Death in Paradise actor Don Gilet, who plays DI Mervin Wilson in the BBC series, started dating fellow TV star Siobhan Finneran 12 months after meeting on the set of thriller The Loch in 2017.
Kathryn Ingate Deputy Editor of Trendswatch
18:30, 28 Dec 2025
Siobhan Finneran and Don Gilet attended the TV Choice Awards together (Image: Getty Images)
Happy Valley actress Siobhan Finneran, 59, has shared a rare insight into her relationship with BBC’s Death in Paradise star Don Gilet, 58, explaining why they have opted to live in separate homes.
The couple first met at work on ITV crime drama series The Loch, in which Siobhan portrayed DCI Lauren Quigley and Don played forensic psychologist Blake Albrighton.
About one year later in 2018, their friendship blossomed into a romance. However, Siobhan resides in Saddleworth, while her partner Don lives in north London.
Despite the distance between their homes, Siobhan says that she and the DI Mervin Wilson star take it in their stride, explaining that Don is mostly working away from the UK anyway, in Guadeloupe where Death in Paradise is filmed.
Don Gilet returns as DI Mervin Wilson(Image: BBC / Red Planet Pictures / Philippe Virapin)
She told The Times: “That’s just the way it is, isn’t it? That’s how it’s always been. And he’s out of the country for seven months a year doing Death in Paradise anyway.”
Siobhan went on to reveal she has travelled to the French Caribbean island, which she describes as an “amazing place”, to visit Don.
The Protection star was quick to dismiss suggestions that the pair are a “power couple” and admitted that they can be “hopeless” while trying to get themselves organised, quipping: “I’ve not heard that one before.”
She added: “We are both off the telly. Other than that we’re pretty normal. You wouldn’t think we were a power couple this morning, both running around trying to get out of the house on time. Hopeless.”
Siobhan Finneran and Don Gilet met on ITV series The Loch(Image: ITV)
After much speculation, Siobhan first hinted at her romance with Don when she affectionately referred to the actor as “my fella” during an interview with The Guardian.
Prior to this, the pair had been spotted holding hands at showbiz events before officially confirming their relationship.
Don is returning to our screens as DI Mervin Wilson for the Death in Paradise Christmas Special.
He will be joined by guest stars Josie Lawrence, Kate Ashfield, Pearl Mackie and James Baxter for the festive episode.
The Death in Paradise Christmas Special airs on Sunday 28th December at 8.30pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
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