BBC Death in Paradise's Ralf Little replacement 'confirmed' as returning detective

Death in Paradise enthusiasts are abuzz with speculation over who will fill Ralf Little's shoes as the lead detective of Saint Marie, following his departure from the role of Neville Parker at the conclusion of series 13. Since joining the BBC crime drama in 2020, Ralf has become the longest-serving DI after four years on the show.

However, some fans seem to think a returning DI could be making a comeback to replace Ralf. Taking to a Facebook fan page, one fan shared a picture of Ardal O'Hanlon as DI Jack Mooney. Jack ended up leaving Saint Marie and moved back to London to be with his daughter.

Many flocked to the comments section to plead with BBC bosses to bring the actor back to fill Ralf's shoes. "He was my favourite," one fan said as another went on: "I thought he was the best, bring him back."

A third person echoed: "I wish he could come back." Someone else suggested: "Jack was my favourite DI. He got involved with the community and the people. Maybe they will bring him back?"

"Love him, they should definitely bring him back to replace Ralf," another theorised.

Another fan theory is that DS Angela Young could be promoted to become the first female lead DI of the show. Portrayed by Shirley Henderson, known for her role in Harry Potter, Angela made a one-off appearance back in 2011 when she was seconded to the Saint Marie police force during a holiday.

Although her character was controversial, having wrongly accused a man of a crime, one viewer championed her as the next DI in a Facebook group discussion: "Watching classic episode with DS Angela young and think she should be the new DI."

Another fan concurred, praising Shirley Henderson's acting prowess: "She was my favourite but then I think Shirley Henderson is an amazing actress. I think she could mellow over time and become more likeable once we get to know her."

The casting rumours for the new DI on Death in Paradise have sparked a fiery debate among fans, with one viewer exclaiming: "I think she was the most disliked person on DIP LOL."

On the other hand, Inbetweeners icon Simon Bird is currently leading the race to replace Ralf according to bookmakers, with Betfred placing his chances at 36.4 percent and odds standing at 3/1.

Hot on his heels is none other than Martin Clunes of Doc Martin fame, who is listed at 6/1. Betfred spokesperson Kayley Cornelius remarked: "While Simon Bird still remains the firm favourite to replace Ralf Little, we could expect to see his 3/1 odds shorten in the coming weeks after a new fan favourite, Martin Clunes, has emerged."

"With the Doc Martin star being increasingly backed by bettors to take over as DI Neville Parker, we've seen him surge in the betting markets, positioning him as a strong second favourite with 6/1 odds. As these odds continue to shift in favour of Clunes, it seems likely that he'll soon overtake as the top contender."

Death in Paradise is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.