Death in Paradise season nine will be back soon with fans saying goodbye to Ardal O’Hanlon as DI Mooney once and for all. Along with the news of who will be replacing him, the BBC has also confirmed when fans will be able to see the upcoming series on screens. Ahead of its return, Express.co.uk has rounded up all of the information about season nine revealed so far.
When is Death in Paradise 2020 released?
Death in Paradise season nine sees the beloved cast of characters at the Saint Marie police station return once again to solve more crimes.
Ahead of its return, the BBC has been steadily teasing out new information about what will happen next in the show.
One of the biggest reveals was Ardal O’Hanlon would be leaving the show after three seasons of playing DI Mooney.
However, the BBC also released more information about when the series will be released on TV screens.
READ MORE: Death in Paradise: Has Ralf Little been in BBC series before?
The broadcaster announced that the show will be airing in January 2020.
While the exact date has not yet been revealed, the series has always aired on a Thursday previously.
Looking at when the series was released over the past three outings, Death in Paradise is likely to air on either January 2 or January 9.
Express.co.uk will update this article as soon as the exact release date has been confirmed.
READ MORE: Death in Paradise: Ardal O’Hanlon’s replacement revealed – who is it?
Along with the news of the series air date, the BBC has also confirmed that actor Ralf Little will be taking over as the new DI on the show.
In the announcement, the broadcaster also released some more information about who he will play.
Little will be Detective Inspector Neville Parker, who has been reluctantly dispatched to the island of Saint Marie to investigate the suspicious death of a woman.
He is seen as the man for the job after the murder victim is from his home city of Manchester and died in dramatic circumstances.
READ MORE: Death in Paradise: Who is Ralf Little?
Speaking about joining the show, the actor said: “It took less than 0.005 seconds to say yes to playing the new DI! How could I not?
“Ardal has been wonderful in the last few series and to follow in his footsteps in a place as idyllic as Guadeloupe was a great honour and a dream come true.
“It is a joy to play Neville and I can’t wait for viewers to see him in Paradise this series.”
Little is best known for Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps as well as previously playing a murder victim on Death in Paradise.
READ MORE: Death in Paradise: Why is Ardal O’Hanlon leaving Death in Paradise?
Before the news was released, there was very little information shared about the upcoming series, aside from recurring character DS Madeleine Dumas becoming a full-time cast member.
Played by Aude Legastelois, she is set to play an increasingly bigger role in the show, according to the brief synopsis released.
This reads: “Series nine will see the Honoré Police team get to know their new DS, Madeleine, while a surprise kiss catches Jack off guard…”
Joining Dumas in returning once again will be Tobi Bakare as Officer JP Hooper, Shyko Amos as Officer Ruby Patterson and Don Warrington as Commissioner Selwyn Patterson.
Death in Paradise 2020 will be released in January 2020.
