Death in Paradise icon teases ‘so many twists’ as he lands new role after exit
Former Death in Paradise star Ralf Little has opened up about his exciting new role
Death in Paradise icon Ralf Little has teased “so many twists” as he landed a new role after his exit. The 45-year-old actor famously portrayed Detective Inspector Neville Parker in the popular crime series, set on the fictional Caribbean island of Saint Marie.
Neville became part of the Saint Marie police force in 2020, replacing DI Jack Mooney (Ardal O’Hanlon). During his time as Detective Inspector, he encountered numerous challenges, from battling his allergies and sun sensitivity to surviving a murder frame-up attempt.
Viewers were heartbroken when the show’s longest-serving detective confirmed he was leaving in 2024, with EastEnders actor Don Gilet subsequently announced as his successor.
Nearly two years after his departure, Ralf has secured an exciting new leading role in a stage adaptation of John le Carré’s 1963 espionage thriller, The Spy Who Came in From the Cold, reports the Express.
Ralf Little played Neville Parker in Death in Paradise(Image: BBC)
The story follows Alec Leamas, a British intelligence operative dispatched to East Germany during the Cold War as a fake defector to spread false information about a senior East German intelligence official. Ralf will portray Alec in the forthcoming UK tour, marking the first-ever theatrical production of any John le Carré novel.
The production will run for six months across 21 venues nationwide, kicking off on 12th March in Leicester and wrapping up at the end of August.
Ralf appeared on BBC’s The One Show on Monday (February 2), discussing his character’s dangerous mission with presenters Alex Jones and Roman Kemp.
“[Alec] is sort of exhausted by the job, he’s a spymaster. People under his care, one by one, his friends, colleagues and people he’s supposed to be looking after are captured and killed by the other side. He’s exhausted, mentally, morally and physically exhausted,” Ralf explained.
“He comes back to the UK and is persuaded by the top brass to go on one final mission to essentially track down and get revenge on the man who captured and eliminated all his friends and colleagues.”
The star has landed a new role(Image: BBC)
The actor joked: “So, it’s really dark and gritty. It’s James Bond without any of the sexy, fun stuff. Without any of the glamour, without any of the gadgets. The only reason I wanted to do it is I thought I might get a jet pack or an Aston Martin – I get none of that.”
Ralf continued: “The Spy Who Came in From the Cold was about the moral compass of what espionage is at its heart, and the end goal and what you have to achieve, and the moral compromises that have to be made along the way. I think that le Carré talked about the fact that a lot of people in real life – because he was in the espionage game – find themselves after retirement really unable to integrate because of the things they had to do and see.
“And that’s where Alec Leamas is. He’s out and he’s had enough, and he’s persuaded to go back for one more round.”
The actor wrapped up by saying: “It astonishes me that it’s never been done on stage before because it is so perfect for the stage, and it’s got so much dark, gritty [elements]. The way it’s going to be staged [has] so many twists in the tale. I can’t wait to get started.”
Death in Paradise is available to stream on BBC iPlayer
