By June Ramli
Sydney, June 4: Kris Marshall is back in the role that fans adore — DI Humphrey Goodman — as Beyond Paradise returns for its third season.
Set against the stunning backdrops of Devon and Cornwall, the hit crime drama blends mystery, humour, and heart as Goodman and his team take on a fresh slate of puzzling cases.
In this latest chapter, personal and professional worlds collide as the characters navigate new investigations and unexpected life twists — all while keeping audiences guessing and entertained.
Packed with mystery, humour, and heart, the series follows DI Humphrey Goodman and his quirky team as they tackle more mind-boggling puzzles — all set against the breathtaking landscapes of Devon and Cornwall.
The new six-episode season delves into a variety of intriguing cases, including a body found in a river on the county border, a perplexing chocolate poisoning incident affecting local villagers, a sabotaged regatta race rooted in a historic family feud, and a chilling disappearance tied to local folklore.
Alongside these investigations, personal stakes run high.
Martha and Humphrey face unexpected challenges as foster parents, particularly with the reappearance of Martha’s old flame, Archie.
Esther confronts a surprise encounter in her private life, a health scare for Anne dredges up painful memories, and Kelby embarks on a journey of personal growth.
For actor Kris Marshall, returning to the role of DI Goodman is both rewarding and revealing.
“He’s quite naive, socially awkward — a bit of an outcast — but also someone who’s very astute,” Kris tells DailyStraits.com.
“In another world, he’d probably be in MI5 or MI6. He’s a puzzle solver, an algorithms guy — that’s what appeals to me.”
Fans have long enjoyed Humphrey’s awkward charm and his tendency to be underestimated by suspects — something Kris relishes playing.
“One of my favourite parts of playing him is that he makes people think he’s a fool,” he explains.
“A bit like Columbo, they write him off, and then he starts to pick away at their arrogance and undo them. I love that.”
Kris’s own journey into acting wasn’t straightforward. While he first got the bug for drama at school — which he jokingly admits later expelled him — he spent years “fudging around at the edges” before his big break.
“I did a play underneath a pub in London,” he recalls.
“A famous American theatre producer, Dan Crawford, came to see it. From there, things took off — I went from hiding from my landlord because I couldn’t pay rent to sitting in first class next to Daryl Hannah flying to the Toronto Film Festival.”
When it comes to choosing roles, Kris says it’s usually a combination of factors.
“At the end of the day, it’s the script and the character. I know within five or six pages whether I can really do a proper job. Sometimes I choose a role — and the role doesn’t choose me.”
Outside of acting, Kris now spends much of his time with his young family and enjoying life on the coast.
“I spend six to eight months a year working on Beyond Paradise — filming, post-production, promo,” he says. “The rest of the time I just try to be a dad, go surfing, pick the kids up from school — that sort of thing.”
Already a producer on Beyond Paradise, Kris is also eyeing a potential future in directing.
“I’m talking about maybe directing an episode,” he says.
“The only thing is, playing the lead is already a lot of work — 14-hour days, then learning lines at night. Adding directing is a big ask, but maybe in future. Absolutely.”
As DI Goodman returns to solve more captivating cases in the picturesque English countryside, one thing’s for sure: Beyond Paradise continues to charm audiences with its unique blend of warmth, wit and whodunnit.
Beyond Paradise Season 3 is available to stream exclusively on a bigger and better BritBox.
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