Detective Inspector Inspector, also police inspector or inspector of police, is a police rank. The rank or position varies in seniority depending on the organization that uses it. Australia In Australian police forces, the rank of inspector is generally the ne ...

Richard Poole is a character in the crime drama television series '' Death in Paradise'', portrayed by

Ben Miller Bennet Evan Miller (born 24 February 1966) is an English actor, comedian, and author. He rose to fame as one half of the comedy duo Armstrong and Miller. Miller is also known for playing the lead role of DI Richard Poole in the first two serie ...

. Poole also appears in novels based on the TV series written by

Robert Thorogood Robert Thorogood (born 1972) is an English screenwriter and novelist. He is the creator of the BBC One murder mystery series '' Death in Paradise''. He won France Film's "En Route to France" award in 2012. Early life Thorogood was educated at U ...

Description

A British police inspector assigned to Saint Marie to investigate the previous inspector's murder, Poole was instructed to remain on the island as the new detective inspector. Despite his dislike for the island and inexperience with tropical weather – to the point where he continued to wear his old suits – he often showed himself to be a psychological genius, making decisions based on minimal information and random events, and favoured making arrests by addressing all the suspects at once before identifying the killer. In series 2 he became somewhat more content with island life. He recommended a colleague, Fidel, for the sergeant's exam. Despite their frequent arguments over his dislike for the island and the French, his

detective sergeant Sergeant (abbreviated to Sgt. and capitalized when used as a named person's title) is a rank in many uniformed organizations, principally military and policing forces. The alternative spelling, ''serjeant'', is used in The Rifles and other uni ...

Camille Bordey Detective Sergeant Camille Bordey is a character in the crime drama television series '' Death in Paradise'', portrayed by Sara Martins. Description A former undercover investigator, Bordey was assigned to Honoré Police because her cover was ...

, developed romantic feelings for him as indicated in ‘A Murder on the Plantation’. Her mother, Catherine, had arranged a blind date during the

Erzulie Erzulie (sometimes spelled Erzili or Èzili) is a family of loa, or spirits, in Haitian Vodou, Vodou. Overview The Erzulie is a family of loa that are often associated with water (fluidity), femininity, and feminine bodies. They are one of the ...

celebrations at which Camille briefly mistook Poole for her date. She seemed happy until her mistake was realized. Ending the series, Poole briefly returned to

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

, but, in spite of his dislike for Saint Marie, he chose to return. Poole was murdered in the first episode of series 3, at a

Cambridge University , mottoeng = Literal: From here, light and sacred draughts. Non literal: From this place, we gain enlightenment and precious knowledge. , established = , other_name = The Chancellor, Masters and Schola ...

reunion, by a fellow student when he threatened to expose her identity theft. He was succeeded by DI

Humphrey Goodman Detective Inspector Humphrey Goodman is a character in the crime drama television series '' Death in Paradise'', portrayed by Kris Marshall. Goodman is assigned to Saint Marie after the murder of D.I. Richard Poole at the start of Series 3. C ...

. Poole makes a brief guest cameo in Series 10, Episode 6 when Camille returned to the island briefly to help on a case and due to her mother Catherine being admitted to hospital after being attacked, leaving her close to death from a head trauma. Appearing as a manifestation of her subconscious, he tells her to not dwell on neglecting to visit Catherine since leaving the island and encourages her to spend more time with Catherine. Poole is an "English eccentric with a hatred for island life". According to Michael Hogan, Poole "harrumphs around

Hugh Grant Hugh John Mungo Grant (born 9 September 1960) is an English actor. He established himself early in his career as both a charming, and vulnerable romantic lead and has since transitioned into a dramatic character actor. Among his numerous a ...

-ishly in his uptight Brit suit and carries a briefcase, endlessly dabbing at his forehead with a hankie." Hogan goes on to argue that Poole is a "bland blend of several dozen quirky screen sleuths: a bit of

Morse Morse may refer to: People * Morse (surname) * Morse Goodman (1917-1993), Anglican Bishop of Calgary, Canada * Morse Robb (1902–1992), Canadian inventor and entrepreneur Geography Antarctica * Cape Morse, Wilkes Land * Mount Morse, Churchi ...

here, a dash of

Columbo ''Columbo'' () is an American crime drama television series starring Peter Falk as Lieutenant Columbo, a homicide detective with the Los Angeles Police Department. After two pilot episodes in 1968 and 1971, the show originally aired on NBC f ...

there, a pinch of

Precious Ramotswe Precious may refer to: Music * Precious (group), a British female pop group Albums * ''Precious'' (Chanté Moore album), 1992 * ''Precious'' (Cubic U album), 1998 * ''Precious'' (Ours album), 2002 * ''Precious'' (Precious album), 2000 * ...

and a lug of

Jonathan Creek ''Jonathan Creek'' is a long-running British mystery crime drama series produced by the BBC and written by David Renwick. It stars Alan Davies as the titular character, who works as a creative consultant to a stage magician while also solvi ...

to taste." The episode ‘An Unholy Death’ reveals that he suffers from "sphenisciphobia" (an irrational fear of nuns) as a result of a painful experience during his school days.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Poole, Richard Fictional British police detectives Television characters introduced in 2011 Death in Paradise characters Police forces of British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies