Beyond Paradise fans have been flocking to the Cornish seaside after the hit detective series impressed them with stunning vistas and a cosy vibe.
But the reality for those living in coastal town Looe, where the BBC show is set, is completely different, with residents painting a portrait of an isolated and unprosperous existence.
The series, which first aired in 2023, is a spin-off of immensely popular crime drama Death In Paradise and has proved a hit among viewers across two seasons.
It tracks Detective Inspector Humphrey Goodman (Kris Marshall), who moves from the Caribbean to fictional town Shipton Abbott after becoming engaged to Martha Lloyd (Sally Bretton).
He makes a vast impact on the small group of existing police officers in the area, overhauling the way they go about their work.
Viewers are currently being dazzled by the show’s third season, to the extent that many are visiting Looe, according to CornwallLive, but the town is not the ‘paradise’ fans are expecting it to be.
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Beyond Paradise fans have been flocking to Cornish seaside town Looe (pictured: Kris Marshall as DI Humphrey Goodman and Zahra Ahmadi as DS Esther Williams in season three)
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The show tracks DI Goodman who moves from the Caribbean to fictional town Shipton Abbott after becoming engaged to Martha Lloyd (Sally Bretton, left)
The publication reports that the area remains blighted by ‘deprivation’ and struggles with ‘housing, poverty, social problems, a declining fishing industry and even loneliness’.
There has also been a spike in homelessness in Looe, in part due to many properties being converted into Airbnbs for the floods of tourists.
On top of this, ‘hidden homelessness’ is on the rise, with many locals being driven to live in vans, tents or even on other people’s sofas as they look to stay off the streets.
It has not been helped by a string of weather-related crises, including floods which have left shops and homes ruined, and four serious landslides.
This week, MailOnline reported that villagers in similar seaside ports around the country have been encouraged to fight back against rich out-of-towners buying second homes.
From April 1, more than 150 councils across the country will increase the tax on second homes to 100 per cent – meaning bills could rise as much as £10,000 for the year.
MailOnline visited villages around the country where councils are urging locals to report their wealthy neighbours if they suspect them of being second home owners.
From the ‘second home capital’ of Mousehole, Cornwall, to the north Wales beach resort of Rhosneigr, locals are preparing to dob in any neighbours avoiding council tax increases that could cost them thousands.
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The reality for those living in Looe, where the BBC show is set, is completely different, with one resident painting a portrait of an isolated and unprosperous existence
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The series (pictured, left), which first aired in 2023, is a spin-off of crime drama Death In Paradise and tourists have been flocking to snap selfies at the show’s filming locations (right)
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Elsewhere in the town, locals remarked how many people loved watching the programme being filmed
Looe is believed to be more affected than most by the severe housing crisis hitting Britain’s southernmost county.
The former fishing town on the south Cornwall coast is famous for its stunning scenery and quaint harbour and has been a popular tourist destination for decades.
Beyond Paradise’s staggering audiences of more than eight million triggered another increase in visitors to Looe, with reports of streets being clogged with fans in search of selfies.
Staff in the Guildhall Market – which doubles as Shipton Abbott police station – have even had to redirect customers to the town’s real police station half a mile away.
The show is filmed in numerous locations in Devon and Cornwall but Looe – a bustling fishing port with a thriving tourism industry and many independent businesses – was chosen as the home for the show because it felt like an authentic town.
In an interview, producer Tim Key explained: ‘We travelled around lots of different places and were on the hunt to find somewhere that felt like a real town over a seaside resort.
‘When we went to Looe, which is actually in Cornwall, it was a beautiful tourist town, but also a thriving community with fishing businesses, so we felt we had found our home.
‘The fictional town is set slightly back from the coast, so we have all sorts of story worlds to dive into.
BBC’s Beyond Paradise crime drama returns with series three trailer
There are reports that the area (right) remains blighted by ‘deprivation’ and struggling with ‘housing, poverty, social problems, a declining fishing industry and even loneliness’
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Producer Tim Key said: ‘The fictional town is set slightly back from the coast, so we have all sorts of story worlds to dive into’
‘The series looks beautiful, and we were lucky with the weather as well.’
One key location that is not open to the public is DI Goodman’s houseboat, during filming the boat is moored on the banks of the Tamar River at Pentillie Castle.
The quay – and neighbouring stone cottage which also features in the show – is a private home although couples can choose to have their wedding in the neighbouring Bathing Hut.
Sammie Coryton who owns the castle – which can be rented for private events – told MailOnline last year that being in the show has not directly led to more business.
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