Death in Paradise favourite shares ‘gritty’ new role after BBC exit
Death in Paradise star Ralf Little has opened up about his 'gritty' new stage role after leaving the hit crime drama in 2024
Death in Paradise’s Ralf Little left the BBC show in 2024(Image: BBC)
Actor Ralf Little has discussed his latest venture following his departure from Death in Paradise in 2024.
The performer portrayed the endearing yet socially awkward DI Neville Parker in the BBC detective series for four years before choosing to exit, with Don Gilet assuming the role of DI Mervin Wilson.
Now, he’s exchanged screen work for theatre, joining the stage adaptation of John le Carré’s novel, The Spy Who Came In From The Cold.
Speaking on Channel 4’s Sunday Brunch, the performer discussed his portrayal of British intelligence operative Alec Leamas with presenters Tim Lovejoy and Simon Rimmer.
He explained: “There are no gadgets, no glamour, Le Carre’s work, you can kind of feel his disdain for the entire spy game, and he was in the intelligence service like Ian Fleming was, John [inaudible] was.
Ralf Little is in a new stage play(Image: CHANNEL 4)
“My character, Alec Leamas, the Berlin Wall has just gone up, set in 1961. Alec is head of the Berlin station, spying on the communists in East Germany.
“One by one, every one of his agents, who he looks after, which are the closest things he’s got to friends, because he can’t have real friends, he can’t be vulnerable because that can be exploited.”
“One by one, they are discovered, captured and eliminated. He basically watches all his friends disappear and get killed.
Ralf Little is in a new stage play(Image: CHANNEL 4)
“He comes back to London, emotionally exhausted, disillusioned, just ready to give it all up and is persuaded by the powers that be to go on one last mission, back to East Germany, back to try and capture his opposite number who is responsible for eliminating all his friends.”
Ralf explained that this is where the play commences, and from that point it’s packed with ‘twists and turns’, leaving audiences questioning who to trust, who to believe and who is lying, reports the Express.
Ralf was a fan-favourite on BBC’s Death in Paradise(Image: BBC / Red Planet / Denis Guyenon)
The actor revealed he was ‘loving’ portraying Alec, having long harboured ambitions to tackle a darker role, while acknowledging the fortune he’s enjoyed throughout his career.
He went on to say: “You always want to try and do something a bit different, I get it. I’ve been known over the years for playing affable, likeable characters.
“I understand why, and I’m delighted that I’ve been able to do that, but I’ve wanted to do something a bit grittier and grimier for a long time, and this has been my chance. Someone has taken a swing on me to do it.”
Sunday Brunch is available to watch on Channel 4 every Sunday from 10am.
