Ralf Little announces new role that Death in Paradise fans will love
Ralf Little has announced his new spy role following his Death in Paradise exit.
Ralf Little played Neville Parker in Death in Paradise(Image: BBC)
Death in Paradise favourite Ralf Little has secured a fresh role that isn’t entirely removed from the BBC hit. The performer, who served as Death in Paradise’s most enduring detective prior to his departure, is set to portray disillusioned British intelligence operative Alec Leamas in the nationwide tour of John le Carré’s The Spy Who Came in From the Cold.
The production launches at Curve Leicester on 12 March 2026 and runs until August 2026. Additional casting announcements for the touring show are expected imminently.
Brought to the stage by acclaimed playwright and screenwriter David Eldridge (Festen, End), this marks the debut theatrical adaptation of le Carré’s work – the unrivalled authority on contemporary espionage fiction, whose portfolio includes Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and The Night Manager.
After its 2024 sell-out debut at Chichester Festival Theatre, The Spy Who Came In From The Cold transferred to the West End at @sohoplace in November 2025, with its closing night scheduled for 21 February 2026.
Ralf Little has landed a new role in a stage production(Image: BBC)
Rory Keenan originated the Alec Leamas character and is presently starring in the West End run, reports the Express.
The production’s synopsis reveals: “British intelligence officer Alec Leamas is weary, hardened, and ready to come in from the cold. But when spymaster George Smiley presents one final mission – dangerous, deceptive, and deeply personal – Leamas agrees to stay in the game.
“Dispatched into enemy territory, he finds his convictions tested and his defences breached by Liz Gold, a quietly defiant librarian whose compassion threatens to thaw his frostbitten heart.”
Discussing securing the part, Ralf enthused: “It is a huge privilege to be stepping into the shoes of one of John le Carré’s great literary creations, Alec Leamas, as we bring the murky world of his Cold War masterpiece to life on stage.
“I first read The Spy Who Came in From the Cold when I was 16, and it has stayed with me ever since. Reading David Eldridge’s brilliant script, I once again found myself drawn into the story’s unexpected twists and turns, its high-stakes game of cat-and-mouse between East and West, which David has captured so thrillingly in the play.”
Ralf Little is Death in Paradise’s longest standing detective(Image: BBC)
He continued, “Despite being written in the 60s, it feels startlingly relevant to the times we are living in now. I can’t wait to share this story with audiences old and new as we take it to cities right across the UK.”
Ralf, who holds the record as the longest-serving Detective Inspector, initially revealed his exit in March 2024. Shortly afterwards, it was confirmed that Don Gilet would succeed him as Mervin Wilson.
In a statement, he reflected: “My time on Saint Marie has come to an end – what an end! New adventures await Neville, and he got to sail away into the sunset with his best friend. Who knows what happens for them next!
“I want to say an enormous thank you to everyone who watched and supported the show when I arrived four and a half years ago. It was quite a relief that the response has been overwhelming, and it’s been an absolute privilege and a pleasure to bring Neville Parker to all of you and to share his quite profound journey with you.”
