The BBC unveiled the replacement for Ralf Little, leaving Death in Paradise fans perplexed.
Don Gilet, well known for his portrayal of the wicked Lucas Johnson in the soap opera EastEnders, will replace the 44-year-old actor.
He will portray Detective Inspector Mervin Wilson, who lands to the lovely island of Saint Marie from London and is not really delighted with his new surroundings.
Detective Wilson will make his first appearance in a feature-length Christmas episode later this year, followed by a new series in 2025.
However, as long-time watchers have pointed out, his casting creates a big narrative hole.
Don did appear in the long-running series’ season 4 opening in 2015, but as a killer.
The episode, Stab in the Dark, featured the murder of a rum distillery’s owner during a séance, with Don’s character Andre Morgan finally revealed as the perpetrator.
‘Wasn’t he a murderer in season 4? How they gonna explain that one,’ viewer Alice posted on X after the announcement.
‘I don’t mind them recasting those who have been in it before, it just seems a bit weird having someone who was a murderer in the show before,’ she added.
‘Are we meant to forget he played a baddie in an episode!’ Steve shared.
Another user, Conchie, also wrote: ‘The very fact he was the killer in a previous series should have precluded him from being considered. They will be editing old scripts next and just changing the names.’
One even said they ‘can’t watch it now’.
However, many others justified the decision, pointing out that Ralf had previously featured in the series as Will Teague in a 2013 episode.
Addressing it when he started portraying DI Neville Parker in 2020, the actor stated that they were ‘absolutely not referencing’ his former look.
‘There were some discussions about whether we should do a kind of cheeky little reference, or a nod or a wink or a clever little joke in the show,’ he said.
‘Then we thought: you know what, just leave it, people are going to know.
‘And it’s fine, and we can just accept that as part of the show’s history and move on. In TV world it’s not that unusual to be honest… I was four different characters in Heartbeat. Peter Capaldi was in an episode of Doctor Who before he was Doctor Who,’ he added, as reported by Radio Times.
Don, 57, has recently begun filming in Guadeloupe, alongside returning Death in Paradise regulars Don Warrington, Shantol Jackson, Ginny Holder, Élizabeth Bourgine and Danny John-Jules.
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Speaking about his new part, the Shetland actor said: “Being offered the new lead role in Death in Paradise feels like a deeply loved and extremely precious jewel has been placed in my hands.”
‘This is a big show, with a big heart and the love continually grows for it. It is my intention to never lose sight of that and to remain grateful, humbled and dedicated.
‘Even during those testing times when every sinew is screaming at me to run off the set and dive into the sea, swimming pool or an ice-cold beer – whichever happens to be closer at the time.’
Ralf’s final appearance as DI Neville Parker occurred in March. The episode saw him ultimately sail into the sunset with DS Florence Cassell (Joséphine Jobert), who made her spectacular comeback to the series.
It was a whirlwind of emotions as Neville was pushed to doubt his sanity in a twisting murder case and, more crucially, his life choices with Florence.
Ralf, also known as Two Pints Of Lager And A Packet Of Crisps and The Royle Family, is the series’ longest-serving detective inspector to date.
Speaking about his exit on BBC Breakfast this month, he said: ‘This last series was always going to be my last series, I had talks with the BBC, and with Red Planet, the production company and we all agreed that it just felt… if it was in my heart, like if it was just a heart decision, I’d have wanted to do it for 20 more years.
‘But just for the show, and… for my character Neville, it just sort of felt like his story… it deserved to be sort of finished and his sort of journey… sort of deserved to be completed and he deserved a nice happy ending and so it just felt right.’
Death in Paradise has been a fan favorite since it first aired on the BBC in 2011.
During its thirteen series, viewers have seen four male leads cracking cases in the sunshine – Ben Miller, Ardal O’Hanlon, Kris and Ralf.
Death in Paradise is streaming on BBC iPlayer.
