Death in Paradise's Élizabeth Bourgine loves that Catherine helps fans 'want to grow old'

Élizabeth Bourgine loves the way her Death in Paradise character, Catherine Bordey, helps viewers look forward to growing old rather than dread it.

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Catherine has been a mainstay of the BBC show since its first season, with her bar acting as a safe haven for many of the other characters. But the actors tells Yahoo and other publications that what viewers enjoy most about Catherine is how she has remained unapologetically herself regardless of her age, and how her fashion sense and attitude to life shows what a joy aging can be.

"The fans always say to me, and ask me, [about] Catherine's style, the way she's dressed, the way she put['s on her] jewellery, the way she put wraps on her head," Bourgine explains. "And a lot of them try to do [the same] things in their lives and then send me the pictures saying 'what do you think about that? Ohh, can I do this? Where do you buy your things?'

"They really want to grow old but continue having fun with their style, the dresses, the jewellery. Be sexy, funny and just feel pretty and feel good, and Catherine is very important for that. For young girls and elderly women too, so it's very nice, it's very funny and I love that."

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Catherine returns in series 13 with a new adventure in front of her, becoming a grandmother for the first time. Though Bourgine is keen to clarify that the milestone won't change her attitude towards life: "She's staying with her lifestyle, and she's dating and dancing and having fun, even becoming grandmother.

"She will always be taking care of her dear friends, especially Selwyn because they've known each other for so long, and all the team, she loves very much. So [this season is about her] becoming older, becoming a grandmother, but still being a woman having fun."

While her character has her story set for this series, the actor is keen to take up fans on their suggestions for Catherine and what she deserves: "They are all asking me why doesn't she have a lover? Because she's pretty, she's free, she's a lovely woman.

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"She has time, she's the mayor, she loves everybody [but] she doesn't have a real love story so they always ask me. I do [want it] too, because Catherine should be dating and have a love story. She has to choose somebody, not for life, not for a wedding, just for fun and for love."

Death in Paradise series 13 premieres on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Sunday, 4 February at 9pm.

Watch the trailer for Death in Paradise season 13: