Death in Paradise has saved my career
Little’s big TV revival
ACTOR Ralf Little says TV crime series Death In Paradise saved him from just being known as the “skinny kid” from The Royle Family.
The star, 41, has won rave reviews as detective Neville Parker in the hit BBC One show, set in Guadeloupe.
Ralf admits the leading man part came at a time when he was becoming disillusioned with acting.
He insists it was difficult to shake off his two most famous roles – as Antony in beloved comedy The Royle Family and as “gawky” Jonny Keogh in sitcom Two Pints Of Lager And A Packet Of Crisps.
Ralf said: “I’ve always struggled for about 13 years to move away from the skinny kid in The Royle Family and the gawky lad in Two Pints.
“I left Two Pints in 2007. I think it took me until 2019, 12 years, to escape it.
“It felt like there were fewer opportunities where people would take a chance on me. Until Death In Paradise came along, I was starting to think, ‘Is my career sort of this now?’
“If I’m lucky I’ll get one job a year and not necessarily a lead. I’ve found it very difficult to break away from being that skinny 18-year-old.
“I think I’m so firmly rooted in the national psyche as a skinny kid. I think it’s taken Death In Paradise to change that. I’ve been waiting for it for years.
“I’ve been writing my own stuff and producing my own stuff, which has been a blessing. I’ve had the opportunity to do different things.
“But it’s not enough just doing them, they have to take off, they have to be seen. It’s a very difficult industry.” Ralf is
signed up for Series 11 of Death In Paradise, but he isn’t sure yet if he will feature in the commissioned Series 12.
He added: “I’ve been waiting for this type of role for 20 years, messing around playing supporting roles.”
●●Death In Paradise series 11 is expected to start on BBC One in January 2022.