BBC Saturday Kitchen: Real life of actor Ralf Little - TV over medicine career and tragic death of his sister

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Ralf Little is probably best known for his portrayal of Anthony in hit BBC sitcom The Royle Family.

The 41-year-old actor, who appears on Saturday Kitchen this morning, moved on to Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps before taking on the role of DI Neville Parker in Death In Paradise.

But the star's career very nearly took a different turn as he was headed for medical school.

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Born in Bury, Ralf studied at Bolton School and went on to attend Manchester University.

But just four weeks into his first term, the university agreed he could take a year out to pursue his TV career after producers tracked him down for a screen test.

“I was going to be a doctor,” Ralf told the Manchester Evening News at the time.

“I might never get this opportunity in acting again. So I’ve got to try, otherwise I’ll wonder for the rest of my life what would have happened.”

The Manchester United fan also showed potential in football, and played for a number of semi-professional clubs.

He has also shown up to the pitch for charity sides at Old Trafford and Wembley, along with Soccer Aid.

In past interviews, Ralf has credited a family tragedy that took place when he was a child with spurring him on to achieve success.

At the age of just nine, his eldest sister, Ceridwen, 14, died on holiday after falling 150ft from cliffs at Porthcothan Bay, near Padstow in Cornwall.

Ralf said the shocking death was partly to blame for his parents’ divorce and deeply affected his other sister Rowena – but it made him push himself academically and in extracurricular activities, the Mirror reports.

Speaking with Radio 4 last month, he said: “It was