Death in Paradise's Ralf Little's replacement 'sealed' as detective returns to Saint Marie
Death in Paradise's Ralf Little could be replaced by a familiar face, as fans are buzzing with the idea that a former detective might step back into the lead role. After Ralf announced he'd be hanging up his detective hat as Neville Parker at the end of series 13, speculation has been rife about who will take over the reins.
Ralf has made quite the impression since joining the BBC hit show in 2020, becoming the longest-serving DI to date. But whispers on social media suggest a past favourite could be making a dramatic return.
A snapshot of Ardal O'Hanlon as DI Jack Mooney was shared on a fan page, sparking excitement and calls for his return among many eager fans. As regular viewers will recall, Jack had previously left the tropical shores of Saint Marie for London to be closer to his daughter.
Yet despite his previous departure, it didn't stop the comments section from lighting up with viewers urging the BBC to bring Ardal back. "He was my favourite," gushed one viewer, while another added: "I thought he was the best, bring him back.", reports the Express.
Others chimed in with their hopes for a comeback from the former Father Ted star adding: "I wish he could come back."
And some even speculated: "Jack was my favourite DI. He got involved with the community and the people. Maybe they will bring him back?".
"Love him, they should definitely bring him back to replace Ralf," suggested another fan.
Meanwhile, another hot theory brewing is that DS Angela Young, played by Shirley Henderson of Harry Potter fame, might step up to become the first female lead DI after her memorable guest appearance in 2011. Fans still remember the now infamous time when Angela joined the Saint Marie police on secondment and wonder if she'll be the one to break the glass ceiling on the show.
While her character stirred up some controversy, one fan in a Facebook group discussion was quick to suggest her as the next lead detective: "Watching classic episode with DS Angela Young and think she should be the new DI."
Echoing the sentiment, another admirer of Shirley Henderson's talent added: "She was my favourite but then I think Shirley Henderson is an amazing actress. I think she could mellow over time and become more likeable once we get to know her."
Meanwhile, Simon Bird, famed for his role in The Inbetweeners, is currently tipped as the frontrunner to fill Ralf's shoes, with Betfred giving him a 36.4 percent chance and odds of 3/1.
Not far behind is Martin Clunes, known for his portrayal of Doc Martin, who comes in at 6/1. Betfred's Kayley Cornelius noted: "While Simon Bird still remains the firm favourite to replace Ralf Little, we could expect to see his 3/1 odds shorten in the coming weeks after a new fan favourite, Martin Clunes, has emerged."
"With the Doc Martin star being increasingly backed by bettors to take over as DI Neville Parker, we've seen him surge in the betting markets, positioning him as a strong second favourite with 6/1 odds. As these odds continue to shift in favour of Clunes, it seems likely that he'll soon overtake as the top contender."
