Death in Paradise star favourite to play lead detective in new Benidorm-based spin-off series

Neil Morrissey, known for his role as a murder suspect in Death in Paradise, is currently tipped to be the lead detective in the spin-off series, Death in Benidorm.

Channel 5 unveiled plans for the new series earlier this week, which bears a striking resemblance to Death in Paradise but is set in Benidorm.

The channel has yet to reveal when the series will air or who will star in it.

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However, the plot for Death in Benidorm revolves around Detective Dennis Crown, who "has swapped the chaos of the UK for a quieter life running a bar in Benidorm".

The series teases: "But when tourists start turning up dead, he's reluctantly drawn back into detective work-egged on by his barmaid Rosa, a crime drama superfan," reports the Express.

"With Dennis's real-world experience and Rosa's encyclopaedic TV knowledge, each episode sees the duo tackling a new murder in paradise, whilst trying to remain on the right side of the local Spanish cops."

While no official announcements have been made, bookmakers have been speculating about who could play the lead detective, and Neil is the favourite.

Neil has starred in popular shows such as Men Behaving Badly, Death in Paradise, and Line of Duty.

He played murder suspect, Disco Biscuit, also known as Duncan Roberts, in the BBC drama starring Kris Marshall.

Mike Reading, spokesperson at Betway, stated: "Neil Morrissey is the current favourite to be cast as the lead detective in Death in Benidorm. As a household name with a strong track record in other shows, Morrissey brings the right mix of humour, emotional depth and recognisability, if the producers are aiming to turn heads and draw in ratings."

He went on to say: "Hot on his heels is Mark Benton, a Channel 5 favourite who could easily fit into the role of Dennis Crown. Benton's everyman appeal and proven charm in Shakespeare & Hathaway would slot perfectly into the tone of a light-but-meaningful coastal crime drama.

"For now, though, the latest odds suggest it's Morrissey who looks most likely to be sipping sangria while solving sun-drenched secrets!".

Death in Benidorm will air on Channel 5.