Kris Marshall left 'Death in Paradise' to be with his children.

Kris Marshall as DI Humphrey Goodman

Kris Marshall as DI Humphrey Goodman

The 43-year-old actor has revealed he quit the BBC One show, in which he played DI Humphrey Goodman, because he felt "bereft" having to use video conferencing app Skype to communicate with his young family while he was shooting the series.

Kris - who has four-year-old son Thomas and 13-month-old daughter Elsie with his wife Hannah - explained on 'Good Morning Britain': "The last series I did on my own, which was quite tough. Skyping just leaves me bereft and then I have to go and drown my sorrows in the bar.

"In previous years I've been able to take me family with but we had a daughter this time last year and so bringing her and my son, he's about to start school and it all became a bit of a juggling mission. So that was really the reason behind it."

Although he's only just announced his departure, bosses have already found his replacement and have confirmed Ardal O'Hanlon will take on the lead role.

The 51-year-old star will join the rest of the cast as DI Goodman in Saint Marie in the Caribbean following his debut on Thursday night's (02.02.17) episode.

Of his new role, Ardal said: "I am delighted to be joining 'Death in Paradise' and exploring what's made Mooney up and leave London for a life in the Caribbean. I've already had a taste of filming in Guadeloupe and can't wait to get back."

Ardal joins cast members Josephine Jobert [Officer Florence Cassell], Danny John-Jules [Dwayne Myers],and Don Warrington [Selwyn Patterson] for the rest of series six and he will be back in 2018 for the seventh installment.

The shows' bosses are keeping details of Kris' character's departure under wraps, but it will be aired on February 9.


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