Death in Paradise enthusiasts were ecstatic as Ralf Little graced the screen once more in a BBC repeat of the programme's ninth series on Tuesday night. Viewers relived Little's debut as Detective Neville Parker, where he arrived in Saint Marie tasked with cracking a young woman's murder.
With the departure of previous detective Jack Mooney, portrayed by Ardal O'Hanlon, it fell to DI Parker to unravel the mystery and catch the killer. Originally dispatched from Manchester to resolve the matter swiftly, the new DI found himself at odds with the Caribbean lifestyle, but as suspicious evidence emerged, his intended short stay was reluctantly extended.
Fans hardly contained their excitement, promptly taking to social media to express joy over Little's appearance. One viewer tweeted: '@deathinparadise @RalfLittle congratulations watching a rerun tonight.' Another posted: '#Deathinparadise with Ralph Little,' while a third humorously commented: 'Ralf Little is doing a bang-up job as the new Mr Bean. #deathinparadise #mrbean.'
A different fan chimed in with praises: 'Good evening Inspector Indeed! I see I'm just in time for the best part of #DeathInParadise.' Another stated: 'Watching repeat of @deathinparadis on @BBCOne with @RalfLittle, what a shame you have replaced him and so many of the original team.... this was the best.'
Earlier this year, Little confirmed his departure from the series, where he became known as the show's longest-standing detective. He emotionally shared on Instagram: '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.' He added: 'Coming into a series beloved by millions was a huge responsibility... It's been one of the most magical and profound experiences of my entire life.'
