midsomer madness

So, predictably, Brian True-May has agreed to step down from his role as producer of Midsomer Murders.
I guess we could all see that one coming but it is no less troubling. After losing its key actor, John Nettles, the series is already going to struggle to regain momentum, though last night's episode, the first with Neil Dugdeon, was up to its usual spendid form, with plenty of moments that made me chuckle.

Let's hope the future series will retain those qualities.

Midsomer Musings

I have always been a fan of Midsomer Murders, ever since that first episode in 1997, ‘The Killings at Badger’s Drift,'so was disheartened to read about the hoo-hah with Brian True-May, even if his remarks were a little tactless.

I love the show: for its quirkiness, its innovativeness, its vivid and memorable characters, its eccentricity - and yes, its sheer, unadulterated Englishness. Most of these are, I would add, qualities I share with the programme, but that’s another story…

Having grown up in a picturesque little village identical to the ones featured in the show, I also recognise with fondness the vignettes of village life, the twitching curtains, the gossip and the scandal-mongering. There was even a murder there once.

Upon meeting Mr. Nettles after attending a poetry reading, I said to him, 'I come from a village just like the ones in Midsomer Murders, and I told him about the murder. He asked if the killer was caught and i said, 'no, but if Barnaby had been on the case, I am sure he would hav been.'Mr. Nettles seemed satisfied with this. I guess it would be one for his Cold Case squad...