About Sally Bretton
Sally Bretton is an English actor who trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London, graduating in 1999. She quickly found work in television comedy, appearing as Donna in the first series of The Office (2001), and went on to play Cat Durnford in the political satire Absolute Power (2003-2005) and Kim Alabaster in the cult hospital comedy Green Wing (2004-2006).
Her longest-running role is Lucy Adams in the BBC sitcom Not Going Out, which she has played opposite Lee Mack since 2007. Alongside her comedy work she has built a substantial stage career, including Honey in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (2002), which earned her a Manchester Evening News Theatre Award nomination, Goneril in King Lear at Shakespeare's Globe (2008), Lady Chiltern in An Ideal Husband (2018) and Margot Wendice in Dial M for Murder (2020). In 2025 she took a lead role in the thriller The Au Pair.
Bretton first played Martha Lloyd in Death in Paradise (2016-2017), as the romantic interest who eventually draws DI Humphrey Goodman away from Saint Marie. She reprises the role as a series regular in Beyond Paradise, where Martha has returned to her home town of Shipton Abbott and opened a restaurant while building a life with Humphrey. Her on-screen partnership with Kris Marshall earned a nomination at the 2024 TV Times Awards.
Sally Bretton as Martha Lloyd
Martha's return to her home area gives the series its emotional and community anchor. Her ambitions, family ties and history with Humphrey connect the police stories to everyday Shipton Abbott life.
Read the full Martha Lloyd character guide →
Key character relationships
- Humphrey Goodman — partner
- Anne Lloyd — mother
- Archie Hughes — former partner and business connection
Episodes
Sally Bretton is part of the continuing ensemble and appears throughout all four series and the Christmas specials. Browse the episode guide →
Sally Bretton TV shows and films
- The Office (2001, Donna)
- Absolute Power (2003-2005, Cat Durnford)
- Green Wing (2004-2006, Kim Alabaster)
- Not Going Out (2007-present, Lucy Adams)
- Death in Paradise (2016-2017, Martha Lloyd)
- Beyond Paradise (2023-present, Martha Lloyd)
- The Au Pair (2025, Zoe Dalton)
Sally Bretton: quick answers
Who does Sally Bretton play in Beyond Paradise?
Sally Bretton plays Martha Lloyd, café owner and humphrey's partner, in the BBC One drama Beyond Paradise. Martha's return to her home area gives the series its emotional and community anchor. Her ambitions, family ties and history with Humphrey connect the police stories to everyday Shipton Abbott life.
Was Sally Bretton in Death in Paradise?
Played Martha Lloyd in Death in Paradise (2016-2017), the character whose relationship with Humphrey led to his departure from Saint Marie.
What else has Sally Bretton been in?
Bretton's screen work includes The Office (2001, Donna); Absolute Power (2003-2005, Cat Durnford); Green Wing (2004-2006, Kim Alabaster); Not Going Out (2007-present, Lucy Adams); Death in Paradise (2016-2017, Martha Lloyd).
Is Sally Bretton in Beyond Paradise Series 5?
Sally Bretton was named among the returning cast when a fifth series was reported in April 2026. Filming took place in Cornwall and Devon in summer 2026 and the series is expected on BBC One in 2027.