Death in Paradise star Ben Miller opened up about his new career move while on Sunday BrunchShivon Watson Screen Time Reporter15:19, 24 May 2026Ben Miller chats to GMB about returning to role in Professor TDeath in Paradise star Ben Miller has revealed a career development vastly different from the detective drama.‌The 60-year-old, who formerly portrayed Detective Inspector Richard Poole in the beloved BBC programme, featured on the most recent episode of Sunday Brunch (May 24).‌Speaking with hosts Tim Lovejoy and chef Simon Rimmer, Ben announced his first adult novel, A Very Dangerous Pursuit.‌His work serves as a prequel to The 39 Steps, which pioneered the spy fiction genre and influenced the James Bond film series. Speaking candidly, the actor explained: "My story winds the clock back two years earlier, the same character -39 Steps is not in the UK, mine is obviously in Europe- and another very intriguing thriller, spy type drama."Drawing comparisons between his protagonist Richard Hannay and James Bond, Ben disclosed that they bear no resemblance, noting that the fictional character Richard is hopeless with gadgets and "incredibly self-conscious".‌Given The 39 Steps' enormous popularity, the hosts questioned Ben about whether he experienced "pressure" to compose a prequel, reports the Express.He responded: "It's funny, I didn't think too much about it at the time, it's only now it's come out and people say, 'Did you get permission?'"‌Ben is thoroughly familiar with mystery thrillers, having portrayed the original detective on the programme Death in Paradise. However, the star departed at the beginning of series three to focus on his family.Ben's character met his demise in 2014, leaving audiences stunned. Shedding light on his departure, he revealed: "Two weeks after I arrived in the Caribbean, Jessica found out that she was pregnant.‌"I've just got divorced and I've finally met somebody and now I'm on the other side of the world and we're having a baby. That's a proper curveball to be on the end of. So I knew what I had to do to get my wife back - quit Death in Paradise!"The star didn't dismiss the possibility of a comeback, however. Speaking to Digital Spy in 2016, he said: "Yeah, of course I would. It would be great fun!"I love the character, he's fantastic fun to do. But there's no talk of that whatsoever, to be honest with you. It was pretty final, I thought!"Article continues belowSunday Brunch airs Sundays from 10am on Channel 4.