Ardal O’Hanlon has played DI Jack Mooney on the BBC show for the last three years, solving the most bizarre murders on the quietest island, but last week saw him exit for good, leaving space for his replacement DI Neville Parker (played by Ralf Little). However, in the wake of DI Jack Mooney, show bosses have now revealed some on-set secrets, letting slip who was the most difficult actor to work with.
The saying goes, never work with animals or children, and the cast of Death in Paradise certainly felt this.
Harry the Lizard has been a staple of the show since its inception in 2011, with his first appearance startling DI Richard Poole (Ben Miller).
Last week, Ardal’s character Jack said goodbye not just to his friends but to the island companion too, but it’s now been revealed all might not be as it seems with the tiny green creature.
Show boss, Tim Key, has shattered the assumption he is in fact a real lizard.
READ MORE: Death in Paradise fans fuming with DI Jack Mooney’s exits?
Next week will see Ardal’s replacement, Ralf Little, immediately thrown into the deep end.
Ardal explained: “I told Ralf all the cool restaurants to go to, but the only real advice I could give him, other than preparation, is stay cool, literally and metaphorically, when things go wrong. Because they will go wrong.”
“Also nothing can prepare you for the noise, the sheer cacophony on the island.
“The sun goes down at six o’clock and then the frogs and the crickets kick in.
“They don’t stop for 12 hours, it gets louder and louder. Then the wild dogs start barking and start chasing the wild hens. It is chaos out there, madness.”
Ardal’s replacement, Ralf admitted his mum thought taking the role of DI Neville Parker could be a disaster.
He told the Radio Times: “Mum went, ‘But what if no one likes you and they stop watching it?’
“I was like, ‘Thanks, Mum!’ So I hope I don’t affect Death in Paradise like George Clooney did Batman, so only Christian Bale can come in and revive it.
“We’re not supposed to reveal any details of how Ardal leaves and I join Death in Paradise, but it’s so exciting.”
Death in Paradise continues on BBC this Thursday at 9pm.
