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Ralf Little exits Death in Paradise

Farewell to DI Neville Parker. Josephine Jobert, who plays DS Florence Cassell, has also departed UK drama.

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UK actor Ralf Little has departed hit mystery series Death in Paradise after 4 years as DI Neville Parker.

Little is the longest serving Detective Inspector with thirty-six episodes and three feature-length festive specials (as well as a cameo in spin-off show Beyond Paradise). Neville joined the Saint Marie police team in 2020, taking over from DI Jack Mooney (Ardal O’Hanlon). His four-year tenure as Detective Inspector saw him face many ups and downs, overcome his allergies, aversions to the sun, and even an attempt to frame him for murder to become Saint Marie’s longest serving sleuth.

Josephine Jobert, who plays DS Florence Cassell, has also departed.

Tim Key, Executive Producer for Red Planet Pictures, said: “Joining a successful show like Death in Paradise as the lead is a daunting and risky prospect, but Ralf’s confidence and talent shone through from day one and the audience response to Neville and his journey has been amazing. I can’t thank Ralf enough for everything he has brought to the show, on and off screen, and wish him all the very best for the future.”

New lead casting will be announced in due course.

Death in Paradise will return for a fourth feature-length Christmas special, followed by a new series in 2025.

ABC is also expected to announce casting for Return to Paradise filming in NSW imminently.

10 Responses

  1. It is hard saying goodbye to Ralf, though I didn’t like the Neville character in the beginning, he quickly became a favorite, and ended up being my second favorite of all time next to Arden- who I still miss! But I’m so glad it was a fitting, upbeat ending, with twists and turns wondering if he was absolutely going. So I will miss him so much, yet it was such a perfect story arc to the departure I can’t really complain. Great to see Dwayne back too, I hope he stays!

  3. I really do like the show but it must be said that the characters are for all intents are pretty much interchangeable. So im sure they will get some other established UK actor to turn up as a character that doesn’t want to be there, is socially awkward, has a bunch of quirks, phobias and eccentricities but is undeniably brilliant. Oh he will also spend half his time on the island mooning over a female he can’t bring himself to tell his feelings.

    1. I think when a show runs for so long it needs an injection of new characters to make it watchable..the same characters can begin to grate that’s why I believe they should have a few quirks or foibles that helps with their backstory otherwise their characters would be bland and boring…especially when a show follows the usual plot format…like murder, mystery and mayhem…there’s always someone that’s brilliant who solves the case but has something personal festering under the surface.

    2. Absolutely, and the overall concept has always been a bit questionable for me.

      Simon Bird from The Inbetweeners/Friday Night Dinner is the favourite to replace him.

  4. Just watched the final episode of series 13 this morning….sad to see Ralf go…but the one I was hoping would leave was DS Naomi Thomas…she is so serious in the role I swear if she smiled it would crack her face…it’s meant to be a light hearted murder mystery…. Officer Ruby Patterson at least bought some fun to the show…I hope they bring some one into the role who still has a few quirks and faults like the previous DIs.

    1. You need to keep refreshing characters for shows to go on. Sometimes characters work, sometimes they don’t. Sometimes the actors just don’t enjoy the job. So many factors involved,

      I’ll miss Ralf Little. He was by far my favourite and I’m sad we won’t get to see him and Humphrey investigate a case together in a crossover:

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