Years of Sally - 2017

The big news for 2017 was that "Not Going Out" was back!

Life had moved on 7 years for Lee and Lucy and the baby, born at the end of series 7, had now been joined by twins creating the full family unit. The family had moved out of London and into the suburbs. The comedy, though, remained at it's usual high standard. Through the series Lucy would find herself humiliated because she had forgotten the Wedding Anniversary, driven to a frankly un-Sally-like explosion of thankfully bleeped out swearing, a chaotic journey to catch the ferry, an out of control challenge with Lee over Hot Tub Fantasy Date's and a bout of marriage guidance. Just some of the hilarity. Series 8 was certainly an impressive way to return to the screen for "Not Going Out".

Quietly, and away from "Not Going Out", another role was starting to develop for Sally. Eventually it would become huge but, for now, it was just a "guest" part in a very successful BBC Program.

Martha Lloyd had been introduced to DI Humphrey Goodman at the end of Series 5 of "Death in Paradise". The intention had only ever been for the two to fall in love and, when Martha's long holiday ended, for Humphrey to follow her back to London and give up the Caribbean for good.

It took 6 episodes of the series for this to eventually happen. Sally would appear in 4 of those 6. 

In Episode 1 Martha arrives back on the island to find that Humphrey mistook the flight times and flight numbers and he managed not to collect her from the airport. Eventually they are to meet up at Catherine's bar. Throughout the episode the will they won't they kiss question is evident. Finally they do and the relationship is sealed.

In Episode 3 Martha and Humphrey travel to a nearby island and hotel for a romantic break which was, of course, interrupted by a murder.

In Episode 4 Martha is preparing to return to London to work in her new restaurant. A case get's in the way and a goodbye is not achieved.

In Episode 6 Humphrey had found himself working, over 2 episodes, on a case that saw him travel back to London. Of course he goes to see Martha and, initially, they decide that goodbye should be the right approach. But Humphrey is persuaded by DI Jack Mooney (Ardal O'Hanlon), Marshall's replacement in the show, that paradise is what you make it. Humphrey has an epiphany and heads back to Martha's restaurant to commit himself to a relationship, with her, in London.

And that was it. The end of Sally's guest role on "Death in Paradise". The only problem with this conclusion was that the fans loved Martha and Humphrey together. A fact that, eventually, the Producers would not be able to ignore.