Father Ted star Ardal O'Hanlon joins tonight's Death In Paradise when the team arrive in London for a two-part special, and it's just been revealed that his character, DI Jack Mooney, will take over from Kris Marshall's DI Humphrey Goodman as Saint Marie's new detective when the show returns to the Caribbean for the rest of the series...
After Ardal O'Hanlon makes his Death in Paradise debut in the two London episodes, DI Jack Mooney will head back with the Caribbean crime fighters to the island of Saint Marie to be their new boss, which means Kris Marshall’s DI Humphrey Goodman is leaving them.
Ardal joins Death In Paradise regulars Josephine Jobert, Danny John-Jules, Tobi Bakare and Don Warrington for the remaining episodes of this series and and will remain the resident ‘Caribbean Cop’ when the crime show returns for a seventh series in 2018.
“I'm delighted to be joining Death in Paradise and exploring what’s made Mooney up and leave London for a life in the Caribbean," says Irish comic and actor Ardal, 51, who also starred in BBC1 comedy My Hero.
"I’ve already had a taste of filming in Guadeloupe and can’t wait to get back.”
Following four hugely successful years, Kris 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!"
He added: "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!”
The nature of Humphrey’s departure is still being kept under wraps until his final two episodes on February 2nd and 9th (BBC1 at 9pm) have been shown. All Death In Paradise fans will hope Humphrey leaves happy and with a spring in his step...
