Beyond Paradise’s Kris Marshall gives insight into private life at home with two kids

After months of filming as Humphrey Goodman for the third season of Beyond Paradise, Kris Marshall was excited to return home to his family – his wife Hannah Dodkin and their two children.

The actor, 51, has played the detective for nearly a decade – first on Death in Paradise and now Beyond Paradise, both on BBC One. And while the role of Humphrey made him a household name, he admits the long shoots for the drama are both rewarding and exhausting.

“I’m in the studio nearly every day,” he says, “As much as I love it, it’s joyous to finish after five months.” Home, for him, is Bath, where he enjoys the simple pleasures of family life.

“I like to go back home and put the bins out. Be a dad again, put my kids on the bus and pick them up from school.” He shares two children, Thomas and Elsie, with his wife Hannah Dodkin. The couple began dating in 2010 before getting engaged a year later. They welcomed their kids shortly after.

Though Kris keeps a firm lid on his private life, he coyly explained to Lorraine Kelly back in 2020 that his son had motivated him to give up his leading role in Death In Paradise.

And yet, despite all this time playing Humphrey, there’s still an air of mystery about the character. “He’s both disarming while being armed,” he says, “I still haven’t worked out whether it’s an affectation or whether it’s something he just does.”

Kris Marshall always dreamed of doing his own stunts. In fact, he was all set to skydive for Beyond Paradise’s third season – until bosses shut him down.

“I was really up for it, though there was a small matter of insurance,” the 51-year-old actor says, “They said, ‘no chance.’ If it was the last day of filming, they would probably let me do it. But there’s an adage that says to never do a dangerous stunt on your last day of filming.”

Whether he’s diving from a plane or into another complex case, DI Humphrey Goodman is back for another season of the popular Death In Paradise spin-off.

Humphrey has his hands full this season, with both professional and personal challenges. Kris returns alongside Sally Bretton, 44, who portrays his ever-supportive partner, Martha Lloyd.

Last season left fans reeling when Humphrey and Martha decided against tying the knot, despite seeming destined for wedded bliss. But their relationship is stronger than ever. “They’re in a really good spot together,” Sally says. “They’re very busy but happy.”

Kris finds the couple’s healthy dynamic refreshing, particularly in a TV landscape full of dramatic breakups and endless tension. “They’re on the same page,” he says, “it’s unique to have a TV couple that aren’t having incredible amounts of interpersonal drama the whole time.”

But while Humphrey and Martha’s home life is steady, work is anything but. The season kicks off with a high-stakes case: a man named Niall, fresh from a drunken argument with his partner Arthur, drives off – only for his body to later turn up in the River Tamar.

The apparent accident quickly spirals into a jurisdictional tug-of-war between Humphrey and DS Esther Williams’ Cornish counterparts. Enter Steve Oram as DI Jacob Tremayne and Gabby Best as his partner, DS Foster. Humphrey is convinced Niall was murdered but he meets his match in Jacob, who is eager to close the case.

For Kris, who grew up in Somerset and is well-versed in the age-old Devon-Cornwall rivalry, the storyline was particularly fun. “I like to think that it’s something that would happen between the police forces of Devon and Cornwall,” Kris says, “Although I am aware that Devon and Cornwall has only one police force. I would be surprised if that’s the last we saw of our Cornish policeman.”

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