Kris Marshall - who found fame on sitcom My Family - has quit BBC crime drama Death in Paradise.

The 43-year-old actor has played DI Humphrey Goodman for the last four years but will bow out of the show in next week's final episode Thursday, February 9.

Kris said: “Death in Paradise has been an incredible experience, six months every year filming on a tropical island in the sunshine – what’s not to love?

"Humphrey was socially awkward and clumsy but also brilliant, I’ll miss him but it’s time to hand over to someone new and spend more time with my family."

In tonight's episode viewers will meet the new detective who will be the new lead role once Kris steps down.

It will begin with a man going missing in a tropical storm in the idyllic Caribbean island Saint Marie.

Humphrey and Florence's investigations lead them to drizzly old London where there's a new detective waiting to help them solve the case.

Father Ted's Ardal O'Hanlon will play DI Jack Maloney and makes his debut on the series tonight.

Ardal said: “I am delighted to be joining Death in Paradise and exploring what’s made Mooney up and leave London for a life in the Caribbean.

"I’ve already had a taste of filming in Guadeloupe and can’t wait to get back.”

Marshall leaves the show on a high with season six getting more than nine million viewers when it returned to screens in January - its biggest ever audience.