A lead actor of the renowned BBC crime drama Death in Paradise is poised to bid farewell to the beloved series after nearly half a decade. Ralf Little, renowned for portraying DI Neville Parker, is slated to conclude his stint on the show in the  episode airing on Sunday, March 24.

In his final appearance, viewers can anticipate DI Parker’s quest for love to continue amidst grappling with one last enigma.

Little’s departure marks a transition for the show’s creators, who will introduce a fresh lead. Previously, Death in Paradise featured Ben Miller, Kris Marshall, and Ardal O’Hanlon in pivotal roles.

Ralf Little To Part Ways With Death in Paradise This Week

Discussing the exit, a source told:

“Ralf has been brilliant in the role and he’s given it a good long run. Fans are sure to be sad to see him go but they’ll also be happy for Neville.”

Speculation surrounding the lead actor’s departure had been circulating for a while, fueled by growing fan interest in clues suggesting DI Parker’s potential departure from the island for good.

Little first appeared on the BBC show back in 2019 when he shared:

“It took less than 0.005 seconds to say yes to playing the new DI! How could I not? It is a joy to play Neville and I can’t wait for viewers to see him in paradise.”

Death in Paradise, which premiered in 2011, has been commissioned for a 14th series along with a 2024 Christmas Special, currently in pre-production.

Death in Paradise airs on BBC One and BBC iPlayer every Sunday at 8 pm.