Ralf Little didn't want to leave 'Death in Paradise'.

Ralf Little did not want to leave Death in Paradise

Ralf Little did not want to leave Death in Paradise

The 44-year-old actor bowed out of his role as DI Neville Parker on the hit BBC mystery series in scenes that aired towards the end of March after four years on the show but admitted that he would have been happy to stay for a lot longer.

Speaking on 'BBC Breakfast', 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."

However, the 'Royle Family' star knew that his character's journey had come to a natural conclusion and admitted that the way he was written out felt "right" in the end.

He added: "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."

Ralf recently admitted that he had "no idea" when he signed up for the part whether viewers would take to him in the role at was surprised that he ended up staying for as long as he did.

He said: "My time on Saint Marie has come to an end – what an end! New adventures await Neville, and he got to sail away into the sunset with his best friend. Who knows what happens for them

next! I want to say an enormous thank you to everyone who watched and supported the show when I arrived four and a half years ago.

"Coming into a series beloved by millions was a huge responsibility and I had no idea whether viewers would take to my interpretation of Neville’s character, and indeed to me.

"It was quite a relief that the response has been overwhelming, and it’s been an absolute privilege and a pleasure to bring Neville Parker to all of you and to share his quite profound journey with you. "I can’t thank you all enough for the support over the last four and a half years. "

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