Ralf Little admits that he didn't really want to leave Death in Paradise

Ralf Little has said that he didn't really want to give up his role in Death in Paradise.

The actor has played DI Neville Parker in the BBC crime drama for the past four years, making him the longest-serving lead in the show's history, but at the end of the last series his character left Saint Marie with DS Florence Cassell.

Little appeared on BBC Breakfast this morning (April 5) to promote an upcoming live podcast tour with his Two Pints ​​of Lager and a Packet of Crisps co-star Will Mellor and was asked about his exit from Death in Paradise.

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He said: “This last series was always going to be my last series. I had discussions with the BBC and with [production company] Red Planet, and we all agreed that it just felt like…if it had been in my heart, if it had just been a heart decision, I would have wanted to do it for 20 more years.

“But just for the show and for my character Neville, it just felt like his story deserved to be finished and his journey deserved to be completed and he deserved a nice happy ending. And so it just felt right.”

After his final episode aired, Little said: “My time on Saint Marie is over – what an end! New adventures await Neville and he got to sail off into the sunset with his best friend.”

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“It was one of the most magical and profound experiences of my life.

“The team making Death in Paradise – the producers, writers, directors, crew, guest actors and my amazing co-stars – know what they're doing and the future is in good hands. I can't wait to see what happens next. It's been the journey of a lifetime.”

Speculation continues as to who might replace Little as lead investigator in Death in Paradise, and the new cast will be announced in due course.

While the show returns for a feature-length Christmas special, followed by a new season in 2025, the spin-off Beyond Paradise, which sees the return of Kris Marshall's detective Humphrey Goodman, is currently airing its second season on BBC One.

Death in Paradise and its spin-off Beyond Paradise both air on BBC One and stream on BBC iPlayer.

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