Death in Paradise detective teases 'you never know' as they address return to BBC series

Death in Paradise's Ardal O'Hanlon, who played Detective Jack Mooney, has spoken out about the possibility of returning to the hit BBC series. The actor was succeeded by Ralf Little after his character decided to relocate back to London to be with his daughter.

Ardal has already made a comeback to the Death in Paradise universe, making a guest appearance in the Australian spin-off, Return to Paradise.

In an exclusive chat with Reach PLC, the comedian, who is also currently touring with his stand-up show, discussed the prospect of a return.

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He confessed, "My instinct would be no, but at the same time, you never know. Do you know what I mean?"

"I suppose he probably should never go back. But you never know. He might pop up; he might end up visiting the island. You just never know, and you never know in this business either," reports the Express.

Reflecting on when he first bagged the role, the comedian shared, "I couldn't believe it when I got the job in the first place on Death in Paradise. Like, it was a very definite pinch-me moment.

"It's an iconic show on the BBC, and it's seen all over the world. And I remember when I first saw that show coming on, with Ben Miller as the detective; I was very jealous.

"I thought, 'Why do I never get asked to do things like that?' and then so fast forward, like five or six years, and I get the call from the executive producer, and I really can't believe it."

When quizzed about his departure from the show, Ardal revealed, "From day one, it was always going to be like three series.

"As it turned out, I ended up doing part of a fourth series as well, before the handover to Ralf Little's character. So, to be honest with you, you just wouldn't be fit to do any more than that.

"I think the secret of the show's success is constantly changing the lead detective, you know, before people get bored with them."

Aside from his acting pursuits and his recent cameo in Return to Paradise, Ardal is currently making his way around the UK with his stand-up tour.

Ardal O'Hanlon is on tour with Not Himself until March 2026. Tickets can be purchased from https://www.ardalohanlon.com/tour.