7 hours Ago By Samantha King
BBC viewers tuning into the highly anticipated new season of Death in Paradise were left in shock after a devastating plot twist unfolded within minutes of the first episode. The beloved drama returned for its fourteenth series tonight at 9pm (January 31), introducing fans to Officer Benjamin Brice. Audiences were spellbound as they followed his challenging upbringing and his journey all the way to police training academy graduation.
Hopes were high as it was revealed he would join the Police Saint Marie force the following day, and in a particularly touching moment, Benjamin took to social media to share powerful reflections on his life lessons learned. "I want you to know, if you're feeling lost you don't need to go through what I did - you just need to find your purpose in life like me. And once you do, nobody can take that away from you," he declared.
His gaze then fixed upon his newly hung police uniform ready for his first day on the job, reports the Mirror . But, in a shocking turn of events, Benjamin never makes it to his first day on the job. Instead, viewers are confronted with a chilling scene: his motionless body by the road, discovered after being called in by a jogger.
This unforeseen tragedy left viewers reeling, with the death happening even before the opening titles had started. "This might be the most emotionally devastating our theme song has ever felt. Never getting over this one," one show superfan said, adding: "Fastest I've ever fallen for a character and had them ripped away.
.. Fully broke my heart, poor Benjamin.
" "I was not expecting that start to Death in Paradise. WHAAAAAAAT!?!" exclaimed another, alongside a shocked face emoji. One viewer even likened the opening minutes of the episode to the famously sad opening montage in the Pixar film, Up, as another said: "Benjamin Brice was killed quicker than Charlie Hulme.
" Though his time on screen was fleeting, Officer Brice certainly left a mark on Death in Paradise enthusiasts. Actor Anthony J Abraham delivered a memorable performance as the doomed policeman, bringing with him experience from roles such as Fillik in The Acolyte and Jack Ryan in Bad Education. The new series of Death In Paradise sees Don Gilet make his official debut as lead detective DI Mervin Wilson, after taking over from Ralf Little, who played DI Neville Parker.
Death in Paradise's first episode of Season 14 is available to watch now on BBC iPlayer.
