01 February 2024 , 10:03
731
0
Death In Paradise star Ralf Little has sparked fears he's leaving the show.
Neville Parker will be making the 'biggest decision yet' in the new series, prompting fears amongst fans that he might be quitting the BBC detective drama series. The show is back for a new series on Sunday, and drama immediately strikes Saint Marie when Commissioner Selwyn Patterson is assassinated and shot, but will he be ok?
Speaking about Neville being the longest serving detective of Saint Marie, Ralf said: "Episode sixty nine was my first as DI Neville Parker, which is (almost) 7/10ths of the way to one hundred. So, the bulk of it was already there. But the idea that I'd be able to do another thirty one episodes on top of that to reach one hundred is astonishing. If I'm really honest, I was just hoping to get to the end of the first series and for everybody not to hate it. Everything after that was a bonus!
Neville will make a big decision this series (BBC / Red Planet Pictures / Denis Guyenon)"At the risk of sounding like a footballer going, 'It's all about the team', these personal milestones are lovely to reach and they're incredibly satisfying. But it is all about the show, the people loving it and everyone working together."
He added: "For me to have been here and be lucky enough to lead a stellar cast and be trusted with this legacy is something I can't believe. I thank my lucky stars every day and feel like I’ve won the lottery."
EastEnders' Jake Wood's snap of son has fans pointing out the pair's likeness
Ralf explained how Neville has changed throughout the years, and the heartbreak of what happened with 'Sophie' last series has forced him to think again about what he wants in the future.
Speaking about his time on the show so far, he added: "Neville's arc has always been to be bold enough to push himself out of his comfort zone. I'm still sick of reading about how he's a hypochondriac. He's not. We’ve made that clear right from the start.
"There were real issues that he was dealing with, but he’s learned that these are issues, and he must deal with them rather than hide away and protect himself. He faces them and lives a fuller and richer life for it. This series we’ve talked about how, due to the fallout from Sophie, he must do that all over again, but emotionally he has to kind of go, 'No I shouldn’t have to hide away, I have to face down everything that’s out there, even if it’s painful and difficult.' It’s a massive emotional journey for him and a really satisfying one."
*Follow Mirror Celebs and TV on TikTok, , , , , and .