BBC Death in Paradise creator details problem with Ben Miller goat scene

The mastermind behind Death in Paradise, Tony Jordan, has spilled the beans on a particular scene that raised eyebrows at the BBC.

In a BBC documentary titled Don Warrington and Tony Jordan Remember... Death in Paradise, the TV writer and producer discussed the show's inception alongside esteemed actor Don Warrington, who portrays Police Commissioner Selwyn Patterson.

Tony confessed that the BBC had reservations about a quirky scene from the very first episode, which depicted two goats locked up in a police cell with DI Richard Poole, played by Ben Miller, standing close by.

While the BBC expressed concerns over the portrayal of the police service due to the presence of goats in a cell, FTV, the French public broadcaster that co-produced the series' debut season, had a different take.

Tony recalled the contrasting feedback: "We were getting notes from both public service broadcasters. I remember in the first episode, I had a note from the BBC saying: 'You have goats in the police cell. I'm not sure that's very... You know, is that the kind of... is that what we want to be saying about the police service? You've got two goats in there in a police cell.'

"And then from the French broadcasters, I got a note about the same scene: 'Could we have more goats in the police station, please?'"he said with amusement.

It appears that the BBC's cautionary stance was overlooked in favour of FTV's suggestion, as the goat scene made it to the final cut, reports Wales Online.

Tony also spilled the beans on how the much-loved series came to be, revealing that the concept of DI Richard Poole - the show's first sleuth - sweltering in his suit on a Caribbean beach with a briefcase was the clincher for getting it commissioned.

"When I remember taking the series out to pitch to broadcasters, literally one thing sold it, which was the image of a man in a suit, shirt, and tie, with a briefcase on a Caribbean beach because you've got the whole thing in that one image," Tony shared with Don.

Each of Death in Paradise's lead detectives has helmed the show for three or four seasons. Ben Miller was the original star before Kris Marshall stepped into his shoes. Ardal O'Hanlon took up the mantle next, and then Ralf Little stepped in.

Ralf, who portrayed DI Neville Parker, departed after the thirteenth series, which aired earlier this year. Hot off the press is the news that former EastEnders actor Don Gilet will step into the detective's shoes, with series 14 currently in production.