Cameras are rolling again in Dolphin Cove as production starts on the second season of Return to Paradise. Following its successful debut as ABC’s top local drama in 2024, the Australian spin-off of Death in Paradise is preparing more seaside sleuthing.
Here’s the Lowdown: Filming for the six-part second season is officially underway. Detective Sergeant Mackenzie ‘Mack’ Clarke (Anna Samson) remains in Dolphin Cove, trying to ignore her ex-fiancé Glenn’s (Tai Hara) looming wedding after hearing his unexpected declaration of love. To cope, she throws herself into solving puzzling murders connected to the literary world, shark labs, dating apps, and even rock concerts. Familiar faces Lloyd Griffith, Catherine McClements, Celia Ireland, Andrea Demetriades, and Aaron McGrath are all returning.
What This Means Now: Viewers can look forward to more mysteries later this year on ABC TV and ABC iview. Mack continues to work through crimes while dealing with her status as an outsider and the complicated situation with Glenn. The new season brings fresh guest appearances from Australian actors like Danielle Cormack, Meyne Wyatt, and Justine Clarke, plus You Am I frontman Tim Rogers. Significantly, Death in Paradise favourite Ardal O’Hanlon also reprises his role as DI Jack Mooney.
The Bigger Picture: The first season’s strong performance confirmed the audience’s appetite for this Australian take on the globally popular Paradise formula. Produced by BBC Studios Productions Australia and Red Planet Pictures, the show’s return underscores the appeal of its unique blend of crime-solving, humour, and character drama set against scenic Australian locations. Its international broadcast on the BBC highlights the format’s continued worldwide reach.
