Paradise

Frequently crowned the county’s ‘most beautiful village’ with its stunning natural landscapes, historic 17th-century stone cottages and charming rural atmosphere – it’s the perfect tranquil paradise.

Tucked away between the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and Ribble Valley, brimming with fascinating history and stunning scenery, lies a village that appears ‘frozen in time’, often celebrated as Lancashire’s ‘most gorgeous village’.

The Lancashire community of Chipping ranks amongst those quintessential ‘picture postcard’ places you’d typically spot on television and instantly dream of calling home.

Boasting sweeping woodland vistas and immaculately maintained cottages, this settlement captures the true spirit of English countryside allure.

The area is equally famous for its deep historical foundations and cultural legacy, housing ancient stone dwellings, a historic inn with supernatural stories, and a flourishing community.

Chipping village’s past stretches back over a thousand years, and strolling through this charming hamlet feels like journeying through history, with the community exuding a distinctly medieval yet delightful ambiance, reports Lancs Live.

Indeed, many village stone cottages were built during the 1600s and 1700s.

A perfectly rural retreat, Chipping offers a wealth of attractions featuring cheese producers, a farm store, a furniture workshop, café, and arts centre, plus countless public walkways, bike paths and hiking trails.

This enchanting settlement showcases some of Lancashire’s most spectacular countryside directly at its entrance, providing endless attractions and pursuits in the neighbouring region.

Among Chipping’s most renowned attractions is Brabin’s Shop and Café, Britain’s longest continuously operating trading establishment; as of 2026, it functions as both a corner shop and eatery.

This modest enterprise has maintained its commercial role since initially welcoming customers in the 17th century, never fulfilling any alternative purpose.

The Sun Inn pub, an inviting yet notoriously legendary establishment, nestles discreetly on the corner of Chipping’s main thoroughfare, showcasing with pride its extensive paranormal heritage.

Upon reaching the village, visitors are greeted by evidence of Chipping’s RHS Gold Award for Britain in Bloom, with stunning floral displays scattered throughout the locale.

Venturing further into this magical settlement, a slender pathway, seemingly constructed for horse-drawn transport of bygone eras, draws travellers, flanked by delightful dwellings from the 17th and 18th centuries.

Investigating more thoroughly into the community, Chipping’s mesmerising heritage becomes immediately apparent to guests.

The village showcases the 13th Century St Bartholomew’s Church, an active Anglican place of worship holding Grade II Listed status, which has experienced partial restoration in 1505, 1706, and during the 19th Century.

However, whilst the settlement boasts an extensive and captivating history, it’s genuinely the residents who make this charming village truly extraordinary. Evidently taking enormous pride in their locality, numerous properties showcase spectacular floral displays, breathtaking facades, and remarkable stone-constructed dwellings with charming architectural features.

How to reach there

By car: Chipping sits roughly 10 miles from junction 31A on the M6.

By public transport: The closest railway and coach stations are situated in Preston.

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Death in Paradise is back for series 15 and new recruit Sergeant Mattie Fletcher will be joining the team in Saint Marie – here’s everything you need to know about the character

Death in Paradise is gearing up for its 15th season, welcoming back familiar faces and introducing some fresh ones. Don Gilet will be reprising his role as DI Mervin Wilson, while Commissioner Selwyn Patterson, portrayed by Don Warrington, makes a comeback to Saint Marie after a hiatus.

Elizabeth Bourgine’s Catherine Bordey, Shantol Jackson’s Sergeant Naomi Thomas, and Shaquille Ali-Yebuah’s Officer Sebastian Rose are all set to return for the 15th season. However, viewers will also meet a new face, Sergeant Mattie Fletcher.

Described as having a “rebellious” streak, Mattie is a fantastic addition to the Saint Marie squad. She’s brought to life by actress Catherine Garton, who steps into the cast following Ginny Holder’s departure from her role as Darlene Curtis. But what can BBC viewers anticipate from newcomer Mattie, and who is the actress behind her?

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of Death in Paradise series 15, reports the Express.

Who is Sergeant Mattie Fletcher?

Sergeant Mattie Fletcher is the latest addition to the Saint Marie team. She’ll make her debut in season 15, episode 1, with Detective Sergeant Naomi Thomas (Shantol Jackson) and Officer Sebastian Rose (Shaquille Ali-Yebuah) helping Mattie find her feet.

However, settling in might prove more challenging than expected as secrets from her past start to surface.

Discussing what audiences can anticipate from Sergeant Mattie, Don Gilet, who portrays DI Mervin Wilson, explained: “There’s definitely something of a rebel in Mattie. We haven’t had that rebellious element, really. She’s a bit younger, probably a similar age, give or take, to Officer Seb Rose, but she’s seen a lot more.

“She’s a sergeant and she’s more experienced and is always on the front foot, whereas Seb is going through his rookie stripes. It’s great seeing how the two of them connect – there’s a nurturing side as well as a rebellious side. She’s a great addition to the team.”

Who is Catherine Garton?

Catherine Garton, who portrays Mattie, described her character as “tenacious,” adding: “She’s really fun to play. She’s sassy, but she’s like your big sister who will tell you what’s what, but you can also come to her if you need to. You can have a laugh with her. She’s very passionate about things, about her work and about the people that she grows to love, especially in the team. She’s also very determined, almost too determined sometimes..”

She went on: “Audiences can expect some action. Someone who’s lovable and who’s trying their best, but almost to a fault. She has something to prove to herself and to others and sometimes she can do that to her detriment, but it comes from a place of passion. They will see ups, downs and lots of sass!”.

Catherine Garton takes on the role of new recruit Mattie, having previously appeared in The Gray House as Talulah and Ibiza Narcos as Kelly. Catherine recently graced our screens in Russell T Davies’ Doctor Who spin-off, The War Between the Land and the Sea.

This festive BBC series featured Catherine as Corporal Jane Hart throughout all four episodes.

The filming for the spin-off concluded in 2024, and it was only after wrapping up that Catherine learned she had secured the role of Sergeant Mattie Fletcher, a new regular on Death in Paradise. She amusingly revealed that she was shopping in TK Maxx when her agent broke the news.

She recalled: “I was in the shoe section, one shoe off, sliding another one on and my agent called me and told me. It was a moment!”.

Speaking about her experience filming in Guadeloupe, where the fictional town of Saint Marie is located, Catherine enthused: “I loved it – everyone was really welcoming. Before going to Guadeloupe, I didn’t quite know what to anticipate, then it exceeded any expectations I could have had. I love the island. Guadeloupe is like a postcard. It’s quite unreal. Every time I walked out I was like ‘this exists, wow!’. It’s absolutely stunning. Everyone’s nice. I love the culture. The food’s great. Everyone I work with is great. I don’t have any complaints!”.

When asked about meeting the rest of the cast and crew, Catherine admitted: “It was intimidating at first, because this is the biggest kind of role I’ve ever had, but everyone was just so nice and so welcoming. I remember the first time I saw Shantol and the biggest smile ever. I feel like I have family there now.”

Death in Paradise season 15 kicks off on BBC One and BBC iPlayer at 9pm on Friday, 30 January.