Ralf Little has been confirmed as the new lead detective in the BBC's award-winning drama Death In Paradise, set to air on BBC One from January 2020. Little will portray Detective Inspector Neville Parker, a reluctant investigator sent to the fictional island of Saint Marie to probe the suspicious death of a woman from his home city, Manchester.
Little joins regular cast members Don Warrington, Tobi Bakare, Shyko Amos, Aude Legastelois, and Elizabeth Bourgine on location in Guadeloupe, where the series is filmed. Expressing his enthusiasm, Little stated: “It took less than 0.005 seconds to say yes to playing the new DI! How could I not? Ardal has been wonderful in the last few series and to follow in his footsteps in a place as idyllic as Guadeloupe was a great honour and a dream come true.”
Tim Key, Executive Producer at Red Planet Pictures, praised Little's casting: “We’re delighted to welcome Ralf to the team – he’s not only a great actor but also extremely funny, and from the moment he stepped on set we knew the show was in safe hands. Neville is a true fish out of water and the island of Saint Marie is going to test him to the core.” Tommy Bulfin, BBC Drama Commissioning Editor, added: “I am so pleased to welcome Ralf Little to the island, who we know will be brilliant in the role of D.I. Parker.”
It was previously announced that Ardal O’Hanlon, who plays D.I. Mooney, will depart during the upcoming series, though details of his exit remain under wraps. Death In Paradise, known for its weekly whodunnit mysteries set against a Caribbean backdrop, has already been renewed for a tenth series by the BBC.
