John Barnaby: Last News

John Nettles on screen as the lead detective in 2011, fans worried the writing could be on the wall for Midsomer Murders. But more than a decade later Neil Dudgeon is still solving crime in what must be the most death-ridden collection of villages in the world. Neil has played DCI John Barnaby for 12 years and will celebrate his 50th episode as lead detective tomorrow.

Midsomer fans rejoice - the long-running ITV crime drama returns with a brand new series tonight (Sunday April 14).

Midsomer Murders actor Neil Dudgeon, known for bringing life to the character of DCI John Barnaby, has expressed his worry over getting "too old" for his role in the popular ITV drama. Despite his initial joining of the show in 2011 being greeted with trepidation by fans who adored previous detective John Nettles, Neil has since carved a space for himself in viewers' hearts.

Midsomer Murders viewers were quick to react as Holly Willoughby made her acting debut in the show. The presenter, who has just a week left of her lengthy summer break from This Morning, made an early return to the small screen on Sunday night (August 27) in the ITV drama series.

Holly Willoughby appeared on This Morning on Friday (August 25) after being away from screens for almost two months, but she appeared to slip-up a few times during her TV segment. The 42-year-old last presented the ITV daytime programme in early July before leaving for her annual summer break.

Holly Willoughby's acting skills will be put under the spotlight this weekend, as the presenter makes her TV drama debut.

Holly Willoughby will be making a cameo in an upcoming episode of the long-running murder mystery Midsomer Murders. A first look at Holly's stint on the show was shown during Wednesday's Good Morning Britain, when hosts Kate Garraway and Richard Madeley were joined by the show's star Neil Dudgeon, who plays DCI John Barnaby.

Fleur Perkins could “never be replaced” in an exclusive interview with Express.co.uk.The Midsomer Murders star gave a behind-the-scenes insight into why she believes Fleur is here to stay.Annette joined Midsomer Murders back in 2019 as motorbike-riding chief pathologist Fleur Perkins.While Annette only became a part of the show in its 20th season, the ITV hit has now been running for 25 years. Opening up about how her character Fleur was conceptualised, Annette gave an interesting reason for why she thinks she “won’t be replaced”.“It’s brilliant to play an older woman who’s got a very interesting private life and who is very good at her job and can send the blokes up and intrigue them and things,” Annette reflected. “It’s terrific, you know, and there should be more - and they exist in real life - characters like that, really.”Fleur went on to describe how the producers arrived at the character of Fleur after coming to a surprising conclusion.“When the producer asked me to do it, they said that one time the person playing the pathologist had been ill and they didn’t know how to get around it when they were filming,” Annette remembered. “Then they said, ‘Oh, I know, we’ll have them send a fax through with the details and Barnaby can read it out’.“And he said, ‘I wanted a new character who could not be replaced by a fax machine.’ “So Fleur certainly can’t be replaced by a fax machine!” Annette concluded gleefully. Annette often acts opposite the likes of DCI John Barnaby star Neil Dudgeon and admitted she had a lot of fun in the role. Asked why Midsomer Murders has lasted a full 25 years on ITV, Annette gave a considered response. “I think it’s quite quirky and English because the deaths are often extraordinary and the

Express.co.uk.The Midsomer Murders star admitted that she had experienced a rather “naughty tempation” before while on set as her character Fleur, acting opposite DCI John Barnaby star Neil Dudgeon.Annette joined Midsomer Murders back in 2019 as motorbike-riding chief pathologist Fleur Perkins.While Annette only became a part of the show in its 20th season, the ITV hit has now been running for 25 years. When asked what she thinks makes it stand the test of time, Annette replied: “I think it’s quite quirky and English because the deaths are often extraordinary and the fans like that.”Opening up about one particular murder scene featuring “naughty” Fleur, Annette admitted she got an inappropriate temptation during filming.  “One death I’ve had is by chocolate,” Annette recalled, as she referred to the season 20 episode The Lions of Causton.“It was as much as I could do not to break a bit off and eat it,” the actress admitted.She went on to explain that she felt it was “something Fleur might do” but decided against it for a rather peculiar reason.“I thought Fleur might do, but then I had to think, ‘No - of course she’d like dark chocolate.’“‘This person’s been smothered in milk chocolate and she’d prefer dark.’”Reflecting on her mischievous character, she added: “It’s the sort of naughty thing where, if it wasn’t near the body, I thought Fleur might just have a little.”When asked what it was like to be given such a fun role, Annette responded: “It’s brilliant to play an older woman who’s got a very interesting private life and who is very good at her job and can send the blokes up and intrigue them and things. “It’s terrific, you know, and there should be more - and they do exist in real life - characters like that

Midsomer Murders' star Neil Dudgeon has taken to Twitter to react after his on-screen wife, played by Fiona Dolman, posed proudly with her new ITV co-stars.The actor, 61, who plays DCI John Barnaby on the hit ITV whodunit series, reacted as Fiona shared a post with the stars of Alan Titchmarsh's show Love Your Weekend, which she appeared on last week.Fiona, who plays Sarah Barnaby on the programme, posted a snap to Twitter of herself with celebrity gardener Alan Titchmarch and her two fellow guests, Adam Kay and Petula Clark, standing in a sun-drenched garden.Responding to the post, her Midsomer Murders' colleague Neil wrote: "Blimey!"It’s all go chez Dolman, innit?"Look at you with Petula Clark! X" he penned in amazement, before ending the post.Fiona had taken to the micro-blogging platform to reveal that she would be appearing on Love Your Weekend alongside her two celebrity friends.She told her 8,571 followers: "This sunday @ITV #LoveYourWeekend with @amateuradam and @PetulaClarkHQ"I was chatting #MidsomerMurders and @hospiceuk with the delightful Alan Titmarsh."We had a lovely time (despite this looking as though Adam and I are holding a rather nice couple hostage in their garden)," she quipped.Following Neil's comment, one avid fan of the murder mystery programme commented with a suggestion as to who could guest star on the show next from Fiona's new group of showbiz pals.Twitter user @Philipcarman wrote: "Alan would be a great guest on Midsomer Murders!"Following Fiona's appearance on the hit gardening show, her fans took to the platform to share their thoughts.@TaniaEsteban_ wrote: "Was feeling jet lagged on the sofa after just landing...

showbiz gossip straight to your inbox with the Daily Star's FREE newsletterHolly Willoughby has said that she was left mortified after her first day on set for a new acting role went horribly wrong. The This Morning presenter is set to cameo on an upcoming episode of Midsomer Murders, and admitted she fluffed her lines despite only having two.

Holly Willoughby has admitted that she forgot her line during her Midsomer Murders cameo and was "so embarrassed" to act. The presenter, 40, spoke abut her upcoming role in the iconic TV series on Thursday's This Morning during an interview with the show's DCI John Barnaby star Neil Dudgeon.

Daily Star's Inside Hot TV newsletter sees Ed Gleave send you telly's hot takes straight to your inbox every SundayHolly Willoughby has shared a backstage boomerang taken behind the scenes at her new, surprise, acting gig. The TV presenter was unexpectedly offered the chance to have a guest role on Midsomer Murders - live on This Morning.

Midsomer Murders star Neil Dudgeon has said it is “really weird” when he is approached by fans while out and about on errands or with his family.The English actor, who has played the part of DCI John Barnaby in the ITV crime drama since 2011, said it “jolts him” when people call him by his character’s name.The long-running show, which first aired in 1997, has recently reached new audiences.Not only have people in the UK binge-watched old episodes during lockdown, but foreign channels have bought two years worth of Midsomer Murders instalments.Neil noted that some had watched two years of TV in two months.With more viewers than ever, it’s not surprising to hear that ITV star, who turned 60 earlier this year, has been spotted on the high

 DCI John Barnaby actor Neil then mischievously joked in reference to the cast’s acting pedigree: “That’s never held us back in Midsomer!”Joining in on the joke, Nick quipped: “Neil’s been doing it for 10 years, come on in!”“You’ll be fine,” Neil agreed, while Holly and Phillip burst into giggles over his remark.Holly then added that she can only see herself having a small part in the series, saying: “I’ll just walk through the back of shots slightly.”Nick disagreed with Holly, urging her to take a bigger role in the show, as he suggested: “No, no, no, I’m sure we could kill you or you could be a murderer or something!”“It’s more substantial than that,” Neil informed the ITV favourite.Teasing producers’ plans for Holly, the actor continued:

This Morning presenter Holly Willoughby was stunned as she was offered a new on-screen job on ITV as she hosted the show alongside Phillip Schofield.

ITV show over the years.The drama often welcomes legendary actors to join the series regulars and Neil explained some of them have been “heroes from his childhood”.In an exclusive interview with Express.co.uk, the DCI John Barnaby star admitted he often takes the opportunity to “grill” guest stars about their lives and careers behind-the-scenes.Reflecting on the time the late Absolutely Fabulous actress June Whitfield joined the cast, Neil said: “I remember an episode we did that Robert Bathurst was in and Robert and I were both fascinated to find out everything we could from June about Tony Hancock in particular I remember. “We were trying to shoot a long, complicated, scene with lots of people in it and every time we cut Robert and I

Midsomer Murders favourite Neil Dudgeon, 59, has admitted he was forced to face his fear of heights while filming a dramatic scene for the ITV show on a cliff.The DCI John Barnaby star revealed he also had to deal with adverse weather conditions at the time, which left him feeling “terrified” about falling over the edge alongside members of the cast and crew.In an exclusive interview with Express.co.uk about Midsomer Murders being added to digital video subscription service BritBox, Neil recalled: “One time they came up to me before we started shooting and asked, ‘Have you got a problem with heights?’ And I said, ‘I have actually, I’m not good with heights’.“And they said, ‘Oh okay’.

Midsomer Murders cast member Nick Hendrix, 34, has opened up about his “deeper chats” with his co-star Neil Dudgeon, 59.The actor explained the pair often discuss politics behind-the-scenes of the ITV police drama.However, Nick revealed that in spite of having some disagreements with the DCI John Barnaby star in the past, he “always learns something” from their debates.The star divulged: “Neil and I are sort of like a married couple, sometimes you’ll find us just quietly reading the paper and not talking to each other or deep in political debate. “A big part of it for me is hanging out with him everyday and we just have a nice time.”Nick continued: “We have disagreed, but generally he’s a very smart man and a very experienced actor.“So if

Nick Hendrix, 34, has revealed working with Neil Dudgeon, 59, is “a real treat” and one of the highlights of his role in ITV's Midsomer Murders.The actor opened up about his partnership with the DCI John Barnaby star in an exclusive interview with Express.co.uk.He explained they can often be found spending time together behind-the-scenes “not talking to each other, or deep in [a] political debate”.When quizzed on what the best part about playing DS Jamie Winter is, Nick divulged: “Not to sound soppy about it but, working with Neil Dudgeon who plays Barnaby is a real treat and we just get on so well, which I would say is not always a given with these long running shows. “When you’re stuck with a cast member for a long period of time most,

ITV drama.The actor, who has a phobia of heights, explained he was shooting a “denouement scene” at the time while there was “a gale blowing”, which made standing on the cliff edge risky for the cast and crew.Speaking about the scary situation to Express.co.uk, the DCI John Barnaby star recalled: “So we shot this denouement scene that was on the edge of a cliff, it was quite a high cliff, it was like 100 feet.“So for me being not good with heights - if you get near the edge you go a bit swimmy -that was a bit tricky.“The days that we were filming, the weather had been beautiful for weeks, but then the two days we were filming there was a gale blowing, a real, proper gale and people were being sort of blown around in the wind.“And you think,