Kris Marshall can’t wipe the smile off his face on set of Death in Paradise spin-off Beyond Paradise

Kris Marshall was spotted on set of the Death in Paradise spin-off Beyond Paradise on Wednesday, for the very first time. 

The actor, 49, couldn’t wipe the smile off his face and larked around on set in Cornwall, in between takes. 

Kris is set to reprise his role as DI Humphrey Goodman in the new BBC show, having left the original series in 2017 to spend more time with his family.

He’s back! Kris Marshall couldn’t wipe the smile off his face as he was pictured for the first time on set of Death in Paradise spin-off Beyond Paradise in Cornwall on Wednesday

Kris, who is known for his roles in Love Actually and ITV’s Sanditon, looked casual in navy trousers, a light blue shirt and a green blazer. 

He wore a navy puffer jacket on top to keep warm against the chill. 

The actor mingled with crew on set and at one point, tossed a squeegee in the air, having a ball as he kept himself company. 

Fan favourite: Kris is set to reprise his role as DI Humphrey Goodman in the new BBC show

Fan favourite: Kris is set to reprise his role as DI Humphrey Goodman in the new BBC show

Familiar face: Kris is known for his roles in Love Actually and ITV's Sanditon

Casual: He looked casual in navy trousers, a light blue shirt and a green blazer

Casual: He looked casual in navy trousers, a light blue shirt and a green blazer

Rugged up: He wore a navy puffer jacket on top to keep warm against the chill

Rugged up: He wore a navy puffer jacket on top to keep warm against the chill

Back in February 2017, Kris quit his leading role as Detective Inspector Humphrey Goodman in Death In Paradise after four years on the BBC programme.

He told Good Morning Britain at the time that the decision was made in order to spend more time with his family after his daughter was born, leaving him ‘bereft’ while away filming in the Caribbean. 

He was replaced by Father Ted funnyman Ardal O’Hanlan on the show, who played Detective Inspector Jack Mooney.

Fun on set: The actor tossed a squeegee in the air, having a ball as he kept himself company

Fun on set: The actor tossed a squeegee in the air, having a ball as he kept himself company

In good spirits: He larked around on set in between takes

In good spirits: He larked around on set in between takes

Young at heart: He threw the brush around as crew stood nearby

Young at heart: He threw the brush around as crew stood nearby 

Eyes on the prize: Kris tried to catch the brush on the spot

Eyes on the prize: Kris tried to catch the brush on the spot

Watch out! He hilariously pulled various facial expressions as he mucked around

Seaside fun: Filming took place in Cornwall

Watch out! He hilariously pulled various facial expressions as he mucked around

Moving on: Back in February 2017, Kris quit his leading role as Detective Inspector Humphrey Goodman in Death In Paradise after four years on the BBC programme

Moving on: Back in February 2017, Kris quit his leading role as Detective Inspector Humphrey Goodman in Death In Paradise after four years on the BBC programme

‘I’ve loved it. It’s time to move on and give someone else some sun. I’m still thinking whether I’ve made the right decision,’ he said on GMB at the time. 

‘It is amazing and I’ve been filming in London since and there’s a moment when you stand in the cold and think why am I not in flips flops in the Caribbean?’

He admitted he struggled being away from his family for filming, saying: ‘For the last few years I have been able to take them with me but we had a daughter and this last series I did on my own. Skyping leaves me bereft.’

Candid: He told Good Morning Britain at the time that the decision was made in order to spend more time with his family after his daughter was born, leaving him 'bereft' while away filming in the Caribbean

Candid: He told Good Morning Britain at the time that the decision was made in order to spend more time with his family after his daughter was born, leaving him ‘bereft’ while away filming in the Caribbean

Replaced: He was replaced by Father Ted funnyman Ardal O'Hanlan on the show, who played Detective Inspector Jack Mooney

Replaced: He was replaced by Father Ted funnyman Ardal O’Hanlan on the show, who played Detective Inspector Jack Mooney

Family first: He admitted he struggled being away from his family for filming

'Skyping leaves me bereft,' he said

Family first: He admitted he struggled being away from his family for filming

'I've loved it. It's time to move on and give someone else some sun. I'm still thinking whether I've made the right decision,' he said on GMB at the time

‘I’ve loved it. It’s time to move on and give someone else some sun. I’m still thinking whether I’ve made the right decision,’ he said on GMB at the time

Speaking about the arrival of his replacement, he said: ‘Ardal is in this series. We meet him tonight. He arrives as our colleague in London and he’s fantastic.

‘The handover was planned it wasn’t thrust upon him! It’s the first time the show has left the island. It’s the first time we’ve had a double episode which is a sign of confidence in the show.’

Naturally, fans were quick to react to the news, with Twitter users swarming the microblogging site to lament the departure.

Drama: The set was complete with a police vehicle in Cornwall

Drama: The set was complete with a police vehicle in Cornwall

Speaking about the arrival of his replacement, he said: 'Ardal is in this series. We meet him tonight. He arrives as our colleague in London and he's fantastic'

Speaking about the arrival of his replacement, he said: ‘Ardal is in this series. We meet him tonight. He arrives as our colleague in London and he’s fantastic’

Changes: Speaking about his return in the spin-off, Kris said that the Death of Paradise ending has been 'spun on it's head'

Changes: Speaking about his return in the spin-off, Kris said that the Death of Paradise ending has been ‘spun on it’s head’

Speaking about his return in the spin-off, Kris said that the Death of Paradise ending has been ‘spun on it’s head’.

‘It’s carrying on from where we left Humphrey Goodman and Martha [Sally Bretton], with their new bucolic south-western lifestyle,’ he told Radio Times last month. 

‘The classic Death in Paradise way of wrapping up the show is spun on its head a bit – not every episode is a murder – so more sheep rustling and stuff like that! It puts an English Riviera spin on the show people know and love. Who needs the Caribbean?’ he added.

According to IMDB, the synopsis for Beyond Paradise reads: ‘After leaving paradise and seeking a quieter life, Humphrey has taken up a DI position in fiancée Martha’s hometown. But with the high crime rate, maybe things will be louder than expected.’

'It's carrying on from where we left Humphrey Goodman and Martha [Sally Bretton], with their new bucolic south-western lifestyle,' he told Radio Times last month

‘It’s carrying on from where we left Humphrey Goodman and Martha [Sally Bretton], with their new bucolic south-western lifestyle,’ he told Radio Times last month

According to IMDB, the synopsis for Beyond Paradise reads: 'After leaving paradise and seeking a quieter life, Humphrey has taken up a DI position in fiancée Martha's hometown. But with the high crime rate, maybe things will be louder than expected'

According to IMDB, the synopsis for Beyond Paradise reads: ‘After leaving paradise and seeking a quieter life, Humphrey has taken up a DI position in fiancée Martha’s hometown. But with the high crime rate, maybe things will be louder than expected’

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