BBC Death in Paradise's Kris Marshall admits 'will never leave me' as he opens up on being sacked

Kris Marshall, the star of Beyond Paradise, has candidly discussed his unconventional journey into acting. Despite getting expelled from school and being sacked, the actor known for playing Humphrey Goodman has made a name for himself with roles in My Family, Love Actually, and Death in Paradise.

In a recent interview, Kris offered a glimpse into his path to fame, which was fraught with challenges but ultimately led to a successful career. He's currently busy filming for his latest gig as Detective Humphrey Goodman in Beyond Paradise.

After being expelled from school, Kris faced a crossroads: resit his exams or pursue acting.

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Chatting with the Guardian, the Love Actually actor revealed: "The only problem was, I had no idea how to get into the industry. Instead, I worked the odd, crazy job to make ends meet - doing shifts in a toothpaste factory or in the laundry of an abattoir."

He recalled one particularly unpleasant experience: "That one was pretty grim - the smell will never leave me. I was once fired from Iceland for wearing blue sunglasses on the till, and for a while, I knocked on the doors of people who hadn't paid their TV licences," reports the Express.

Kris's fortunes changed when he encountered someone from the industry while working at a bar.

His early days involved touring with theatre productions before snagging his first role on the big screen.

Yet, it was his parts in Love Actually and the sitcom My Family that truly catapulted him into the limelight.

He added: "I would get recognised daily. Since then, it hasn't stopped, but I don't mind - it's a small price to pay for what is a wonderful job."

Kris has had his fair share of career setbacks, including the cancellation of his show Sanditon before its eventual revival.

After failing to win over audiences in its first series, Sanditon, based on Jane Austen's unfinished novel, returned with a second series in July 2022.

Speaking to RadioTimes, Kris commented on the show's return: "It is the first show I've been on that has been cancelled and then reinstated.

"The fans did that after it took off in America, organising an incredible campaign to bring the show back."

You can catch Beyond Paradise on BBC iPlayer.