Ardal O’Hanlon has quit Death In Paradise (Picture: BBC)

Ardal O’Hanlon has quit Death In Paradise after three years.

The actor has stepped down from his role as D.I. Jack Mooney to ‘explore other opportunities’ somewhere a bit less hot.

The BBC is keeping his exit storyline under wraps, but his final scenes will air during series nine which airs in early 2020.

Ardal said: ‘I’ve spent the last four summers in Guadeloupe playing DI Jack Mooney (solving over 20 murder cases in my time there!) It’s been a hugely rewarding and unforgettable experience, working with incredibly talented actors, directors and crew while discovering a magical part of the world.




‘However, it’s time to move on and explore other opportunities – preferably nearer the Arctic Circle. I’m confident that Death in Paradise will go from strength to strength and viewers will share my enthusiasm for Jack’s successor!’

But be prepared to get hit right in the feels, as executive producer Tim Key hinted: ‘I don’t think there will be a dry eye in the house.’

Ardal played D.I. Jack Mooney (Picture: BBC)

Jack became part of the show when the Carribbean police team investigated a lead in London, taking the detective back to the fictional island of Saint Marie to solve murder mysteries on the sunny shores of Guadeloupe.

Death In Paradise remains one of the BBC’s most popular shows, with season eight drawing in an average of over seven millions viewers.

He is the latest star to depart the crime drama after Danny John-Jules (Dwayne) and Josephine Jobert (Florence).

Danny was replaced by Shyko Amos, who plays new police officer Ruby Patterson.

While the show’s sunny location suggests that it’s all plain sailing on set – that’s not always the case, as Shyko recently tore her calf muscle and was left on crutches.

Death In Paradise returns to BBC in 2020.

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