Uncovering Five Fascinating Facts About Midsomer Murders

Lovers of well-crafted and suspenseful mysteries and crime dramas know they can find the very best here on ONETV. Now, we’re presenting a classic mystery series with a long history of captivating fans every weeknight! The long-running hit British series Midsomer Murders now airs Monday to Friday at 8pm ET with all 23 seasons to date running back-to-back.

Let us refresh your memory on what this series is all about and why it’s been such a hit since its premiere in 1997, right up until its current 23rd season.

Premiering in the UK over 25 years ago, Midsomer Murders earned great ratings from the very first episode. The series was originally led by Detective Chief Inspector Tom Barnaby, played by John Nettles, as he investigates crimes in quaint English villages in fictional Midsomer County. From Season 14 and beyond, Tom Barnaby’s cousin DCI John Barnaby (Neil Dudgeon) takes over as the lead investigator following Barnaby’s retirement. Dudgeon’s character was  first introduced to audiences through guest appearances during season 13.

For a behind-the-scenes special that aired to commemorate Midsomer Murders’ 25th anniversary in 2022, the two DCI Barnabies reunited again, bringing  John Nettles and Neil Dudgeon together again for the first time since 2011. The documentary takes a look into some of the most iconic moments of the series, the famous guest stars, favourite locations and the hows and whys of this iconic series that is so loved by viewers around the world.

What exactly has captivated devoted fans all these years? Let’s take a look at some fascinating facts about the series that might give some clues as to why Midsomer Murders has been such a hit for so long.

1) Beautiful locations

While Midsomer Murders  is set in several different picturesque villages, there’s no shortage of beautiful locations to film in the British countryside. Many real villages are used around Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire to capture that small town charm viewers love!

     2) Famous Guest Stars

Famous Guest Stars that have appeared over the years include Olivia Colman, Hugh Bonneville, Orlando Bloom, Peter Capaldi, Henry Cavill and Colin Farrell. Try your best to spot them!

     3) Tons of mystery

The math has been done, and Midsomer Murders averages about 3 deaths per episode, including grisly murders and unfortunate deadly accidents.  There’s always an interesting new mystery for the DCI Barnabys  to solve, and it never gets dull.

4) Bad weather doesn’t get in the way

Even though the English weather can often be rainy and unpredictable, the weather almost always seems to be pleasant in Midsomer. When episodes have been shot under inclement conditions, you’ll likely not be able to tell from your TV room thanks to some clever filming tricks like close up shots, careful lighting, and the cast sucking on ice cubes just prior to cameras rolling to hide frosty breath. This just makes the idyllic village settings all the more lovely.

    5) Unusual murder weapons

Over the course of 132 episodes, some of the unique causes of death include a  candlestick, a cricket bat, a fire iron, a saucepan, a faulty microphone, a doped horse, a pitchfork, liquid nicotine, toxic fungus, a drinks cabinet, a plough, a hammer,  bottles of relish, a poisonous frog and alien abduction. This perfectly encapsulates the cheeky sense of humour that makes the series special!

Visit our Midsomer Murders show page for more info and video.