Ralf Little’s DI Neville Parker will be replaced on Death In Paradise by ‘someone younger’ according to Beyond Paradise star Peter Davison.
Davison, who plays Richard Baxter in the BBC series, did not rule out taking the role himself, however.
Little, 44, quit the lead role in Death In Paradise after five years with a final appearance in March’s series 13 finale.
‘I’m always up for a challenge,’ Davison told The Express, ‘so I would not rule it out but I think the chances are they may go to someone a bit younger.’
In the wake of the shock announcement last month, The Inbetweeners’ Simon Bird, Cunk on Britain star Diane Morgan and Gavin and Stacey star Mathew Horne emerged as some early favourites – 39, 48 and 45 respectively.
Ralf Little’s DI Neville Parker will be replaced on Death In Paradise by ‘someone younger’ according to the show’s spinoff’s star Peter Davison
Although, Davison did not rule out the role for himself, saying: ‘I’m always up for a challenge, so I would not rule it out but I think the chances are they may go to someone a bit younger’
However, the BBC have kept tight-lipped regarding who could be Little’s successor.
Davison, who also had a spell on Death in Paradise, added that he had heard from former lead Ben Miller that he found the show’s schedule ‘a bit relentless’, though Little said he would have happily stayed on for even longer.
The Royle Family actor told BBC Breakfast: ‘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 finished, and his journey deserved to be completed and he deserved a nice happy ending. And so it just felt right.’
Little has been less able to talk about who he thinks his successor will be. In a recent Q&A session on Instagram he revealed: ‘I have honestly no idea and they haven’t told me, maybe they had no idea yet.
‘Like the rest of you, I’ll also be eagerly waiting to find out who’s next. No idea. But we’ll see what happens.’
Davison’s last stint was in the show’s spinoff where he found himself alongside Kris Marshall and Barbara Flynn.
The 73-year-old joined the show as a love interest for Barbara’s character, Anne, but his time on screen was cut short when Anne discovered he had a secret wife.
Beyond Paradise returns tomorrow at 8pm on BBC One.
