Another series of Death in Paradise has come to a close and in an all-too-familiar fashion, fans have had to say farewell to yet another Detective Inspector.
Ralf Little's Neville Parker bid an emotional farewell to Saint Marie after a four-and-a-half-year stint, making him the longest-serving star to front the sun-soaked crime-solving series.
Little racked up 40 credits during his tenure - a remarkable feat compared to his predecessors - but his exit prompted several to say they were "gutted" and "in tears" to see him go.
However, it may be more suitable to describe the feeling of seeing yet another Death in Paradise front-man leave as frustrating.
The BBC crime drama is a rarity in today's modern TV landscape in the sense that it still manages to draw millions of viewers during each episode yet hasn't had a leading star last longer than a pint of semi-skimmed in the Caribbean sun.
Its longevity is a testament to the show's writing and appeal but as it heads for its 14th season, surely fans don't want to be welcoming another new face by the time the 15th rolls around.
Death in Paradise: Why do all the lead detectives end up leaving?
BBC
So why do the show's leading stars keep on leaving? Here's a rundown of what all of them have said and the familiar theme that runs through each explanation.
Ben Miller
The first DI on the island of Saint Marie appeared in 19 episodes overall, making his debut in 2011 as DI Richard Poole.
Miller put his departure down to wanting to spend more time at home and pinning the blame on the six-month timeframe required to spend in Guadeloupe each year - especially as his wife was expecting a child when he first arrived in the Caribbean.
To everyone who continued to believe in Floreville, even when things seemed hopeless: this one's for you. #DeathInParadise pic.twitter.com/aVjASuB2PN
— Death in Paradise (@deathinparadise) March 24, 2024
He told Radio Times: "Two weeks after I arrived in the Caribbean, Jessica found out that she was pregnant. I've just got divorced and I've finally met somebody and now I'm on the other side of the world and we're having a baby.
"That's a proper curveball to be on the end of. So I knew what I had to do to get my wife back – quit Death in Paradise!"
Kris Marshall
Marshall, who now leads UK-based spin-off Beyond Paradise, lasted for 30 episodes in Guadeloupe before he decided to end his tenure as DI Humphrey Goodman.
Similarly to Miller, Marshall yearned for the familiarity of home, causing controversy when he told Lorraine Kelly: "The thing is, after doing four great years on Guadeloupe, the island where we filmed Death in Paradise, I realised that I really had to get my son to school.
"He was becoming a bit too Caribbean, he refused to wear shoes and would only drink coconut water and eat pineapple. He was very good on the beach, but not very good with Maths and English so I decided it was time to get him back into school.
"Six months later, I'm standing on a film set in a car park in Dagenham at four o'clock in the morning thinking, 'Have I made the right decision?'"
Ardal O'Hanlon
Irish comedian O'Hanlon bagged two dozen appearances during his stint as DI Jack Mooney after taking over from Marshall in 2017.
According to RTE, he said of his decision to quit: "It's a tough gig, physically draining. You're working in incredible conditions and cannot sustain the intensity. And I wanted to go back to stand-up. If I'd left it another year, all my sharpness as a stand-up would have gone."
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Ralf Little departed Death in Paradise earlier this month
BBC
He also told RadioTimes.com: "I think most actors, and I would include myself, are kind of curious by nature, and you always wonder what else is out there. Much as you appreciate the job you're doing at the time, you're always thinking, 'Well, what else is there?'”
He went on to call the experience "amazing" and praised the cast and crew but did mention he felt Jack Mooney's story had come to a natural end.
Ralf Little
Little hasn't explained exactly why he decided it was the right time to pack in the role of Neville but did echo his predecessor's comments about the time filming so far away from home.
He told the Big Issue this week: "You live and work in close proximity for six months so you form lifelong friendships and bonds with the crew and cast and with Guadeloupe itself.
"It was more my home for the last four and a half years than anywhere else in the world. That’s crazy, isn’t it? You have to socialise when you are there for six months at a time. It’s not like you can pop home at weekends."
Kris Marshall now fronts BBC spin-off Beyond Paradise
BBC
Despite the complaint, he praised the show as he mentioned: "You would be hard pushed to find an example of anyone feeling more supported in a job than I’ve been on this."
Little also took to Instagram to thank fans for the "profound experience" he endured while leading the show.
So what can be done to make sure Little's successor doesn't suffer from burnout due to the show's filming requirements?
You can't get rid of the location. Death in Paradise may not deliver on its aesthetic promise if bosses ditched Guadeloupe for the beaches of Redcar.
And there clearly isn't a problem with the show's storyline, humour, fanbase etc - it remains a huge ratings win for the Beeb.
The only change bosses need to make is to address a complaint that rings through all four stars' accounts is the six-month filming requirement.
Six months results in eight episodes a series and shortening the time abroad may result in fewer instalments arriving on screens.
But if you asked a Death in Paradise fan if they'd settle for five or six episodes a series in return for a happy leading star who's in it for the long haul, I think you'd be hard-pressed to find one in disagreement.
And with Little becoming the fourth leading star quit in a little over a decade on the air, surely it's time the BBC show welcomed a new era of stability to ensure another 13 seasons await.
