Shaquille Ali-Yebuah Talks … Death In Paradise

Sometimes an interview lands in your inbox and you quietly make sure it stays with you …

That was the case when the opportunity came up to speak with Shaquille Ali-Yebuah. I’ve known Shaquille for years, long before audiences met him as Seb on Death in Paradise, so watching his journey unfold has felt a little like seeing someone’s manifestations slowly take physical form. The auditions, the setbacks, the wins that didn’t always make headlines but mattered all the same. Now, two seasons into one of the BBC’s longest running and most loved dramas, the world is catching up.

Across Seasons 14 and 15, Shaquille’s Seb has brought a fresh energy to Saint Marie, an optimistic young Caribbean officer whose warmth, humour and rhythm feel unmistakably authentic. But behind the character is an actor who has been building his career with patience and intention, from projects like iBoy to comedies including The First Team and I Hate You.

I caught up with Shaquille to talk about shaping Seb with his Caribbean heritage, life filming in Guadeloupe, navigating grief, and why he believes the next chapter of his creative journey is only just getting started.

Please introduce yourself …

My name is Shaquille Ali-Yebuah, I’m the sign they love to hate but have to rate and that is a “Gemini” even if YOU don’t, your mother sees the “Gem in I”.. ya feel me? Representing Northwest London! Borough of Brent!

Describe your life in one word or a sentence …

The word would be ineffable but taking it further I would say my life is just the art of alchemizing pain into purpose, hope into motion, and dreams into lived reality.

Why are we here?

Bwoii, not to get too deep, but I think we are vessels of the universe experiencing life and everything in human form, souls in temporary bodies, here to learn empathy, patience, forgiveness, courage, and surrender. Here to love deeply, fail honestly, rise humbly, and depart lightly. And in between birth and death, we are here to become… but the short answer is we are here to talk about Shaquille Ali-Yebuah and his career thus far.

Playing Seb across Seasons 14 and 15, were there moments where you brought your own experiences into him things viewers might not realise were personal touches?

Well, coming from a Jamaican background, I brought that natural Caribbean essence and made the character my own, through phrases, slang words, and mannerisms unique to Caribbeans that may not be realised by non-Caribbean viewers. But I feel like it’s my responsibility to make it authentic and represent.

In interviews you’ve spoken before about bringing your own lived experience into roles. Across these two seasons, were there moments where you quietly infused Seb with something personal that viewers might not realise was coming from you?

Yes, with Seb, fortunately, I was given some freedom to shape him beyond what the writers had already created. Being a young Caribbean officer from the island, I brought an optimistic mindset to the character and to how he approaches cases, in contrast to some of the other characters who aren’t from the island. The rhythm of Saint Marie is unique, so it was important to reflect that rhythm through Seb.

Working on a recurring series far from home must have its challenges. How has living and working away from home impacted your perspective, both personally and professionally?

Guadeloupe is a beautiful island with a warm spirit. It has a certain laid-back rhythm, which enhanced my perspective on living in the present moment, being fully present, not overthinking the future, and just being. Of course, it has its challenges, like being away from loved ones. After seven months, when you return, you feel like you’ve missed so much: birthdays, special moments, the seasons changing, you might have left around Easter and return in winter, and a lot can change in just seven months.

Back in 2016, you talked about getting started with Identity Drama School and early roles like What Does the K Stand For? and Wish List. Looking at everything you’ve done since then from iBoy to The First Team, I Hate You and now Death in Paradise, how do you feel your career trajectory has evolved?

I genuinely feel blessed. The only thing on my mind is achieving my goals, telling great stories, and paving the way for the next. It’s been nearly 13 years since I started, so nothing happens overnight. For every “Yes,” there are 100 “No”s. Looking back on the projects, I didn’t know it at the time, but many of them have become iconic: iBoy was the first UK Netflix Original, The First Team was created by the geniuses behind The Inbetweeners, Nike’s Winner Stays On is the most viewed Nike and YouTube advert of all time, and Death in Paradise is one of BBC’s longest-running TV shows. It’s definitely been quality over quantity.

Looking back at that young actor who spoke about reacting truthfully and staying humble, what would you say to him now that you’re two seasons deep into one of the BBC’s most beloved dramas?

I would tell him, “I’m proud of you, champ. There’s still a long way to go, but through pain, adversity, and grief, and coming from a place where not many make it out, you’ve achieved great things. Take time to realise that you’re living in a prayer and in your manifestations.”

You’ve mentioned before that you’ve turned down roles because they didn’t sit right with you morally. How has sticking to your principles shaped your career trajectory, and now, seeing where you are, do you feel those choices ultimately brought you to work you’re proud of?

My mother and Nana always told me, “What’s meant for you won’t miss you,” and that’s how I live my life. What’s meant to be will be, and I’ve always felt that those choices have redirected me toward something greater, something meaningful that I could be proud of.

Death In Paradise came into your life at a deeply personal time following the passing of your younger brother Zion in 2023. How has playing Seb in Death in Paradise helped you cope with that loss, and does the show’s environment both on and off screen feel healing in some way?

Long live Zi! Yes, it was a crazy time, as you know, you even saw him grow up and witnessed firsthand how we were all affected. But I feel like it came at the right time, literally one of my first auditions after taking a year off. I feel like the island definitely helped me heal, alongside the role and the environment. Having my family there as well and experiencing the peace and the island’s different rhythm of living made a big difference. My little brother was very spiritual, so his energy was definitely felt out there.

Looking ahead, outside of Seb and Death In Paradise, are there stories, genres or creative roles you’re itching to explore next possibly writing or directing that you feel will push your artistry even further?

Well, I’m a creative by nature, so my phone and laptop are overflowing with projects crying out for me to release. I get so many great ideas that I tend to get overwhelmed, busy, and procrastinate. But I spoke to the young, fly dude in the mirror, and we’re changing that. There’s a lot coming, this isn’t even my final form, Tam! Lol.

GETTING TO KNOW …

If not this, then what?
If it was something outside of the creative world, I’d be a Therapist or a Journalist, I love speaking to people through their problems and finding solutions, and I love travelling, learning new cultures, then applying what I’ve learnt, and teaching others, so journalism would fit right also.

What’s made you sad, mad, & glad this week?
Sad to see how them monkeys was treating my boy Baby Punch, Mad to see so much injustice in the world, Glad to see the people waking up to the reality, (not to get too deep).. so short answer is I’m glad to see another day to be HIM again lol.

What are you watching?
His and Hers was the last series I got to watch, been so busy it took me a month, I’ve been reading more.

What are you reading?
Just Finished The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday, moving onto The Malcolm X AutoBiography by Alex Haley which is overdue.

The last film you watched?
Just watched Bugonia & The Running Man on the flight.

The last play you saw?
Retrograde at the Apollo Theatre, was very good, great performances.

The last live music event?
I can’t remember I think it might’ve been City Splash in 2025 just before I went back to Guadeloupe, was meant to see Capleton in Guadeloupe in the summer but I fell asleep after work and woke up to messages and missed calls from his team, I was vex lol.

What’s currently on your playlist?
My playlist goes from Neo Soul to Motown to rare groove to hiphop, dancehall and jazz, only on my playlist you would hear G Herbo mixed into Etta James then mixed into Vybz Kartel lol, but one song that’s been on repeat recently is Olivia Dean – Couple minutes, that has had me in a headlock! It’s on repeat in the car, in the gym, people walk pass and probably think I’m listening to some serious drill, when secretly I’m doing bench press singing Back On Your Sofaaaa … that and Folded by Kehlani, we can’t use those though for this interview though lol so let’s go with Keith Murray – Most Beautiful Thing in the World.

Which podcast are you listening to?
I actually haven’t been listening to much podcasts recently, but I have been listening to audiobooks when on the move, the last one was 50 Cent Hustle Harder.

What’s on your bucket list?
Learn to play Saxophone and get a Full Bike License just because. I actually want to meet and get gems from Martin Scorsese, Morgan Freeman and Denzel and a few others seeing as the legends are getting older right before our eyes. That and obviously more travelling.

Where’s your happy place?
My Nana’s, Jamaica, My mums dinner table, the studio.

Celebrate someone else …
There’s a lot of people doing great things right now, in different spaces so shout out all of them! But Right now I’ve been watching
travel content so shoutout FOC82/Binny’s Bin Travelling on YouTube, young brother from northwest travelling random countries we wouldn’t even think of going, giving us great insight and tips. it’s very informative, I rate it.

What’s next?
More great stories, meaningful roles, and elevation in all aspects.

Where can we find you?
Real_Shacky

Where can we watch you at work?
BBC1 9PM every Friday, tune into BBC iPlayer aswell and catch up on Season 14/15 of Death in Paradise.

This week’s episode of Death in Paradise will air on iPlayer on Friday at 9pm, and on BBC One on Monday at 9pm. Then back to Friday next week!