Ahead of the Beyond Paradise's season three debut, lead actor Kris Marshall has opened up about his character's relationship with Sally Bretton's Martha Lloyd.
During an exclusive interview with Digital Spy, the Humphrey actor explained how the pair's steady relationship is what sets them apart from other couples in BBC dramas.
"I think it's quite a positive that your main couple in a BBC drama is not having that much drama within themselves," he said.
The couple initially experienced problems when the show first debuted, which were exacerbated by the arrival of Martha's ex fiancé Archie Hughes (Jamie Bamber), who returns to the show this season after being absent in season two.
Related: Best streaming services
However, the show's central couple continues to thrive in the third season after they proved to be rather settled in the previous season.
What to Read Next
"I think we find Humphrey and Martha in good stead," Marshall explained.
"They're fun with each other. They're quirky. They don't take each other too seriously, but they certainly don't take each other for granted and they're a bit of a united front."
However, challenges are still on the horizon for Martha and Humphrey this season as the pair welcome a new foster child into their home. The 9-year-old girl will become the couple's first long-term foster placement.
Related: Beyond Paradise set for special crossover with beloved long-running BBC show
"Humphrey and Martha haven't ever been foster parents. I know they've done that little bit of fostering but not every day," Bretton explained.
"Not the school run, not organising stuff in life and doing the juggle that every parent knows about."
Bretton added: "They have to learn it all very fast and deal with a little person who isn't at home, who has been lifted out of her family for a period of time and all that that would bring. It's a thrill but it's challenging."
Marshall teased how this new chapter in their lives would affect the pair.
"As a foster parent, you've got a lot of love to give and you want to invest that into a young person who is being fostered because they have challenges with their biological parents," he said.
"That brings its own challenges, because obviously as humans and people who have a lot of love to give, the more you put into something, the more you get out of it. So that inevitably brings its own challenges further down the line."
Beyond Paradise and Death in Paradise both air on BBC One and stream on BBC iPlayer.
Read more Beyond Paradise news on our dedicated homepage
TV writer, Digital Spy Janet completed her Masters degree in Magazine Journalism in 2013 and has continued to grow professionally within the industry ever since. For six years she honed her analytical reviewing skills at the Good Housekeeping institute eventually becoming Acting Head of Food testing. She also freelanced in the field of film and TV journalism from 2013-2020, when she interviewed A-List stars such as Samuel L Jackson, Colin Firth and Scarlett Johansson. In 2021 she joined Digital Spy as TV writer where she gets to delve into more of what she loves, watching copious amounts of telly all in the name of work. Since taking on the role she has conducted red carpet interviews with the cast of Bridgerton, covered the BAFTAs and been interviewed by BBC Radio and London Live. In her spare time she also moonlights as a published author, the book Gothic Angel.
