Cyprus

DURING these cold, dreary months, I can’t get enough of the exotic escapism so many TV shows provide. 

Death In Paradise? I’d risk my life to be on the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe right now. 

The Good Ship Murder? Pfft, it’s not real killing, so get me on that cruise liner. 

And all I could think while watching Channel 5 drama The Sunshine Murders was, “Yes, I need to know who the culprit is, but would you look at that sunset!”. 

Sure, Nina Wadia’s character was whacked with a cricket bat off a cliff, but did you see that stunning white sand she landed on?  

The slaying took a back seat as I was seduced by the sights, scenery and shoreline. 

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So, lucky me, because I’ve been dispatched — with the cast — to the five-star Asimina Suites in Paphos, the hotel where the main characters stayed during their filming in Cyprus.

I hoped to see for myself why, of all the luxurious locations to pick from, this was such a killer setting. 

For starters, if you’re going to have “Sunshine” in a show’s title, it needs to be guaranteed. And 340 days of sun a year is as close as you can ask for.

Just ten miles from Paphos airport, which is a four-hour flight from London, the hotel overlooks the Mediterranean Sea. 

The water is Caribbean-like in colour and comfort — 24C in October means I can enjoy a sunrise swim without my nether regions feeling like they’ve just met a grisly end. 

It’s the ideal way to work up an appetite before turning cereal killer and slaughtering a mammoth breakfast buffet. 

The Asimina is a luxurious, adults-only (16+) resort, and my accommodation had a balcony, king-sized bed, en suite shower and bath, living area, two TVs, espresso machine and mini bar.  

With 111 suites — some with swim-up pools — four spacious bars and four restaurants, it never feels crowded.

Star of the show is the beachside, fine-dining-quality Kymata restaurant. Trust me when I say the food here is so good, you’ll be in mourning for your beach body. 

Ease the overindulgence guilt by chasing an ace at the onsite tennis court, visiting the decent-sized gym or joining the joggers on the beautiful coastal path. 

The Asimina takes a particular pride in its swanky alcohol offerings and it holds complimentary gin tastings and cocktail-making classes.  

With live music every evening and themed nights with the likes of Elvis tribute acts, there’s no shortage of entertainment, either. 

But it’s all geared to pure tranquillity. 

The heaven-sent Elixir Spa offers a variety of massages. 

And you can kill time in the free-to-use sauna, steam bath and heated indoor pool. 

The real gem is the hospitality, though. I’ve never met such attentive staff. 

There are B&B, half-board and full-board options, but the Ultra All-Inclusive means as soon as your glass is empty, it is quickly topped up. 

From the beachside cabanas to the poolside sunbeds, everywhere is peaceful. Everything and everyone is relaxed.  

Even the breakwaters in the bay mean the waves only very gently lap at the shore. 

But between the bliss of annihilating the cocktail menu, you can’t come to this Unesco World Heritage city without digging into its history.

The concierge can arrange taxis to the Archaeological Park, Paphos Castle and the Tombs of the Kings. 

And because Paphos was named European Capital of Culture in 2017, huge investment has brought an alluring contrast of modern alongside historical. 

The charming Paphos Old Town is a hub for shopping and dining; contemporary restaurants and bars sit comfortably beside authentic Mediterranean tavernas. 

Swim naked 

When you enter any of the homely eateries, you’re treated like royalty and served mouth-watering meze with mind-blowing meat platters. 

It was a revelation to me just how good the wine is in Cyprus. Take my word for it and head into the peaks of the Troodos Mountains for a tour of the modern Oenou Yi Winery. 

Sipping their rosé while looking out across the vast vineyards is as good as it gets. 

And you can’t go to Cyprus without seeing Aphrodite’s Rock. 

Legend has it that if you swim naked around it three times during a full moon, you’ll have eternal youth. 

But I hadn’t necked enough rosé for that. An eye-opening fact I learnt is that Cyprus is a hidden gem for golf.

The island boasts four sensational courses, with Elea Golf Club’s Par-71, overlooking the Mediterranean, designed by golfing legend Nick Faldo. 

And here’s something you won’t get in the Algarve — book for the right time of year (January to March), and you can go skiing up Mount Olympus in the morning, tee off at lunchtime, then sunbathe on the beach at sunset. 

The curtain comes down on my idyllic island break over dinner with The Sunshine Murders stars Peter Andre, Emily Corcoran and Dora Chrysikou. 

It’s clear — OK, Peter’s biased as his ­parents are Cypriot — that they’ve been just as wowed by Cyprus and the Asimina Suites as I have. 

Emily said: “The locations are very important in television and particularly in cosy crime. They almost become a character in the show. 

“We needed to find somewhere that gave that really great level of escapism for the audience, and we definitely found that.” 

Thankfully, Emily, who also writes the show, has plans for a second series. 

That is dead-good news, because I could murder a sequel to this trip.