Ralf Little spent thousands flying a stray dog 2,335 miles from Guadeloupe to his US home after finding her abandoned on the set of Death In Paradise.
The actor, 41, spent months filming the crime drama on the Caribbean island, and splashed out ‘around £2,000’ on adopting the pup, named Dora, after she stole his heart.
The Royle Family star explained the pooch was originally intended to be flown to the UK and re-homed with a family, but due to Covid-19 restrictions the plan fell through.
Ralf, who plays DI Neville Parker in the BBC drama, christened the abandoned dog Dora when the ‘little explorer’ first bounded on to the set.
Meet Dora! Ralf Little, 41, has revealed that he spent thousands flying a stray dog, named Dora, 2,335 miles from Guadeloupe to his US home after finding her abandoned on set
She was first adopted by the costume department, who arranged for her to be re-homed with a family in the UK when filming ended.
But lockdown meant it wasn’t possible to fly dogs to the UK, so Ralf flew Dora to Miami so she could live with him and fiancee Lindsey Ferrentino in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
He told The Mirror: ‘You wouldn’t believe the effort it took. I probably spent about £2,000. But she’s gorgeous.’
Since Dora landed in the US and has been reunited with Ralf, the actor has shared various videos of the pooch settling into her new home.
Adorable: Ralf, who plays DI Neville Parker in Death In Paradise, the Caribbean crime drama, christened the abandoned dog Dora when the ‘little explorer’ first bounded on to the set
Cute: The sweet pooch was intended to be flown to the UK and rehomed with a family, but due to Covid-19 restrictions the plan fell through, and so Ralf stepped up and adopted Dora
The Two Pints of Lager star documented the process of getting Dora to Miami, and the nervous wait for her at the airport.
Ralf plays DI Neville Parker on Death In Paradise, joining the show last year during series nine.
Parker landed in the Caribbean as the quintessential Brit abroad: struggling with mosquitos, mopping his sweaty brow and slathering himself with sunscreen before he even left the airport.
The introduction was met with praise by fans at home at the time, who said the character – the fourth leading detective in nine series – has ‘already made the show funnier’.
Ralf follows in the footsteps of Ben Miller, Kris Marshall and Ardal O’Hanlon, who have played the previous British detectives on the island.
Here she is! The Two Pints of Lager star documented the process of getting Dora to Miami, and the nervous wait for her at the airport
Couple: Ralf is engaged to playwright Lindsey Ferrentino
The actor recently told how he was separated from his fiancée throughout filming the most recent series of Death In Paradise due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The actor is engaged to playwright Lindsey Ferrentino and told how the couple’s wedding has now been put on hold after she suggested they get married in Guadeloupe where the show is filmed.
Speaking on The One Show last month, he said: ‘Well they’re [wedding plans] pretty much on hold. She couldn’t even come out to the island this time.
‘That was an idea she had, “why don’t we get married out here?” I was like, “cause I’m busy trying to film a TV show where I’m in every scene”.
‘She said, “OK, maybe next year.” That’s why I organised the pandemic, to make sure I had an excuse to put it down the line,’ he joked.
Role: Ralf plays DI Neville Parker on Death In Paradise, joining the show last year during series nine