Ardal O’Hanlon To Leave ‘Death in Paradise’ In Season 9, Premiering January 2020
BBC One drama ‘Death in Paradise‘ has already been renewed up to Season 10, but the upcoming 9th series, which launches in January 2020, will be the last for star Ardal O’Hanlon.
O’Hanlon, who joined the sun-soaked detective drama as D.I. Jack Mooney in Season 6, will make his final appearance during this next series. Mooney first appeared when the Caribbean police team followed a lead to London and ended up taking him back to the fictional island of Saint Marie. However, after three years of leading the squad in solving the idyllic Island’s murder mysteries, O’Hanlon has made the decision to depart the sunny shores of Guadeloupe to explore other opportunities.
“I’ve spent the last four summers in Guadeloupe playing DI Jack Mooney (solving over 20 murder cases in my time there!)”, commented O’Hanlon. “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!”
This is not the first time there has been a change of leadership for the Caribbean police unit. Ben Miller starred as D.I. Richard Poole for the first few seasons, and was then followed by Kris Marshall as D.I. Humphrey Goodman up to Season 6. O’Hanlon’s D.I. Jack Mooney will depart at some point in Season 9, but viewers will need to tune in to see exactly how and why he leaves.
“They say never meet your heroes but working with Ardal is everything I could have hoped for,” adds Red Planet Pictures Executive Producer, Tim Key. “He’s a fantastic actor and a lovely man and we will all miss him enormously. We couldn’t be more grateful for his time as our lead detective and his story isn’t over yet – viewers will have to see how, why and when Jack Mooney leaves, but I don’t think there will be a dry eye in the house.”
The various cast changes over the years do not seem to have affected viewers love for the show. Since launching in 2011, ‘Death in Paradise’ remains one of television’s highest-rating dramas with series eight pulling in an average of over seven million consolidated viewers.
“We will be sad to say goodbye to DI Jack Mooney when the time comes, our audiences have loved the joy and humour he has brought to the Saint Marie police force over the last four series,” said Tommy Bulfin, Commissioning Editor, BBC Drama. “Everyone at the BBC would like thank Ardal for his time on Death in Paradise but it’s not the end just yet; as one door closes another one opens, and we are very excited about what’s to come in the next chapter.”
Season 10 of Death in Paradise has already been commissioned for BBC One by Charlotte Moore, Director of Content, and Piers Wenger, Controller of Drama Commissioning. Tim Key will continue to executive produce for Red Planet Pictures and Tommy Bulfin for the BBC. Death in Paradise is a Red Planet Pictures production, produced with the support of the region of Guadeloupe and distributed by BBC Studios.
‘Death in Paradise‘ Season 9 premieres January 2020 on BBC One.
