Detective Inspector Richard Poole is a character in the crime drama television series Death in Paradise, portrayed by Ben Miller.

Poole makes a brief guest cameo in Series 10, Episode 6 when Camille returned to the island briefly to help on a case and due to her mother Catherine being admitted to hospital after being attacked, leaving her close to death from a head trauma.

[2] According to Michael Hogan, Poole "harrumphs around Hugh Grant-ishly in his uptight Brit suit and carries a briefcase, endlessly dabbing at his forehead with a hankie."

Hogan goes on to argue that Poole is a "bland blend of several dozen quirky screen sleuths: a bit of Morse here, a dash of Columbo there, a pinch of Precious Ramotswe and a lug of Jonathan Creek to taste.

"[3] The episode ‘An Unholy Death’ reveals that he suffers from "sphenisciphobia" (an irrational fear of nuns) as a result of a painful experience during his school days.