In an interview with the Daily Express, O'Hanlon said he completed 24 episodes featuring at least 30 murders. He added that he often knew the killer without reading the script and tried to devise imaginative methods of murder, joking that plots like someone falling off a balcony were sometimes reused. He explained that his exit was always planned for three series, with a partial fourth for the handover to Ralf Little's character.
He described the show as gruelling and requiring long periods away from home, and said the secret to its success is changing lead detectives before audiences tire of them. Despite harsh weather on location, he called it a lovely job. He did not discuss a possible return or the plot of his new book 'A Plot to Die For'.
I did 24 episodes. It must have been at least 30 murders. I didn't even have to read the script, I knew who did it.
When I was there I was always trying to dream up imaginative kind of murders.
But you would be thinking to yourself, 'have we not done this plot before?' You know, someone falling off a balcony again!
From day one, it was always going to be like three series. As it turned out, I ended up doing part of a fourth series as well, before the handover to Ralf Little's character [Neville Parker]. So to be honest with you, like you just wouldn't be fit to do any more than that.
It's very gruelling, and you're away from home for a very long time. So, you know, that was always the plan, and there was really very little that was going to change my mind about that.
I think the secret of the show's success is constantly changing the lead detective, you know, before people get bored with them.
It's very harsh but it was a lovely job to do.