Ruper Grint, the Harry Potter star, is preparing to exchange Hogwarts for vacation horrors after emerging as the frontrunner to take over on Death in Paradise.
The daytime detective series, which premiered in 2011, has had its lead portrayed on a rotational basis every few seasons for the past 13 years.
Ben Miller was the comedy-drama’s main man from the start, until Kris Marshall took over; he was later replaced by Ardal O’Hanlon, a Father Ted actor.
And, most recently, Royle Family star Ralf Little led the series as DI Neville Parker before leaving for pastures new, stating that his most recent appearance was his last.
The search is now on for a new seaside detective, with many names rumoured to join the BBC series, which will return in early 2025.
So who is in the running?
Rupert Grint
Rupert Grint, the Harry Potter actor, is presently the bookies’ favourite to succeed Ralf Little, and the previous 48 hours appear to have been important – his odds have reduced dramatically.
John Hill, a spokesperson from Coral, said: ‘Rupert Grint is proving very popular in our next Death In Paradise lead detective betting. The actor’s odds have been slashed from 6-1 to 6-4, and he now tops the betting to replace Ralf Little.’
Between 2001 and 2011, the 35-year-old Essex actor played Ron Weasley in eight Harry Potter films. He has also appeared in mystery thrillers and dark comedy.
In 2017, he appeared in the Sky series Sick Note as an insurance agent who discovers that people treat him better if he is misdiagnosed with cancer.
In 2018, he debuted in the BBC drama The ABC Murders, playing police officer Inspector Crome in three episodes of the miniseries.
Simon Bird
The Inbetweeners star Simon Bird has also been talked up in recent weeks as a potential replacement for Ralf Little.
After appearing as Will McKenzie in the iconic sixth form comedy, and as Adam Goodman in Friday Night Dinner between 2011 and 2020, Simon has spent more time behind the camera in recent years.
But Coral still have him down as a hot favourite to become the new Detective Inspector, with his odds shortening to just 3-1 in the last month.
In 2019, he directed his first-ever feature film, The Days of Bagnold Summer, and he recently directed all six episodes of Such Brave Girls, a new comedy-drama from BBC Three.
Mathew Horne
Bookmaker Coral has made Mathew Horne, the star of Gavin and Stacey, its new favourite to succeed Ralf. His chances of becoming the next detective have dropped to just 6-4.
According to Coral’s John Hill, Matthew Horne is the biggest mover in our betting for the next main detective on Death In Paradise. He has received a lot of support in the previous 24 hours, which might indicate that he is currently leading the battle for the position.
After creating a reputation for himself on comic shows like The Catherine Tate Show, Nathan Barley, and, of course, Gavin and Stacey, he went on to feature on Bad Education.
Mathew appears in an episode of Death in Paradise in 2013, during the second season. This was the time when Ben Miller portrayed DI Richard Poole.
Diane Morgan
If Rupert Grint, Mathew Horne, and Simon Bird do not join Death in Paradise, the BBC series may have its first female protagonist, with Diane Morgan reportedly in the running, according to bookies.
The 48-year-old Bolton actress is most known to audiences as everyone’s favourite historical documentarian, Philomena Cunk, a role she introduced to TV full-time after cameo appearances on Charlie Brooker’s Weekly Wipe.
Despite her TV comedy career, she has extensive dramatic acting experience, having appeared in the thriller series Utopia, the comic drama Motherland, and the romantic drama film Me Before You.
Diane is presently 5-1 to take over at Saint Marie, better odds than Martin Clunes (8-1) and Miranda Hart (7-1).
Catch up with Death in Paradise on BBC iPlayer.
