Ralf Little has admitted for the first time that he did not want to leave Death In Paradise. The
Actor said that in his heart he wanted to continue starring as the main detective in the
BBC crime show The 44-year-old
British star left the Caribbean-set series at the end of last month after four years on screen. Little, also known for Two Pints Of Lager And A Packet Of Crisps and The Royle Family, had been the longest-serving detective inspector of the series so far as Neville Parker. His character departed to join his romantic interest DS Florence Cassell, played by French
Actress Josephine Jobert, on a journey outside of the fictional island of Saint Marie. He told BBC Breakfast: "This last series was always going to be my last series, I had talks with the BBC, and with Red Planet, the production company and we all agreed that it just felt... if it was in my heart, like if it was just a heart decision, I'd have wanted to do it for 20 more years. But just for the show, and... for my character Neville, it just sort of felt like his story... it deserved to be sort of finished and his sort of journey... sort of deserved to be completed and he deserved a nice happy ending and so it just felt right." Neville left the island with Florence ( Image: PA Media) Little took over from Father Ted star Ardal O'Hanlon in 2020. Other actors who played the main DI role include My Family star Kris Marshall, whose character Detective Inspector Humphrey Goodman features in the spin-off Beyond Paradise, and Bridgerton star Ben Miller. He has been asked who his replacement will be, and he teased a woman could take over his role. Asked who would replace him, he said: "I wish I had some insider knowledge but I don’t. Someone younger, someone older? I have no idea. But every leader has to arrive on the island as a fish out of water. That’s the formula. And they have something within them that is broken, and that the island, and the people they work with, will heal. However they do it, that’s the key. "I don’t see why [it couldn't be a woman]. They have the scope to do anything and the opportunity to do anything, but also, this creative team can do anything because they’re so good. Death in Paradise is in such good hands and they have a gift for making clever choices. Literally nothing would surprise me." Death In Paradise will return with a
Christmas special at the end of this year and a new series is set for 2025. The BBC said the next lead actor will be announced in "due course".