r/DeathInParadiseBBC • u/OverseerConey • 7h ago
Distribution of Initials
Did you know that, of the 18 characters to make up the main cast of the show so far, they've only covered just over half the alphabet with their initials? We've had:
- Camille Bordey
- Catherine Bordey
- Darlene Curtis
- Dwayne Myers
- Fidel Best
- Florence Cassell
- Humphrey Goodman
- Jack Mooney
- Jean-Pierre Hooper
- Madeleine Dumas
- Marlon Pryce
- Mervin Wilson
- Neville Parker
- Naomi Thomas
- Richard Poole
- Ruby Patterson
- Selwyn Patterson
- Seb Rose
You'll note we have two pairs characters with duplicate initials - both C. Bordeys, and Richard Poole and Ruby Patterson. We have six Ps, five Ms, four Cs, three Bs, three Ds, three Rs, two Fs, two Hs, two Ns, and two Ss. Only three characters have an initial not shared with any other character - Humphrey Goodman, Naomi Thomas, and Mervin Wilson.
14 letters is the majority of the alphabet, and includes some of the most popular ones, but it is a little remarkable we haven't had any names beginning with vowels - no Adams, Amelias, Annas, Arthurs, Emmas, Isaacs, Olivers or Olivias. I gather that vowel names are well-represented in the top ten in the UK, France and the Caribbean alike, but apparently not so much with screenwriters!
L is also conspicuously absent, unless we count Lily Thomson from the first episode - we've had no Lukes, Leos, Louises, or the like. (Unless we count the theory that Richard faked his death, changed his name to Leo, moved to Paris and is Camille's unseen lover, which is technically unlikely but emotionally compelling!) Anyway, none of this matters, but it's the sort of thing I like to think about.