Death in Paradise actor Ralf Little may be known for playing Neville Parker on the BBC show, but his TV debut was worlds away from the Saint Marie Detective.
Actor Ralf Little grew a whole new fan base when he joined the beloved BBC crime drama Death in Paradise.
The 45-year-old played DI Neville Parker on the show for four years before deciding to bow out in 2024, with Don Gilet taking over as Mervin Wilson.
However, fans may have recognised Ralf from his time on another popular show, The Royle Family.
Back in 1998, he played the much put-upon son of Jim Royle, Antony, a role he played until 2000. Despite the sitcom only airing for three series, it remains a British TV staple.
Speaking to The I Paper, Ralf was asked whether or not he thinks shows like The Royle Family could stand a chance of being broadcast in today’s industry.
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The actor said: “The reality is that The Royle Family only got made because of several strokes of luck.”
The groundbreaking sitcom featured the Wythenshawe working class family, with show creators Caroline Ahern and Craig Cash played the roles of Denise and Dave.
Ralf added: “It’s slightly passed into history as a genius bit of commissioning but even that was made through hustle.
“There are fewer opportunities, fewer government programmes for young working class voices to get into the industry – the Seventies’ and Eighties’ Jimmy McGoverns and (Royle Family co-star) Ricky Tomlinsons.
“It’s a weird time. The entirety of television has completely changed from under me while I’ve been doing my career. It’s a constant grind and constant hustle to try and get anything made.”
Despite The Royle Family launching Ralf’s career, he previously opened up on the fact many people in the industry saw him as a ‘gawky teenager’.
A few years ago, while he was still on Death in Paradise, the actor confessed: “I’ve had a 20-year career and this is the first show I’ve actually been the legitimate lead in… at age 40.
“Don’t get me wrong, anyone’s lucky to even have one, but it’s taken a while to even get here.”
Since leaving Death in Paradise, the 45-year-old is set to star in the upcoming dystopian thriller, The Flaw.
According to a synopsis from Deadline, the story follows “a ruthless Interrogator (Dawson) who is ordered by the Special Service to follow a perfect Plan to prove a Suspect (McBain) is guilty.
“But once the interrogation gets underway, he comes to realise that there is a flaw not only in the Plan, but also in the Regime itself,” according to the synopsis from Deadline.”