<P> Death in Paradise is a British - French crime drama television series created by Robert Thorogood, starring Ben Miller (series 1--3), Kris Marshall (series 3--6) and Ardal O'Hanlon (series 6--present). The programme is a joint UK and French production filmed on the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe and broadcast on BBC One in the United Kingdom and France 2 in France . Death in Paradise has enjoyed high ratings, leading to repeated renewals . A seventh series began broadcasting on 4 January 2018, with an eighth for 2019 already commissioned, with O'Hanlon and Jobert confirmed to return . </P> <P> British detective Richard Poole (Ben Miller) is assigned to investigate the murder of a British police officer on the fictional Caribbean island of Saint Marie . After he successfully finds the murderer, he is reluctantly required by his supervisors to replace the victim and stay on as the detective inspector (DI) of the island, solving new cases as they appear, and being the object of many fish - out - of - water jokes . At the start of Series 3, Poole is killed and maladroit London detective Humphrey Goodman (Kris Marshall) arrives to investigate the death of his strait - laced predecessor . He then stays in the job as chief investigator on the island . In the second half of Series 6, he resigns so he can stay in London with his new girlfriend Martha Lloyd . His replacement on Saint Marie is DI Jack Mooney, played by Ardal O'Hanlon . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> Series </Th> <Th_colspan="2"> Episodes </Th> <Th_colspan="2"> Originally aired </Th> <Th> Ave . UK viewers (millions) </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> First aired </Th> <Th> Last aired </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td_colspan="1"> </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 8 </Td> <Td_colspan="1"> 25 October 2011 (2011 - 10 - 25) </Td> <Td> 13 December 2011 (2011 - 12 - 13) </Td> <Td> 5.89 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td_colspan="1"> </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 8 </Td> <Td_colspan="1"> 8 January 2013 (2013 - 01 - 08) </Td> <Td> 26 February 2013 (2013 - 02 - 26) </Td> <Td> 7.67 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td_colspan="1"> </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 8 </Td> <Td_colspan="1"> 14 January 2014 (2014 - 01 - 14) </Td> <Td> 4 March 2014 (2014 - 03 - 04) </Td> <Td> 8.46 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td_colspan="1"> </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 8 </Td> <Td_colspan="1"> 8 January 2015 (2015 - 01 - 08) </Td> <Td> 26 February 2015 (2015 - 02 - 26) </Td> <Td> 9.03 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td_colspan="1"> 5 </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 8 </Td> <Td_colspan="1"> 7 January 2016 (2016 - 01 - 07) </Td> <Td> 25 February 2016 (2016 - 02 - 25) </Td> <Td> 8.67 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td_colspan="1"> 6 </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 8 </Td> <Td_colspan="1"> 5 January 2017 (2017 - 01 - 05) </Td> <Td> 23 February 2017 (2017 - 02 - 23) </Td> <Td> 9.10 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td_colspan="1"> 7 </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 8 </Td> <Td_colspan="1"> 4 January 2018 (2018 - 01 - 04) </Td> <Td> 22 February 2018 (2018 - 02 - 22) </Td> <Td> 8.34 </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> Series </Th> <Th_colspan="2"> Episodes </Th> <Th_colspan="2"> Originally aired </Th> <Th> Ave . UK viewers (millions) </Th> </Tr>

How many series of death in paradise are there