Ralf Little admits his role on Death In Paradise is 'challenging and demanding' as he breaks a show record.
The BBC One show is returning for a Christmas special on Boxing Day, before it comes back for a new series with Ralf at the helm as Detective Inspector Neville Parker. As Neville tries to move on from losing his love interest Florence Cassell, Ralf admitted he is overjoyed to have broken a big record for the programme.
He is now the longest standing detective on the show, beating the likes of DI Humphrey Goodman (Kris Marshall) and DI Richard Poole (Ben Miller). Kris is returning to his role for a special BBC spin-off show.
However, Ralf says his job is "challenging" and "physically demanding" as he opened up what it meant to make history on the show.
He said: "I think officially I am now which I didn't expect and it does mean a lot to me, actually. It does. I think it's really, really fulfilling and flattering to have been able to do it for as long as I have.
"Like Neville, I joked about him having his feet under the table but still having his challenges, this is a challenging job. It is beautiful, but it does have its challenges. It's exhausting. It's physically demanding. It's relentless in terms of every day you're out there and it's hot and tiring and mentally tiring. Like when you work hard. We do. But I just love it."
Ahead of the festive season, it has now been revealed that the Christmas special will be a 90 minute bonanza, as fans are treated to the latest going-ons from the gorgeous sun soaked Saint Marie, with the episode airing on Boxing Day.
It will be broadcasted on BBC One at 9pm for an hour and a half which will no doubt thrill fans. Aside from that, the main series - the twelfth - will start airing just days later. The first episode of the series is listed for Friday, January 6 at 9pm.
Ralf will return as DI Neville Parker alongside Don Warrington as the Commissioner, who has been in the series since the start. Elizabeth Bourgine will return as Catherine Bordey whilst Tahj Miles, Officer Marlon Pryce, is also back. The team are joined by Shantol Jackson, who plays Sergeant Naomi Thomas, and Ginny Holder, who stars as Darlene.
Revealing what fans can expect from the Christmas special, bosses teased: "Christmas in Saint Marie takes a spooky turn this year when a case of Selwyn’s comes back to haunt him following the murder of a true crime podcaster on the hunt for a missing child.
"Marlon is forced to spend the night in a haunted house and Darlene takes a hard look at her life choices. And after a chance encounter in an airport car park, could love finally be in the air for Neville Parker?"
