Death in Paradise star Ben Miller has opened up about his new career move, which is worlds away from the BBC detective drama. The 60-year-old actor, who famously portrayed Detective Inspector Richard Poole in the beloved programme, appeared on the latest episode of Sunday Brunch (May 24) to discuss his latest venture.
Ben Miller Announces First Adult Novel
Speaking with hosts Tim Lovejoy and chef Simon Rimmer, Ben announced his first adult novel, titled A Very Dangerous Pursuit. The book serves as a prequel to The 39 Steps, a pioneering spy fiction that influenced the James Bond film series. The actor candidly explained: "My story winds the clock back two years earlier, the same character — The 39 Steps is not in the UK, mine is obviously in Europe — and another very intriguing thriller, spy type drama."
Comparing Richard Hannay to James Bond
Drawing comparisons between his protagonist Richard Hannay and James Bond, Ben disclosed that they bear no resemblance. He noted that the fictional character Richard is hopeless with gadgets and "incredibly self-conscious." Given The 39 Steps' enormous popularity, the hosts questioned Ben about whether he felt "pressure" to compose a prequel. He responded: "It's funny, I didn't think too much about it at the time, it's only now it's come out and people say, 'Did you get permission?'"
Departure from Death in Paradise
Ben is thoroughly familiar with mystery thrillers, having portrayed the original detective on Death in Paradise. However, the star departed at the beginning of series three to focus on his family. His character met his demise in 2014, leaving audiences stunned. Shedding light on his departure, he revealed: "Two weeks after I arrived in the Caribbean, Jessica found out that she was pregnant. I've just got divorced and I've finally met somebody and now I'm on the other side of the world and we're having a baby. That's a proper curveball to be on the end of. So I knew what I had to do to get my wife back — quit Death in Paradise!"
Possibility of a Comeback
The star didn't dismiss the possibility of a comeback, however. Speaking to Digital Spy in 2016, he said: "Yeah, of course I would. It would be great fun! I love the character, he's fantastic fun to do. But there's no talk of that whatsoever, to be honest with you. It was pretty final, I thought!"
Sunday Brunch airs Sundays from 10am on Channel 4.
