Tobi King Bakare played JP Hooper on Death in Paradise for seven years. You know him; the nervous copper who was always trying to impress Dwayne. Started in 2014, left in 2021, then came back for series 14 in 2025.
Born in 1989 in London, Tobi King Bakare age is 36 now. He’s been acting for ages but Death in Paradise is what most people know him for. And honestly, JP was brilliant. Not some genius detective or action hero. Just a regular bloke who got better at his job over time.
He Actually Married His On-Screen Wife
Here’s the mad bit. Tobi Bakare wife is called Prisca Bakare. She’s an actress too, trained at the Oxford School of Drama. They met and got married in 2014 after what he called a “whirlwind romance”. Six months from meeting to marriage. Properly quick.
Then in 2020, Prisca Bakare joined Death in Paradise as JP’s wife, Rosey. Playing his actual wife. On screen. That must’ve been weird.
Tobi said it was the first time he’d ever seen her wear makeup because she never wears it, not even on their wedding day. He was dead impressed with her acting, though. Called her a “firecracker” and made sure everyone knew she got the role on her own merit, not because she was his wife.
They’ve got four kids now. Four. Imagine managing that when you’re both actors.
Tobi King Bakare Death In Paradise Role– Why JP Worked
JP Hooper started as this sweet, bumbling officer who followed Dwayne around like a lost puppy. Danny John-Jules played Dwayne, and watching those two together was half the fun.
But JP grew up on screen. Passed his sergeant’s exam. Got married. Had twins. Became more confident. Tobi Bakare played all of that properly. You believed it because he didn’t overdo it.
When he left in 2021, fans were gutted. He’d been there longer than some of the lead detectives. JP left Saint Marie to join some police intelligence unit in Paris.
Then the producer, Tim Key, rang him about coming back for series 14. He said he might relocate the whole family to Guadeloupe if Prisca got a regular role too. That’s how much they loved it there.
Tobi King Bakare Movies And TV Shows
He’s done loads besides Death in Paradise. Both Kingsman films: Kingsman: The Secret Service in 2014 and The Golden Circle in 2017. Played a character called Jamal.
He was in The Tunnel too, that dark Sky Atlantic thing about a murder in the Channel Tunnel. Played Chuks Akinade for nine episodes back in 2013.
More recent stuff includes Malpractice, that BBC medical drama from 2025 where he played Kwame Essiedu. Also did voice work for The Casting of Frank Stone video game in 2024, voicing Sam Green.
So Tobi King Bakare movies and TV shows range from comedy to action to serious drama. Not many actors can do all three convincingly.
The Family Bit
What comes across in interviews is that Tobi King Bakare puts his family first. When he talks about returning to Death in Paradise, he mentions his kids first. Would it work for them? Would they need to move? How would it affect school?
Tobi Bakare’s wife, Prisca, took time off acting to raise their children. Then came back when it worked for everyone. They’re both actors but they’ve made it work by being sensible about jobs and not chasing everything that comes along.
Four kids is mental. That’s loads of school runs and homework and organising. But they manage it by keeping priorities straight.
Why He’s Different
Tobi King Bakare isn’t a massive name, and that’s probably fine by him. He works consistently, gets good roles, and keeps his private life private. No constant social media updates, no showing off, just getting on with it.
JP Hooper wasn’t defined by his race. He was just a good copper who happened to be Black. That matters more than people realise. For years Black actors in British TV were stuck with specific types of roles. Tobi King Bakare and actors like him changed that just by being good at what they do.
Death in Paradise is shown everywhere. People around the world loved JP, and that’s because Tobi King Bakare played him like a real person, not some TV character.
What’s Next
He’s back on Death in Paradise for series 14. What happens after that? No idea. More films, maybe. More BBC dramas. One of the spin-offs, like Beyond Paradise or Return to Paradise.
Tobi King Bakare height isn’t particularly notable, as he’s just average height. Tobi King Bakare’s agent isn’t public information either, which is probably sensible. Agents prefer staying behind the scenes.
But whoever represents him has done alright. He’s worked steadily since he started, mixing big films with quality TV. The smart thing is he’s not typecast. He could’ve spent his career playing nice guys after JP, but he’s done different stuff. The Tunnel was dark. Kingsman was a daft action comedy. Malpractice was a serious medical drama.
The Bottom Line
Tobi King Bakare Death in Paradise journey is basically a normal career arc. Started at the bottom, worked hard, learned from experienced people, got better, and earned promotions. That’s why JP resonated with everyone. We’ve all been the new person at work trying not to mess up.
He came back for series 14 because he still cares about the character and the people he works with. Could’ve said no and moved on. But there’s clearly affection there.
At 36, Tobi King Bakare age means he’s got decades of career left if he wants it. He’s shown he can do comedy, drama, and action. TV, film, video games. He’s got range.
That’s the kind of career most actors would want. Not massive fame with paparazzi following you about, just steady work playing interesting characters whilst having time for your family.
His Tobi Bakare wife being an actress probably helps. They understand each other’s work. When she got cast opposite him on Death in Paradise, he understood the pressure and was properly supportive.
The Real Success
JP Hooper will always be what most people know Tobi King Bakare for, and there are worse things than being remembered for a character people genuinely loved.
He brought warmth and humour to JP. Made him feel like someone you’d actually want to work with. Not some perfect TV copper, just a decent bloke doing his best.
So there you go. Tobi King Bakare, the London lad born in 1989 who made a nervous Caribbean police officer into someone millions of people cared about. All whilst raising four kids with Prisca Bakare and keeping his head down. Not bad at all.
