It looks like Harry Potter star Rupert Grint may be the next actor to grab a linen jacket and head off to the fictional Caribbean island of Saint Marie in the hit show Death in Paradise.

There has been a vacancy since Ralf Little’s character Neville Parker departed the island with his love, DS Florence Cassell (Joséphine Jobert) after five years of solving murders. However, since his departure there has been much speculation about who could take on the role.

Ralf announced he was leaving the series on social media at the end of the final episode of the current season, and said. “So, there you have it! The secret’s out! My time on Saint Marie has come to an end. But, what an end! New adventures await Neville and he got to sail off into the sunset with his best friend, and, you know, who knows what happens for them next!”

Rupert Grint

The actor who does take on the part next will spend six months of the year filming in Guadeloupe (the location used for Saint Marie), and will follow in the footsteps of previous stars Ben Miller, Kris Marshall, Ardal O’Hanlon and Ralf Little.

And now it seems there’s been a lot of Death In Paradise activity over at bookmaker Coral as they’ve suggested that fans are strongly supporting the rumour that it could be Rupert Grint stepping in.

Ralf Little as Neville in Death in Paradise

The actor is the new 6-4 favourite, slashed from his previous odds of 6-1. Second best in the betting is Gavin and Stacey’s Mathew Horne at 5-2, and the list also includes Simon Bird, Diane Morgan, Romesh Ranganathan, Miranda Hart and Martin Clunes. It has also been suggested that Esther Williams , currently starring alongside Kris Marshall in the spin-off Beyond Paradise, could leave the English coast behind for the warmer weather of the Caribbean.

The BBC have yet to confirm who will join the Death in Paradise cast, but Rupert Grint is certainly a believable rumour.

Ralf Little

The 35-year-old actor from Hertfordshire began his acting career when he was cast, aged just 12, as Ron Weasley in the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.

As well as appearing in all eight Harry Potter movies — he was 23 when the last movie, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 was released in 2011 – Rupert has co-starred in films including the British comedy Thunderpants and the horror Knock at the Cabin, and has won praise for his lead role in the Apple TV+ series Servant, which is produced by The Sixth Sense’s M Night Shyamalan.