May 2nd 2024.
After an exciting four years of playing the beloved detective in Death in Paradise, Ralf Little has officially departed from the BBC crime drama. Fans have been eagerly waiting to find out who would take on the lead role, and now we finally have the answer. Don Gilet, known for his portrayal of the villainous Lucas Johnson on EastEnders, will be stepping into Ralf's shoes as Detective Inspector Mervin Wilson.
In the upcoming feature-length Christmas episode, viewers will get their first glimpse of Detective Wilson as he arrives on the idyllic island of Saint Marie from London. However, unlike his predecessor, he's not too thrilled about his new surroundings. This will be followed by a brand-new series in 2025, with Don joining returning regulars Don Warrington, Shantol Jackson, Ginny Holder, Élizabeth Bourgine, and Danny John-Jules.
Don, 57, is currently filming in Guadeloupe, where the show is set, and he couldn't be more excited about his new role. "Being offered the new lead role in Death in Paradise feels like a deeply loved and incredibly precious jewel has been placed in my hands," he shared. "This is a big show, with a big heart, and my love for it continues to grow. I am grateful, humbled, and dedicated to making this a memorable experience."
Despite the beautiful setting, Don admits that there are still challenging moments on set. "Even during those testing times when every sinew is screaming at me to run off the set and dive into the sea, swimming pool, or an ice-cold beer – whichever happens to be closer at the time," he joked.
This isn't Don's first time on the fictional island of Saint Marie, as he previously made a guest appearance in the fourth series as Andre Morgan. Ralf's departure from the show was bittersweet, as his final episode in March saw his character DI Neville Parker sail off into the sunset with DS Florence Cassell, played by Josephine Jobert.
Ralf, who is also known for his roles in Two Pints Of Lager And A Packet Of Crisps and The Royle Family, has been the longest-serving detective inspector on the show. In a recent interview, he opened up about his decision to leave the show, saying, "This last series was always going to be my last series. If it was in my heart, I would have wanted to do it for 20 more years. But for the show and my character, it just felt like his story deserved to be finished and his journey deserved to be completed with a happy ending."
Death in Paradise has been a fan favorite since its debut in 2011, and it's not hard to see why. With four male leads cracking cases in the sunshine – Ben Miller, Ardal O'Hanlon, Kris Marshall, and Ralf Little – the show has kept viewers on the edge of their seats for thirteen seasons. And for those who can't get enough, all episodes are available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
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