedic roles, including Spitting Image impressions, and panel show appearances on shows such as Have I Got News for You, Mock the Week, QI, and Would I Lie To You?
Northamptonshire-born Hugh, 63, started out playing various characters in the Jasper Carrott sketch show, before becoming one half of the comedy double act Punt and Dennis, alongside Steve Punt.
Between 2000 and 2006, Hugh played Dr Piers Crispin in My Hero, before going on to portray Martin Frost in Ballot Monkeys, and the bank manager in Fleabag.
More recently, Hugh has proved himself more than capable of playing serious roles, including George Holden in McDonald & Dodds, and super-creepy Alan in Channel 5 thriller The Couple Next Door.
Steve Oram plays DI Jacob Tremayne
Actor Steve Oram, 51, joins the cast of Beyond Paradise season 3 as DI Jacob Tremayne, a Cornish copper who works alongside Humphrey and Esther on the murder investigation.
Killing Eve fans might remember the actor as vicar Phil, who came to a gruesome ending at the hands of Villanelle.
However, the Melton Mowbray-born actor is probably best known for some of his more comedic roles in the films Sightseers, and The World's End, as well as TV series Code 404.
He played Joseph Williamson in Doctor Who, Phil in The End of the F***king World, and Mick in Sally4Ever.
Other notable roles include blind Brian in the film Members Club, Duri in Dune: Prophecy, and Tony the taxi driver in the TV series Still Up.
More recently, Steve played the ill-fated Tony Jenkins in the cast of Silent Witness series 28 episode Vanishing Point. His character became very ill on a flight from Mumbai to London, causing Dr Nikki Alexander to leap into action.
DI Ray fans will also recognise Steve for playing DS Clive Bottomley in the recent 2024 series 2.
Jamie Barber returns as Archie Hughes in the Beyond Paradise cast
London-born actor Jamie Bamber, 51, returns to the cast as Archie Hughes, a role he first played in 2023's first series.
London-born actor Jamie, 51, is perhaps best known for his role as Captain Lee 'Apollo' Adama in Battlestar Galactica, or Matt Devlin in Law & Order UK.
He’s also famous for his roles as Dr. Matt Kendal in Peak Practice, Dr. Tyler Wilson in Monday Mornings, and Kev Allison in The Smoke.
From 2016 to 2018, he played DI Tim Williamson in Marcella, before winning a role as Col. Alexander Coltrane in Strike Back.
He subsequently played Sam Wright in the ITV drama Innocent opposite Katherine Kelly. More recently, Jamie has played Adam Haines in Signora Volpe, Archie Hughes in Beyond Paradise, and Harry King in Cannes Confidential.
In fact, he's had a prolific few years. In the past two years, he's portrayed DI Jim Armstrong in Netflix thriller Who is Erin Carter?, 4.2 in the Jon Voight film Strangers, and Charlie Morgan in The Wives...
Jamie Bamber also portrayed DCI Martyn Hunter in the cast of DI Ray on ITV. In series 1, Martyn was Rachita's boyfriend-turned-fiancée, a fellow cop she could confide him.
However, after a rather thrilling four episodes, he was exposed as a corrupt policeman, who had been feeding information to criminal Marcus Tranter. He then popped up in series 2, too - buy from behind bars.
Why wasn't Jamie Bamber's character in season 2?
Archie Hughes was absent from Beyond Paradise series 2. After his attempt to kiss Martha was rejected, he left Shipton Abbott. However, he's now back.
Fans will know the character was once engaged to Martha. Archie was the owner of three local vineyards, and the supplier of wine to Martha's café, Ten Mile Kitchen.
Like Martha, Archie grew up in Shipton Abbott, and went on to become a successful businessman. When Archie learned that Martha was having trouble pulling together the capital for her café, he suggested he could join her as a partner in the business...
Talking about his absence from series 2, actor Jamie told Digital Spy that he hadn't expected to return to the show.
He said: "Archie had a particular function in the first series, which was to create an obstacle in that central relationship and to be a bit of a fly in the ointment. Then I wasn't in the second season, which I totally didn't expect to be.
"So it was a surprise when [executive producer] Tim Key rang me."
The star said that he was "delighted to come back" - although we're not sure fans of the show will feel the same!
Gabby Best guest stars as DS Fenella Ford in the cast of Beyond Paradise
Actress Gabby Best joins the cast of Beyond Paradise season 3 as DS Fenella Ford, a policewoman from Cornwall.
She is perhaps best known for playing neighbour Angela Hudson in the Alan Carr semi-autobiographical comedy Changing Ends.
Gabby is also famous for Clare in Lily Allen TV series Dreamland, and Marijana in The Marijana Method, and the subsequent spin-off Cheap Cheap Cheap.
Other notable roles include Helga in Top Coppers, and Alice in I Want My Wife Back. Most recently, Gabby starred as Alison in Martin Freeman comedy Breeders.
Angela Curran is Angela Palmer
Lancashire-born actress Angela Curran, 66, portrays Angela Palmer in the cast of Beyond Paradise season 3.
She's been on our screens for five decades, and has even had her own one-woman Radio 3 show called Happy Talk in 2003.
The veteran actress recently played Norma in BBC One soap EastEnders, and is no stranger to soaps, having appeared in Doctors, Corrie, Casualty, and Holby.
Angela is perhaps best known for playing Caitlin Morgan in the cast of Doc Martin, alongside Martin Clunes, a role she played from 2009 to 2022.
She's also famous for portraying Mrs Hobbs in the children's TV show Waffle the Wonder Dog.
Other notable roles include Janette Hodgkins in The Job Lot, Geraldine in mockumentary Hospital People, Gillian in Rovers, Ruthie Glover in Dream Team 80's, and Jenny in Close to Home. Angela even played a pub landlady in Where the Heart Is, opposite Black Doves star Sarah Lancashire.
Who else stars in Beyond Paradise season 3 episode 1?
Series 3 will also be introducing Bella Rei Blue Stevenson. The young actress will play Rosie in the cast. Rosie is a new foster child for Martha and Humphrey. She's nine, and "brings more challenges than they anticipated".
It's Bella Rei Blue's first TV role.
Nathan Whatton stars as Niall Palmer. This is his first significant acting role. He's best known as a stunt performer and stunt double. He's been a stunt double since 2016 when he worked on Now You See Me 2. Nathan has done stunts for films including Dunkirk, Kingsman: The Golden Circle, Paddington 2, Ready Player One, 1917, Spider-Man: Far from Home, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, and Wicked. A pretty impressive list of films!
TV-wise, he's worked as a stuntman on Silo, Brave New World, Andor, Brassic, and The Regime.
His skills include kickboxing, up to 20m falls, gymnastics, rock climbing, diving, and roller-blading.
Beyond Paradise season 3 episode 1 full cast list:
Kris Marshall returns as DI Humphrey Goodman.
Sally Bretton is Martha Lloyd.
Zahra Ahmadi plays DS Esther Williams.
Dylan Llewellyn portrays PC Kelby Hartford.
Felicity Montagu stars as Margo Martins.
Barbara Flynn reprises her role as Martha's mum Anne Lloyd.
Melina Sinadinou is Zoe Williams.
Jamie Barber returns as Archie Hughes.
Jade Harrison stars as Chief Superintendent Charlie Woods.
Amalia Vitale portrays Hannah Owen.
Hugh Dennis plays Arthur Donalan.
Steve Oram guest stars as DI Jacob Tremayne.
Gabby Best plays DS Fenella Foster.
Angela Curran is Angela Palmer.
Bella Rei Blue Stevenson joins the cast as Rosie.
Nathan Whatton stars as Niall Palmer.
