CAUSTON'S FINEST

[14.12 - French Time] John Nettles is DCI Tom Barnaby in ITV's Midsomer Murders since 1997. In 2009 he announced that he would give up his role at the end of the 13th series. His last episode, episode 82, is titled Fit for Murder and will be aired by ITV1 on Wednesday, 2 February 2011.

Launched in 1997 with the one-off episode The Killings At Badger's Drift, Midsomer Murders is based on the books by Caroline Graham and transposed to the small screen by talented screenwriter and novelist Anthony Horowitz. The crime drama, produced by Bentley Productions for ITV, is a global hit sold in more than 200 countries. And Detective Chief Inspector Tom Barnaby is the second important TV role of John Nettles after the character of DS Jim Bergerac in the BBC Jersey-set crime drama Bergerac (1981-1991).

During 14 years, DCI Barnaby and his deputy investigated an endless series of (unrelated) murders most horrid in the fictional county of Midsomer - where they now probably have to hire inhabitants in order to keep practicing this local passtime that is assassination. Last year, after an intense suspense, it was announced that the successor of DCI Barnaby would be another DCI Barnaby... John, Tom Barnaby's cousin, played by Neil Dudgeon.

The wish to keep a Barnaby in charge is probably motivated by the importance of international sales, as the show's title bears the name of its character in many countries: in France it's called Inspecteur Barnaby and, incidentally, pubcaster France 3 aired last sunday The Sword of Guillaume - the episode brilliantly introducing Tom's cousin.

John Barnaby moves to Midsomer to team up with DI Ben Jones, played by Jason Hughes. Four new episodes of series 14 starring Neil Dudgeon and Jason Hugues have already been filmed, with another four in production during 2011. The new Midsomer Murders team, also featuring Fiona Dolman (Heartbeat) as John’s wife Sarah, will make their debut on ITV1 this spring.

Producer Brian True-May has revealed that two separate endings were filmed for Fit for Murder: one for the first UK transmission with Tom Barnaby's retirement party, and one for repeats (when episodes are shown in different orders) and for international use, with a birthday party.

http://www.itv.com/presscentre/midsomermurders/week03fitformurder/default.html

See also:

http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2010/02/absolom-2010_11.html