Return to Paradise Series 3 on BBC One: Start Time, Cast and What to Expect
Friday 6 November 2026, 7.30pm, BBC One. Return to Paradise series 3, episode 1 of 6, one hour.
Return to Paradise series 3 starts on BBC One on Friday 6 November at 7.30pm. The Australian-set Death in Paradise spin-off comes back for a six-part run with Mackenzie Clarke in Dolphin Cove, and the listings put a second episode straight after the first at 8.30pm.
What is Return to Paradise?
It is a murder mystery set in Australia, spun off from the long-running Caribbean series Death in Paradise. Mackenzie, known as Mack, is a detective who came home to Dolphin Cove.
The first series reached BBC One in 2024. Series 3 is the third run, and it follows the same weekly whodunit format.
Who is in the cast?
| Actor | Character |
|---|---|
| Anna Samson | Mackenzie Clarke |
| Lloyd Griffith | Colin Cartwright |
| Tai Hara | Glenn Strong |
| Catherine McClements | Philomena Strong |
| Kerry Armstrong | Jillian, Mackenzie’s mother (new) |
| Jacob Collins-Levy | Leo, the pathologist (new) |
Mark Lee, Tina Bursill, Ngali Shaw, Anthony Hayes, Zoe Ventoura, Zindzi Okenyo and Matt Day are named among the guest stars.
What is new in series 3?
Two newcomers shake up Mack’s life. Her mother Jillian arrives in town and adds to the pressure, while Leo, the new pathologist, brings a romantic storyline. Glenn is away from Dolphin Cove at the start of the series, and Mack has that to deal with on top of the murders.
After her last romance went wrong, Mack is wary of getting involved again. With Jillian around and Leo on the scene, that may not last.
Episode 1: the art fair murder
The opener takes Mack to the Dolphin Cove art fair, where an artist is killed in front of a crowd. Mack is called in to find out who is behind it.
Another case involves a wildlife worker found dead in a locked cassowary cage. We don’t know which episode that is, and the listings only reach as far as Friday’s two episodes. Dates for the remaining four will go on our BBC One TV guide once they appear.
How to watch
| Platform | BBC One |
|---|---|
| Freeview | 1 (HD on 101) |
| Sky | 101 |
| Virgin Media | 101 |
| Freesat | 101 |
The series is also on BBC iPlayer. We haven’t found a confirmed release date for the full set, so we’re not promising a box set from day one.
Everything else on BBC One that evening is in our BBC One TV guide, and the best of the night across every channel is in what’s on TV tonight and on Friday’s guide.
Frequently asked questions
When does Return to Paradise series 3 start?
Series 3 starts on BBC One on Friday 6 November 2026 at 7.30pm. Episode 1 runs for an hour, and the listings show episode 2 following at 8.30pm.
Who is in Return to Paradise?
Anna Samson plays Mackenzie Clarke, with Lloyd Griffith as Colin Cartwright, Tai Hara as Glenn Strong and Catherine McClements as Philomena Strong. Kerry Armstrong joins as Mackenzie’s mother, Jillian, and Jacob Collins-Levy as the new pathologist, Leo.
How many episodes are in Return to Paradise series 3?
Six. The BBC has described series 3 as a six-part run, and our listings label Friday’s two episodes as 1 of 6 and 2 of 6.
Is Return to Paradise a Death in Paradise spin-off?
Yes. It follows Mackenzie Clarke, a detective who returns to her hometown of Dolphin Cove in Australia, and sits in the same fictional world as Death in Paradise.
Will Return to Paradise series 3 be on BBC iPlayer?
Yes, the BBC says the series will be on BBC iPlayer as well as BBC One. We haven’t found a confirmed date for when each episode, or the whole series, goes up, so check iPlayer on the day.
What channel is Return to Paradise on?
BBC One, which is 1 on Freeview (HD on 101) and 101 on Sky, Virgin Media and Freesat.
What happens in episode 1 of series 3?
An artist is killed at the Dolphin Cove art fair, and Mackenzie is brought in to work out who did it.
Related: BBC One TV guide | What’s on TV tonight, Friday
