Fans of the hit BBC drama Death in Paradise were left stunned as Commissioner Selwyn Patterson made a shocking exit in the season 14 finale.
The beloved character, portrayed by Don Warrington, has been a staple of the show since its very first season.
In a surprising twist, Patterson declined the opportunity to reclaim his position as head of the Saint Marie police department.
The dramatic departure came after a tumultuous storyline where the Commissioner initially lost his job to a younger replacement.
Despite being offered his role back following his replacement’s significant mistake, Patterson made the unexpected decision to move on.
The character’s exit marks a significant moment for the series, leaving Catherine Bordey as the only remaining original character from the show’s first season.
When asked about his decision to decline the position, Patterson confessed to Bordey: “I don’t know, but it felt wrong to say yes, too much has happened and right now, I can’t see a way to get back to how things were.”
The Commissioner’s choice came as a shock to viewers who had followed his struggle to regain his post throughout the season.
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In the emotional scene, Bordey questioned whether he was “never going to accept” the position.
He confirmed this sentiment, explaining that recent events had made it impossible to return to the way things were before.
The conversation took place as Patterson arrived in a taxi while the rest of the squad headed to celebrate at the bar.
Bordey invited him to join them for a drink, but he revealed his intention to depart instead.
Patterson revealed his plans to visit his daughter Andrina, played by Genesis Lynea, though he remained vague about how long he would be away.
When Bordey asked about the duration of his absence, he enigmatically replied: “Who knows.”
Before departing, Patterson made one final significant act – visiting DI Mervin Wilson to convince him to remain in Saint Marie.
In a surprising revelation, the Commissioner disclosed that the mysterious Solomon Clarke, who had left a note on the grave of Wilson’s mother, was actually Wilson’s long-lost brother.
This revelation gave Wilson a connection to the island and reason to stay in the Caribbean.
Patterson had earlier shared a touching heart-to-heart with Wilson, encouraging him not to rush back to England.
Their final conversation proved convincing enough for Wilson to remain on Saint Marie.
Fans took to social media to express their dismay at Patterson’s departure from the show, with some concerned about the future of the series.
One viewer tweeted: “If Selwyn is gone, that means Catherine is the only surviving original character…… @lizbourgine. I do hope the show can survive losing Selwyn or is it coming to a natural end.”
“Bye Selwyn, you’ll be missed…” wrote another disappointed fan.
Some viewers were more dramatic in their reactions, with one posting: “NO,NO NO! NOT Selwyn going @deathinparadise.”
Another simply expressed shock: “The Commissioner’s leaving??!!”
Despite the sadness surrounding Patterson’s exit, many fans praised the latest series overall.
One enthusiastic viewer commented: “Series 14 was amazing, lots of shocks and surprises and well thought out mysteries. Don Gilet has been a fantastic addition as Mervin, and so has Shaquille Ali-Yebuah is Seb.” (sic)