Midsomer Murders confirms return of fan favourite as Coronation Street star joins cast
Midsomer Murders returns to screens tonight
Neil Dudgeon is set to return as DCI Barnaby this evening when Midsomer Murders makes its comeback with Book of the Dead. He’ll be accompanied by familiar faces, with DS Jamie Winter (Nick Hendrix) and Fleur Perkins (Annette Badland) also returning to assist him in cracking a series of puzzling deaths.
Tonight’s episode will welcome several recognisable actors to the guest lineup, including Death in Paradise’s Felixe Forde. Felixe, known for her portrayal of Luna Jones in Death in Paradise, steps into the shoes of Scarlett Myhill for Midsomer Murders. Oliver Dimsdale, who has appeared in both Downton Abbey and Grantchester, will also feature in the episode as Rev Sebastian Butts.
Viewers will additionally spot Coronation Street favourite Sally Lindsay sharing the screen with Neil in the ITV drama, where she plays Danica Trask. Tonight’s second episode promises intrigue, with its synopsis revealing: “When the author of a book that sparked a nationwide treasure hunt is found dead, Barnaby and Winter must unravel the cryptic clues to find the killer among a group of dedicated seekers,” reports the Express.
Corrie star Sally Lindsay also features in the episode(Image: ITV)
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Felixe won’t be the sole Death in Paradise alumnus appearing in the new series, as Jinny Holder featured in last night’s “The Devil’s Work”. The actress, recognised for playing Darlene Curtis, took on the character of Lila Blundell.
Prior to the new episodes airing, lead star Neil discussed his ongoing commitment to the show exclusively with Reach PLC, following his takeover from John Nettles back in 2011.
Grantchester and Downton Abbey star Oliver Dimsdale(Image: ITV)
When questioned about whether he wishes to portray Barnaby for “as long as he possibly can,” Neil responded, “I think so, I mean I wouldn’t want to do it to the point where it’s embarrassing, and he’s just too old. I just take it a year at a time. By series one, I thought I’d shoot one episode, and they’d say, ‘he’s terrible, we are not doing anymore’. After having John Nettles for 13 years, and then I come along, and it’s cancelled, that would be pretty embarrassing.
“But then, at the end of the first series, they recommissioned it, and I thought it was great because that sort of vindicates that people had faith in me to give me the job in the first place.”
Felixe Forde was in Death in Paradise(Image: ITV)
He continued, “So that was great to have the first recommission and do a second series. When I first started, somebody said to me, ‘I think everybody would be happy if you did another three years or so,’ and 15 years later, I am still doing it.
“So, I think everyone is pleased that it is still going, but I always take it a year at a time, and at the end of every series, I think, ‘Are there going to be more?’ Sooner or later, somebody is going to say there can’t be any more stories in Midsomer, but we keep coming up with them, and people seem to like it.”
Midsomer Murders can be watched on ITVX.
