BBC’s Death in Paradise star Ralf Little is saying goodbye to the show after nearly five years of playing DI Neville Parker.
The actor, who has been the longest-serving lead, will make his last appearance in Sunday’s episode. His character’s storyline sees him on a quest to find true love. With his exit, the hit drama will need to find a new lead.
In 2023, it was the third most popular show in the UK, only behind Happy Valley and Doctor Who. Little, 44, was the fourth actor to take the lead, following Ben Miller, Kris Marshall and Ardal O’Hanlon.
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A source from the show said: “Ralf has been brilliant in the role and he’s given it a good long run. Fans are sure to be sad to see him go but they’ll also be happy for Neville.”
(Image: BBC / Red Planet Pictures / Denis Guyenon)
The series, which started in 2011, has already been commissioned for a 14th season and will return for a Christmas special this year. Filming for the special is set to start in the coming months, reports the Mirror.
Recently, fans have been speculating that beloved character Neville might be leaving the show. Fans of Death In Paradise were gutted when the show’s latest episode ended and their fave, DI Neville Parker, didn’t get to meet up with DS Florence Cassell.
(Image: BBC / Red Planet Pictures / Denis Guyenon)
The actor who plays Neville, a star from The Royle Family, was over the moon to join the show in 2019. He said back then: “It took less than 0.005 seconds to say yes to playing the new DI! How could I not? It is a joy to play Neville and I can’t wait for viewers to see him in paradise.”
In 2021, he wasn’t happy when people called the show a “guilty pleasure”. He wanted everyone to stop saying that. He told them: “What is there to be guilty about?
(Image: BBC / Red Planet Pictures)
“It is a high-quality show, with a complex murder with new characters and a mystery that has to be resolved and they do it all in an hour. And it looks beautiful – never was murder so enjoyable. It is an incredible achievement. It is something I am very proud of.”
This drama is watched all over the world, even in places like Australia, France, South Africa, and the USA. They just had their 100th episode.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
