A beloved Death in Paradise star has announced a major career move, joining an ensemble cast for a new psychological thriller on Channel 4. Ralf Little, who portrayed DI Neville Parker on the BBC series, is set to appear in Hunting Alice Bell, a six-episode drama described as a "whodunnit with shades of family drama and social satire."
From Paradise to Psychological Thriller
Little joined Death in Paradise in January 2020 as the anxious DI Neville Parker, whose romantic life was notably unlucky. However, when he departed in 2024, Neville left hand-in-hand with DS Florence Cassell (Josephine Jobert), sailing towards a happy ending. Two years after his exit, Little is preparing to take on a darker role in Channel 4's forthcoming series.
Hunting Alice Bell centers on the eponymous character, a former nurse and the romantic partner and accomplice of a "notorious anesthetist serial killer." Now living in the UK under a fresh identity, her life implodes when Fran Da Silva is accused online of being Alice Bell, triggering a wave of mob hate. The synopsis adds: "Then she discovers she's not the only woman to suffer this fate. Fran and the other accused women band together to fight back and clear their names. But as they battle to prove their innocence, what if one of the group is lying - and is the real Alice Bell?"
Star-Studded Cast
Little will be joined by an impressive lineup, including Nightsleeper's Alexandra Roach as Fran, Sherlock and Strictly Come Dancing favourite Amanda Abbington as Julie, Mobland's Emily Barber as Vanessa, and Shaun of the Dead legend Simon Pegg as Dr Jason Nash. Few details are known about Little's character, Graham Hunter, with his involvement remaining under wraps.
Co-creator David Baddiel commented on the series' themes: "Technology has created a whole new spin on the idea of mistaken identity. We are told that in the present culture, anyone can be who they want to be. But that also means that anyone can have who they are taken away from them: the hive mind can decide who you are. This happens to the five women in Hunting Alice Bell: in a world where identity is very fluid, they have lost control of theirs."
Hunting Alice Bell, which explores the "devastating effects" of rumours, is scheduled to broadcast later this year. A specific release date has yet to be announced. Death in Paradise is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
