Death in Paradise star 'swears to never return' after exit from BBC show

Fans of 'Death in Paradise' were left shocked after the recent departure of major stars Ralf Little and Joséphine Jobert, following the season 13 finale. Ralf, who has been portraying DI Neville Parker for the past four years, made a surprising exit from Saint Marie in March, confirming speculation about his potential departure which the BBC did not confirm until after the heartfelt final episode aired.

A month later, Ralf, aged 44, spoke to 'BBC Breakfast', explaining that his departure had been a long time coming: "This last series was always going to be my last," he said. He detailed his close collaboration with the BBC and the production company Red Planet Pictures in crafting a purposeful conclusion for Neville’s storyline, reports the Express.

Explaining his decision to leave the beloved crime drama, he remarked: "If it was just a heart decision, I would have wanted to do it for 20 more years."

However, he felt that Neville's story had naturally come to an end and deserved a fitting conclusion. In poignant final scenes, Neville finally professed his feelings to DS Florence Cassell, portrayed by Joséphine Jobert, culminating in mutual romantic acknowledgment and a picture-perfect sail into the sunset for the couple.

Joséphine, upon finishing her role as Florence, has made it clear she will not be returning to 'Death in Paradise' or any related spin-offs.

Joséphine Jobert, who first graced the show in season 4, has experienced several dramatic exits but has now confirmed that her character's recent departure is indeed final. During an Instagram Q&A, when a fan queried about a potential return, Jobert firmly stated: "I think I can safely say no."

She elaborated by saying, "I've already left and come back many times and I've definitely done my time on the show."

She expressed closure with her role as Florence, acknowledging her gratitude for the opportunities the show provided but also her eagerness to pursue new ventures.

Jobert's upcoming role will be in the Canadian crime drama Saint-Pierre, where she'll star alongside Allan Hawco of Jack Ryan fame and James Purefoy. In related news, Ralf Little is set to appear in a dystopian thriller titled The Flaw.