Don Gilet has been a feature on television screens for decades now, appearing in some of the most popular shows around. One of his first appearances was said to be in The Bill in 1991, but it was a decade later that he landed his first major role on BBC Two's Babyfather. It was followed by appearances on the likes of Holby City, Doctors, 55 Degrees North and even Doctor Who. Don, 58, even had a guest role in Death in Paradise in 2015. But in this year's Christmas special he made his debut as the latest Detective Inspector to front the Caribbean drama.

Detective Inspector Mervin Wilson is the latest British cop to head to the fictional Saint Marie to help locals fight crime. It sees Don following in the footsteps of stars like Ben Miller, Kris Marshall, Ardal O'Hanlon, and most recently Ralf Little. Speaking of stepping into the shoes of Saint Marie's latest British detective, Don said: "This is a big show, with a big heart and the love continually grows for it. It is my intention to never lose sight of that and to remain grateful, humbled and dedicated.".

Curious fans are also keen to learn more about Don's personal journey, including details of his famous former spouse, his formative years in the Midlands, and whispers of a current romance with a co-star from 'Happy Valley', reports the Express. Born in Walsall in 1967, Don found his calling in performance at a tender age, honing his craft at the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts. According to IMDB, his first gig was on The Bill as Gary Heywood in 1991, and he returned to the role in 2003. He also popped up in an episode of The Desmond's that same year.

His career took off with roles in Now What, The Return of Nick Cotton, and Casualty. However, it was in 2001 when he really hit the big time, joining the cast of Babyfather alongside future EastEnders co-star Diane Parish. The two have been tight ever since and teamed up again when Don rocked up in Walford as the pastor-turned-serial-killer Lucas Johnson in 2008. When it comes to his personal life, Don's a bit more low-key. He was hitched to Soldier, Soldier star Tracy Whitwell once upon a time.

The pair used to live together in Bedfordshire and share a 17-year-old son, Flynn. Recently however, Don has been romantically linked to Happy Valley star Siobhan Finneran, who played Clare Cartwright. The pair have not publicly addressed their romance but were spotted holding hands at the TV Choice Awards last year. Siobhan also referred to Don as "my fella" in a conversation with The Guardian. She revealed Don bought her a book on Rudi Hurzlmeier's artwork as one of her Christmas presents. She wrote: "I found a card I'd been sent years ago, clearing out a drawer, and laughed as soon as I saw it again.

Siobhan Finneran shared a chuckle over an amusing piece of art, telling the tale of how it led to a thoughtful Christmas gift from her partner Don Gilet. "It's a picture of a nun looking in a shoe shop, and a bloke next to her has got his hand on her bum. I showed it to Don [Gilet], my fella, and now one of my Christmas presents is a book of Hurzlmeier's work.". The couple, who previously appeared together in ITV's 2017 drama The Loch with Don as psychological profiler Blake Albrighton and Siobhan as DCI Lauren Quigley.