Death in Paradise spin-off with lead female detective announced after Ralf Little's shock exit
BBC has announced a brand new spin-off of the popular show Death In Paradise, following Ralf Little's surprising departure.
The beloved DI Neville Parker (played by Ralf) left Saint Marie alongside Florence Cassell (Joséphine Jobert) as the BBC detective drama concluded its latest series.
While a Christmas special and a new series for next year have been confirmed, we're still in the dark about who will replace the detective and join the new recruit to solve the numerous murders on the Caribbean island.
However, the creators of the BBC detective series have now revealed that they've started filming a new show titled Return to Paradise, which will be a spin-off series set in sunny Australia - and for the first time in the franchise, there will be a lead female detective.
Home and Away star Anna Samson will play the lead role of DI Mackenzie Clarke.
The cast also includes Lloyd Griffith, Tai Hara, Catherine McClements, Celia Ireland, Andrea Demetriades and Aaron McGrath. The storyline will follow DS Clarke, an Australian expat who has been solving some of London's toughest cases for the Metropolitan Police.
However, Mackenzie finds herself back in Australia - the last place she wants to be - when she is accused of tampering with evidence.
Co-creator and Executive Producer Peter Mattessi has shared his excitement about the new series, saying: "I'm beyond excited to welcome Producer Di Haddon and our two fabulous directors Mat King and Tenika Smith who are coming together with our amazing cast to bring the world of Return to Paradise to life.
He continued: “We are having so much fun creating this brand-new mystery series that brings an Australian twist to one of the globe's most successful television franchises.
“We think audiences in Australia, UK and around the world are going to fall in love with our wonderful characters, our delicious whodunits, and our gorgeous coastal Australian locations."
Fans can't wait to see who will be the new face in Death In Paradise's central role - and Ralf Little has chimed in on who could potentially replace Neville.
Responding to who should step in his shoes, 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."
