The opening episode of Death in Paradise's fifteenth series, which aired on Friday evening, concluded with a poignant tribute to a beloved member of the production team.
Viewers saw an image of Danielle Scott-Haughton appear on screen accompanied by the words "Dedicated with love to our friend and colleague."
The BBC commissioning editor passed away unexpectedly in her sleep earlier this month. She was responsible for overseeing both Death in Paradise and its spin-off Beyond Paradise in her role at the corporation.
News of her death was first reported by The British Blacklist before being confirmed through the crime drama's official Instagram account.
Death in Paradise aired a moving tribute to Danielle Scott-Haughton
|BBC
The show's team had previously shared an emotional statement describing their devastation at losing their colleague.
Ms Scott-Haughton died at the age of 36, having joined the BBC in 2023 as a commissioning editor.
She swiftly became known as a passionate advocate for storytelling and the creative teams behind major productions.
Her portfolio extended well beyond the Caribbean-set detective series.
BBC Death in Paradise's official Instagram account previously shared a statement about the tragic loss
|She had been working on the forthcoming Peaky Blinders series and served as executive producer on two new instalments of the Birmingham gangland drama.
The Agatha Christie adaptation Towards Zero was also among her projects, alongside the upcoming Christie series Endless Night.
Her commissioning work included the comedy Just Act Normal, while she contributed to EastEnders as well.
BBC content chief Kate Phillips and drama director Lindsay Salt confirmed her death internally to colleagues earlier this month.
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BBC drama commissioner Danielle Scott-Haughton died unexpectedly
|BBC
The Death in Paradise team's statement praised her infectious enthusiasm and determination to make every project the best it could be, while also caring for those around her.
"It is impossible to put into works the energy and joy she brought with her each time she visited our shoots, or the wonderful collaboration of working with her," the tribute read.
Kate Oates, head of drama for BBC Studios Productions, said Scott-Haughton's arrival at EastEnders "felt like Christmas had come early," describing her as both a devoted fan of the soap and a gifted storyteller.
"With this combination of fierce talent and kind heart by our side, we couldn't believe our luck," Oates added.
Damien Timmer, founder of Mammoth Screen which produces Towards Zero, remembered her as "sharp as a tack" with "extraordinary charisma."
"She was kind. Not performatively kind, but deeply kind," he said.
The British Blacklist paid tribute to Scott-Haughton as "a cherished friend of The British Blacklist and the wider Black British creative community."
"Danielle truly showed up. In action, care, and belief. She was a steadfast supporter of Black creatives, Black stories, and Black-led platforms, always believing our stories deserved space, scale, and respect," the organisation wrote.
Radio presenter Clara Amfo also paid her respects, writing on social media: "We love her beyond measure."