Kris Marshall is leaving BBC One’s Death in Paradise, with Father Ted and My Hero star Ardal O’Hanlon joining the cast as the show’s new lead detective.
Marshall joined the Caribbean cop show as DI Humphrey Goodman in 2013 when he replaced Ben Miller who bowed out after two seasons. O’Hanlon’s character, DI Jack Mooney, makes his debut in tonight’s episode when the team visit London for the first time.
When the crime fighters return to Saint Marie, it will be him who joins them in the place of Humphrey.
Ardal joins series regulars Josephine Jobert, Danny John-Jules, Tobi Bakare and Don Warrington for the remaining episodes of series six and will stay with the show when it returns for a seventh series in 2018.
Marshall said: “Death in Paradise has been an incredible experience, six months every year filming on a tropical island in the sunshine – what’s not to love!
“Humphrey was socially awkward and clumsy but also brilliant, I’ll miss him but it’s time to hand over to someone new and spend more time with my family.
“I know Ardal will do a superb job and I just hope Humphrey gets a happy ending!”
Commenting on his new role, O’Hanlon 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.”
Tim Key, Executive Producer, Red Planet Pictures commented: “It has been a joy to work with Kris Marshall over the last four years – he brought so much to the role of DI Humphrey Goodman and we’re going to miss him enormously.
“However we are thrilled to be welcoming Ardal to Saint Marie. He is comedy royalty and DI Mooney brings a brand new dimension to the show when he arrives on the island. We’re really excited about our plans for this series and beyond.”