Death in Paradise fans spot poignant Neville Parker tribute in spin-off Beyond Paradise

Beyond Paradise fans noticed a subtle reference to Neville Parker(Image: BBC / Red Planet Pictures / Denis Guyenon)

Loyal followers of Beyond Paradise have caught a sly nod to Death in Paradise’s beloved detective Neville Parker, played by Ralf Little, within the new spin-off’s latest episode. The show is drawing to a close this Friday, with fans eagerly anticipating how the storylines for Humphrey Goodman (portrayed by Kris Marshall) and Martha Lloyd (Sally Bretton) will pan out.

In the most recent airing, the former Saint Marie detective found himself entangled in a mishap involving skydiving. His original plan was to join Martha’s mother, Anne (played by Barbara Flynn), but an unforeseen injury meant she couldn’t jump, leaving Humphrey to go solo.

Typically, the bumbling Humphrey didn’t quite make the intended drop zone. Instead, his skydiving instructor got accidentally knocked out, resulting in Humphrey dangling precariously from a bridge via his parachute straps.

This isn’t new territory for the klutzy Humphrey; he experienced a comparable debacle in Beyond Paradise’s premiere episode, where he found himself suspended from a tree instead, reports Devon Live.

During this humour-filled escapade, sharp-eyed viewers remarked on an homage to the once skydive-fearing Neville Parker.

On a Facebook fan group, one eagle-eyed enthusiast probed: “Was it me or was there a little nod to Neville Parker and his utter fear of skydiving with Humphrey taking on the task?”

Echoing the catch, another affirmed: “Yes, partly that and partly just Humphrey being Humphrey. Remember the first time he met Esther? Stuck up that tree.”

A third fan quipped: “Hanging off Tamar Bridge.”

Ralf Little, famed for his role as Neville Parker in Death in Paradise, exited the series last year, with Don Gilet stepping in as the fresh-faced DI Mervin Wilson.

Viewers will remember how Neville was petrified of practically everything on the island and had a diet strictly limited to chicken and chips.

The fate of Beyond Paradise’s third series hangs in the balance, but the teaser for this Friday’s instalment reads: “When nurse Lucy vanishes on her way to work, suspicion falls on Josh Woods – Kelby’s rival.”

It goes on: “However, after Josh receives a chilling voicemail, the team starts to suspect that something far more sinister is at play. In the recording, Lucy can be heard shouting ‘devil” followed by a beastly growl.”

The synopsis tantalises: “Could the legend of the Devil’s Hump hold a vital clue to solving her disappearance? As the case intensifies, Humphrey finds himself torn between the personal and professional.

“With Rosie’s birthday fast approaching, he and Martha are determined to throw her the perfect party.”