Fans were excited to see Jason Hughes, famous for playing Sergeant Ben Jones in Midsomer Murders, appear in the latest episode of Beyond Paradise. This surprise made tonight’s detective drama even more interesting. Viewers quickly shared their thoughts online, guessing what Hughes’s new role means for the story.
Jason Hughes, who starred in Midsomer Murders from 2005 to 2013 and appeared again in 2017, played Hugo—Polly’s father—in the April 18, 2025 episode. His arrival adds to the mystery of the plot. The episode follows a regatta where sailors Polly and Francine are strong rivals.
Things take a shocking turn when Polly collapses after drinking a smoothie that was secretly tampered with, causing panic during the race. As the chaos unfolds, people start to suspect Martha—the one who made the smoothie.
Advertisement 
Martha, played by Sally Bretton, is now under pressure. She has to balance running her coffee van, looking after little Rosie, and dealing with being accused in a poisoning case. Her character faces a tough situation as she tries to handle being both a business owner and a caregiver, while under suspicion.
Martha is not exactly thrilled about being dragged into one of Humphrey’s investigations, especially because she’s already juggling so much. She is running a coffee van at a regatta, looking after Rosie, and suddenly finds herself being formally interviewed by Humphrey at the police station over a poisoning case. It’s a bit much for her and, honestly, she’s irritated by the whole thing.
Bretton shared
This episode doesn’t just focus on the regatta’s drama—it also looks deeper into Martha’s life, showing her struggles and stress as she tries to handle all her duties.
I remember reading the script for that scene and actually laughing out loud – Martha’s frustration really came through. It’s a fun and intense moment and you get to see a different side of her.
Bretton added
At the same time, Martha and DI Humphrey Goodman, played by Kris Marshall, deal with more tension in their relationship as they work together to raise Rosie. The two face many struggles, both at home and in their jobs.
The balancing act is challenging. On paper, Martha was supposed to be the primary carer, especially with Humphrey’s work commitments, but she ends up taking on a lot more than expected.
Bretton explained
As the case moves forward, viewers are curious about who Hughes’s character really is and if he’ll turn out to help or harm. Fans are buzzing online, and one person even tweeted about their excitement.
Guest star: Jason Hughes… Is Inspector Barnaby going to turn up soon to help? Is this a crossover with Midsomer Murders? #BeyondParadise.” Another viewer quipped, “Surely ‘Jones’ will solve it?
Besides Hughes, this season of Beyond Paradise includes a great list of guest stars. These include Angela Curran from Doc Martin, Matthew Gravelle from Silent Witness, Syreeta Kumar from Fool Me Once, Dean Boodaghians-Nolan from House of the Dragon, and Alexandra Gilbreath from Not Going Out. The regular cast is back too, with Kris Marshall, Sally Bretton, Zahra Ahmadi as DS Esther Williams, Dylan Llewellyn as PC Kelby Hartford, Barbara Flynn as Anne Lloyd, and Felicity Montagu as Margo Martins.
The show keeps its usual time slot, airing every Friday at 8 PM on BBC One. It’s become a must-watch for fans of crime shows. With its mix of mystery and personal stories, viewers are excited to see how things change for characters like Martha and Humphrey as they face new challenges.
Read More: Beyond Paradise Teases Unexpected Development For Martha
As the mystery continues, fans are glued to their screens, trying to guess how it will end and what part Hughes’s character might play. With its blend of tension, fun, and touching scenes, Beyond Paradise keeps winning over audiences, showing that detective shows can still surprise us.
If you didn’t catch the episode, you can watch it now on BBC iPlayer. Don’t miss out—join other fans in guessing what’s next for their favorite characters and what twists the show has in store.
Source: Evrimagaci.org