Don Warrington doesn't know why Death in Paradise is a success
WARNING: Spoilers ahead for Death In Paradise.
Death In Paradise's Tobi Bakare, who brought Sergeant JP Hooper to life, hung up his badge after seven seasons but why did he decide to exit the popular BBC comedy-drama?
As an integral part of the Honore Police team and a right-hand man to three detective inspectors, JP's potential promotion to Head Of the Police Training Programme left him torn.
It was a heart-to-heart with his wife Rosey, portrayed by Bakare's real-life partner Prisca Bakare, that sealed his decision to depart the sunny climes of Saint Marie.
Unlike previous cast departures, which were often due to the logistical challenges of filming in Guadeloupe and returning to England, Bakare's departure was driven by a different cause.
The 35-year-old actor experienced a profound moment in a Guadeloupean church during the filming of season seven.
Why did Tobi Bakare leave Death in Paradise as JP Hooper?
"The preacher mentioned seven years in a message. As soon as he mentioned seven years, I don't know what happened. It just clicked. It was like a moment of realisation," Bakare revealed to Radio Times.
Bakare opened up about his decision to leave Death In Paradise, sharing with fans: "I had three more years left.
"It was three more years until it would be seven years, but it just hit me so hard... At this time, my wife was in the UK, and I told her that I know when it's going to be time for me to leave the show.
"But I wanted her to go away, pray about it, and think about it. "She'd done so, and called me up the next day, and said, '2020'. So the exact time of the seven years. So we were like, 'Yeah, that's the time.' That's the actual reason."
Post-Death In Paradise, Bakare has been low-profile within the acting realm.
Nevertheless, he made a stir playing Walter Woodcock in Outlander last year, who after The Siege of Fort Ticonderoga, ends up a prisoner alongside Claire Fraser, played by Caitriona Balfe, with his character undergoing an amputation.
Death In Paradise is available to watch on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
