Death in Paradise 'may go for a new look' in new series with female star favourite to take over
As the beloved BBC series Death in Paradise prepares for a new chapter, speculation swirls around who will step into the shoes of departing star Ralf Little.
With bookmaker Coral placing comedian Diane Morgan as the odds-on favourite at 1-2 to take over the coveted detective role, fans are buzzing with anticipation over the potential shake-up.
Miranda Hart follows closely behind in the betting at 2-1, while Martin Clunes and Rupert Grint round out the top contenders at 7-2 and 5-1.
Coral spokesperson John Hill remarked: “Mandy star Diane Morgan tops our betting to replace Ralf Little on Death In Paradise. We think the show may go for a new look on the next series, with the comedian the most likely to land the lead detective role.”
As viewers eagerly await the official announcement, excitement mounts over the prospect of a fresh face bringing their own unique flair to the sun-soaked shores of Saint Marie.
Ralf portrayed DI Neville Parker in the show for nearly five years, with the character leaving in the series 13 finale.
Ralf addressed fans in a video message after his exit. He said: "So, there you have it! The secret's out! My time on Saint Marie has come to an end. But, what an end! New adventures await Neville and he got to sail off into the sunset with his best friend, and, you know, who knows what happens for them next!
"I just want to say, just an enormous thank you to everyone who watched and supported the show. When I arrived, four-and-a-half years ago, I knew I had big shoes to fill. Coming into a series beloved by millions, including me, was a huge responsibility. I had no idea if viewers would take to my interpretation of Neville's character and indeed to me, so it was quite a relief the response has been overwhelming."
Ralf, 44, is now set to head out on tour with close pal and fellow actor Will Mellor, 47, who he starred alongside in the hit sitcom Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps in the early noughties.
The duo now host the hit podcast Two Pints with Will And Ralf, which sees them chat about everything and anything in a pub together.
Will and Ralf are now taking their podcast out on the road. The pair will be visiting cities such as Leeds, Manchester and Newcastle throughout April as part of their tour.
Ralf took to Instagram to encourage fans to buy tickets to the tour, which begins in the coming days. The duo showed off their new merchandise to the camera and shared their excitement before their first show on Thursday, 4 April.
"Come and see us on tour! First show this Thursday April 4th in Leeds! Twopintspodcast.com. Leave your troubles at the door and spend a couple of hours with us two idiots," Ralf captioned the clip.
