Death in Paradise's Ben Miller exit explained as fans say 'that's that ruined'
Death in Paradise has returned to BBC One, with Don Gilet taking on the role of the new detective, DI Mervin Wilson. Initially, he found it difficult to connect with his team, who perceived him as dismissive and impolite.
However, he's already begun to demonstrate his value on the island and shown a softer side towards his colleagues. As he settles into life on Saint Marie, viewers have been reflecting on the show's previous lead detectives.
The series' first detective was Richard Poole, portrayed by Ben Miller. At the beginning of the third season, Poole was killed off and the bumbling London Detective Inspector Humphrey Goodman (Kris Marshall) was brought in to probe the death of his predecessor.
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Ben had a valid reason for exiting the show - he was about to become a dad and wanted to put his family first. He revealed to Digital Spy: "Two weeks after I arrived in the Caribbean, Jessica found out that she was pregnant.
"I've just got divorced and I've finally met somebody and now I'm on the other side of the world and we're having a baby. That's a proper curveball to be on the end of. So I knew what I had to do to get my wife back – quit Death in Paradise."
He did make a surprise return for the 10th anniversary special in a ghostly cameo.
Fans took to Reddit to voice their feelings about Ben's departure from the series.
One fan lamented: "It was my favourite series and now the heart of it's been ripped out. It just won't be the same - it's exactly like what happened when Charlie Sheen left Two and a Half Men, the charm was gone, even though only one cast member left."
Upon hearing the news of his exit, user bobafett86 expressed: "Well that's depressing news."
Another fan, Beatski, shared their disappointment: "Well, that's that ruined. why the hell has this happened?" Lomoeffect also chimed in, saying: "What?! I can't see how the series is going to work without him."
In his personal life, Ben welcomed another child with his wife, production executive Jessica Parker, expanding their family to include a son and a daughter. He was previously married to actress Belinda Stewart-Wilson, with whom he shares a son, before they divorced in 2011.
Death in Paradise continues to air on BBC One on Fridays at 9pm.
