★★★★★ 0/5

Death In Paradise to farewell leading man

"It’s time to move on and explore other opportunities," says Ardal O’Hanlon.

6
Leave a comment

Another leading man is to exit UK whodunnit Death in Paradise, but the series will continue.

Ardal O’Hanlon, who joined in Season 5, will depart in the upcoming ninth season, due in the UK from January 2020.

O’Hanlon joined as D.I. Jack Mooney on the fictional island of Saint Marie following stars Ben Miller and Kris Marshall.

“I’ve spent the last four summers in Guadeloupe playing DI Jack Mooney (solving over 20 murder cases in my time there!) It’s been a hugely rewarding and unforgettable experience, working with incredibly talented actors, directors and crew while discovering a magical part of the world,” he said.

“However, it’s time to move on and explore other opportunities – preferably nearer the Arctic Circle. I’m confident that Death In Paradise will go from strength to strength and viewers will share my enthusiasm for Jack’s successor!”

Red Planet Pictures Executive Producer Tim Key says: “They say never meet your heroes, but working with Ardal is everything I could have hoped for. He’s a fantastic actor and a lovely man and we will all miss him enormously. We couldn’t be more grateful for his time as our lead detective and his story isn’t over yet – viewers will have to see how, why and when Jack Mooney leaves, but I don’t think there will be a dry eye in the house.”

Tommy Bulfin, Commissioning Editor, BBC Drama, adds: “We will be sad to say goodbye to DI Jack Mooney when the time comes, our audiences have loved the joy and humour he has brought to the Saint Marie police force over the last four series. Everyone at the BBC would like thank Ardal for his time on Death In Paradise but it’s not the end just yet; as one door closes another one opens, and we are very excited about what’s to come in the next chapter.”

Since launching in 2011, Death In Paradise remains one of the UK’s highest-rating dramas, with series eight pulling in an average of over seven million consolidated viewers and remains a big ticket BBC product around the world.

6 Responses

  2. The male leads seem to improve with each one, he is great, Ben was good also, Kris was OK in my opinion. Looking forward to a new lead, just sorry the female lead has gone also.

  3. One of the things I appreciated in the last changeover was that it happened mid-season. We saw Marshall’s character leave, but then we got to know O’Hanlon’s character. I hope they do the same this time around.

    Time for a misfit female detective?

Leave a Reply