Ralf Little, the actor best known for his roles in The Royle Family and Death in Paradise, has experienced a life marked by both personal tragedy and professional success. From the loss of his sister at a young age to his decision to leave the hit BBC crime drama, Little's journey has been anything but ordinary. This weekend, he returns to screens on Sunday Brunch with Tim Lovejoy and Simon Rimmer.
Childhood Tragedy
Little's sister, Ceri, died at the age of 14 when she fell from a 150-foot clifftop during a family holiday in Cornwall. He was nine years old at the time. Speaking on his podcast with Will Mellor, Little became emotional as he discussed the impact of her death on his family.
He said: "My parents were fantastic with us and did the best that they could. But their relationship broke down really in a really difficult way and that was very difficult for us. You know, there's no way of putting this that's not blunt, but, you know, they had three kids and an idyllic family life and then one of the kids was alive one week and dead the next."
Little also reflected on his decision not to have children, saying: "My mum was really protective of us. Really protective. And it happened anyway because you can't wrap your kids in cotton wool and protect them 24-7." He added that the loss drove him to strive for excellence in his career.
Death in Paradise Exit
Little joined Death in Paradise as DI Neville Parker in 2020 and became a fan favourite. He announced his exit in 2024, with Don Gilet taking over as DI Mervin Wilson. Little explained that both he and the producers felt his character had reached a natural conclusion.
He said: "My time on Saint Marie has come to an end - what an end! New adventures await Neville, and he got to sail away into the sunset with his best friend. Who knows what happens for them next!"
However, his mother worried that leaving the show would end his acting career. He told The I in 2025: "About six months ago, I went to visit her. My mum's done this my whole career - she's always worried about me. She went: 'So, I've been thinking, now that your career's over, you could go back to medical school this September and qualify in five years, and the good news is you could still work till you're 75.'"
Medical Dreams
Before becoming an actor, Little studied at the University of Manchester Medical School with hopes of becoming a doctor. He dropped out when he landed the role of Antony Royle in The Royle Family. His brother is a doctor, and his sister is a nurse.
In a 2021 interview with The Telegraph, Little said: "Yes, I wonder what might have been. Being a doctor is a calling. I was serious about it. Acting was just a fun hobby. I look at NHS workers now, and they're unbelievably heroic, but I guess I'm lucky not to have to deal with the s**t that's thrown at them."
Little also had a brief stint as a semi-professional footballer, playing for Maidstone United in the early 2000s.
