Tuesday 9 February 2010

KEEP IT IN THE FAMILY

[15.00 - French Time] Oh God, another Barnaby! The Guardian reveals that Neil Dudgeon (Life of Riley) will replace John Nettles, DCI Tom Barnaby in Midsomer Murders, as his cousin DCI John Barnaby!

Neil Dudgeon appears for the first time in this week's episode of Midsomer Murders on ITV1 and he will take over when series 14 of the long-running drama begins shooting at the end of July (http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/feb/09/midsomer-murders-neil-dudgeon). John Nettles is giving up his role at the end of series 13. His last episode is episode 82 and he will shoot his final scene in August.

The list of of potential replacements included Nat Parker, Rupert Penry-Jones (Whitechapel), Jason Isaacs, Bradley Walsh, Jason Durr, Alastair MacKenzie, Philip Glenister (http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/organgrinder/2009/dec/24/whos-next-midsomer-murders) and the very talented Michael Kitchen (Foyle's War) - who would have been absolutely perfect.

The wish to keep a Barnaby in charge is probably justified by international sales, the show's title bears the name of its character in many countries (in France it's called Inspecteur Barnaby).

See also:

http://www.prlog.org/10525402-midsomer-murders-the-new-barnaby-joins-john-nettles-on-exclusive-acorn-media-dvd-release.html
http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2010/01/midsomer-pensioner.html

1 comment:

Marmidotte said...

Hey, I know it may seem a bit annoying, but Dudgeon is a good actor (in my mind, at least), so why not :-) (I last saw him in Mrs Bradley Mysteries...)