Ralph: Even my mum fears I’ll flop as Death In Paradise’s new star
RALF Little admits even his mum thinks he could flop as the new star of hit TV drama Death In Paradise.
The Royle Family star is replacing Ardal O’Hanlon on the BBC show which attracts up to eight million viewers.
But on landing the lead role, Ralf, 39, said: “Mum went, ‘But what if no one likes you and they stop watching it?’
“I was like, ‘Thanks, Mum!’ So I hope I don’t impact Death In Paradise like George Clooney did Batman, so only Christian Bale can come in and revive it.”
Renowned for its weekly dose of clever whodunnit murder mysteries against a stunning Caribbean backdrop, Death In Paradise is one of the highestrated dramas on TV.
Series 10 has already been commissioned by the BBC for broadcast next year.
Detective Inspector Mooney, played by Ardal O’Hanlon, will leave during the current ninth series and this week’s case is set to be his last.
But unlike Ralf’s mum, Ardal is confident that Little will be a hit with fans.
He said: “I know Ralf from meeting him late at night in dens of iniquity in London.
“He’s a great bloke and a really smart actor with lots of charisma.” Ralf got his big break aged just 18 when he landed a role in hit comedy The Royle Family.
He told the Radio Times: “I think I’m the luckiest person in the world to have stumbled out of nowhere into being in a bit of TV history. I was fortunate to be among true talent and genius.”
Viewers will see him make his debut in episode five of the current series on February 6.
He takes on the role of Detective Inspector Neville Parker, who has been reluctantly dispatched to investigate the suspicious death of a woman from his home city, Manchester.
● Death In Paradise continues on Thursdays at 9pm on BBC1. The full interview is in this week’s Radio Times.