(mellow theme music) ♪ The Midsomer Murders Season 1, Episode 1, The Killings at Badger's Drift, adapted from the novel by Caroline Graham by Anthony Horowitz.

Scene one, exterior, Badger's Drift, day.

Late afternoon in the most beautiful... (birds chirping) (bright music) Once upon a time, Caroline Graham created the county of Midsomer.

And who would've thought a village green and an unremarkable detective would've become an enduring global television phenomenon?

♪ (Troy) This is it here, sir.

Really, Troy?

I'd never have guessed.

(John) So what's the enduring attraction of the series?

Here, we humbly suggest to you some 20 ingredients that make up its delicious appeal.

Should you ever dare to visit, be sure to put them on your to-do list, and do try to avoid adding to the body count.

♪ (theme music) ♪ (grunting) ♪ (upbeat music) ♪ (whistle blowing) ♪ (man) One of the beauties of Midsomer, I think why it's so well-loved around the world is the scenery, it's an extra character.

It's that beautiful landscape.

(man) For me, one of the key factors of Midsomer's enduring success is the location and setting.

We're very fortunate in that we're able to film in these positively bucolic rural idylls.

Obviously, one of the things we do is we juxtapose that chocolate-box view of English country life with a darker, more gothic, blood-splattered underbelly.

(suspenseful music) ♪ (man) The Midsomer territory extends from North Oxfordshire across the Chilterns into Buckinghamshire, and one of the favorite locations and is a favorite of mine is in the village of Thame with its beautiful shops and high street and, of course, the river, which gives great atmosphere to the whole place.

We've filmed there many times and never seen the same lovely place twice.

(soft music) ♪ (man) We just ended up, day after day after day after week after week in these most extraordinary locations, these incredible houses, houses that had these incredible grounds, beautiful farmland, beautiful forests, which is really quite an amazing thing for an actor to have that as your backdrop.

It definitely makes your job easier.

It's quite breathtaking.

(piano music) ♪ (Daniel) I think one of Troy's great joys, and one of my joys playing him, was to drive around that area.

I think we all know that Troy's driving wasn't of the highest caliber.

(horn blares) (tires screeching) (Tom Barnaby) You have taken the driving course, -have you, Troy?

-Yes, sir.

Four or five times.

(Daniel) He would drive into someone's driveway and skid to a halt, making this beautiful gravel driveway and scattering the pebbles all over the place, or he'd pull up onto a village green just to rub their noses up the wrong way, I suppose.

(Tom Barnaby) There's a bend just ahead, Troy.

(Troy) I've seen it, sir.

(tires screeching) So one of the most common misconceptions, which I often hear about Midsomer, is that we've got this extraordinarily high body count.

What are you doing here?

Aggh!

(woman) It interests me that people who actually know the show quite well always think it's just one village, even though I think the list of village names that have been used in that show goes into a lot.

-Badger's Drift.

-Midsomer Mallow.

-Swynton Magna.

-Luxton Deeping.

-Great Auburn.

-In fact, of course, we're quite a large county with, I think, over 60 small villages and hamlets in it.

So when you calculate the death rate over the last 20 years, actually, I think, proportionately, we're not doing that badly.

I think there's been something like 340-odd murders in the past 20 years, so for a county, there could be worse places to live.

(Troy) So where is it, then?

The body?

Most of it's in the hall.

The head bounced into the living room.

He's been shot through the heart.

Apparently by someone with a sense of humor.

You're right, this is bad.

(John) Bad?

I thought I looked rather good in that scene.

Meanwhile, more escapism and mayhem on the village green.

(theme music) ♪ (water bubbling) Well, of course, the village green is central to life in almost any Midsomer village.

It was one of the things that first drew me to Midsomer, that beautiful picture postcard opening of the village green and the duck pond and the lovely church.

(piano music) (man) Well, after 20 series, there is not a single picturesque village that's not been used at least two or three times.

There are probably only two or three village greens within our area.

It doesn't exist anymore, so the village shop will tend to be an exterior of someone's house, maybe it was an old village shop.

Some of the frontages still exist.

Very few pubs are on village greens, and the script inevitably wants a pub which overlooks something else, because when they come out of the pub, they see something.

They might be looking over there, and then what they see may be in another village.

Also you want to be very careful to do the times of year and the seasons as well.

If it's spring, you've got to make sure it's a spring episode, because there are times we don't want to see daffodils.

And we're filming in the spring, but it may be for the autumn.

When we did the second Christmas episode, we filmed that in July on the hottest day of the year.

We did Les Dennis in a Santa suit in something like 99 degrees Fahrenheit in Beaconsfield.

(bell ringer) Merry Christmas!

Morton Shallows Christmas Appeal, please give generously!

Ho ho ho!

That meant we couldn't see any greenery, 'cause all the trees were in leaf.

It was bright blue sunshine, you had all the extras in fleeces and scarves and hats and people were basically passing out from heat exhaustion.

It was meant to be December.

We just have to take what the script says, then try and interpret it as best we can for the viewer.

(theme music) ♪ (grunting, thudding) ♪ (John) Now, on to the village fêtes.

They are often an opportunity for local folk to dress up in a unique and quirky manner.

And then weaponize themselves.

(bright music) -Ha!

-Oh!

Another important part of life in Midsomer is the village fête, or any other kind of event that draws people together in that way.

My first ever episode had a vintage car rally, which served a similar kind of purpose, lots of people getting together, milling about.

(Jones) Look at that, 1600 MGA 1960.

Are you interested in cars, sir?

(John Barnaby) Only if it's got a flashing light and gets me home quickly.

I have definitely been roped into many, many of those.

I wore a considerable amount of Lycra and faux leather in Drawing Dead.

(clearing throat) (Fleur) All right, I give up.

Why did you cross the road?

(Winter) Like I said, it's my day off.

(Nick) Death By Persuasion, myself and Neil, for probably the first time also, he had to dress up in something ridiculous.

-Glad you could make it.

-Just blending in, Mrs. Oswood.

(Nick) We were dressed up in Georgian costume for a Jane Austen experiential event.

(Winter) These breeches are a bit tight on the old, um... (John Barnaby) They are a bit, aren't they?

(Nick) There's always some sort of village event or fête that I particularly, more than Barnaby, seem to get fully roped into in some sort of costumed element.

-I never knew you had a hobby.

-Hey!

He stole my ticket!

(dramatic music) (Winter) All right, son, let's-- (grunting) (gunshots) (solemn music) ♪ (glass shattering) (screaming) ♪ (theme music) ♪ (man) Aggh!

(John) Churches are meant to be places of worship and quiet reflection, but in Midsomer, a visit genuinely puts you in fear of God and your life.

In the name of Christ, stop!

♪ The church and its community do often play an integral role in Midsomer Murders.

I think it's important that we depict the ecclesiastical world in order to create an authentic and truthful portrayal of quaint British life.

One of my all-time favorite episodes was one called Death's Shadow in series two, which starred Richard Briers as the vicar.

Please be seated.

(Jonathan) Obviously, the church was pivotal in that episode, and I think it's one of the all-time best.

(Tom Barnaby) That same night, you decide to take your revenge.

(soft music) No planning, no calculation, he had to die by your hand before his operation.

(Ian) Churches have played a big part in Midsomer over the years.

The big opening sequence in Murder by Magic where the church organist is crushed to death by a giant Perspex box.

(gasping) (crashing) (screaming) (Ian) And then only a year later, Curse of the Ninth, when one of the promising violinists is found dead across a tombstone just outside the church where the classical concert has taken place.

(applause, screaming) (dramatic music) ♪ I've worked in many of the Midsomer churches, all of them atmospheric, very photogenic, and they just lend themselves always to the story because of their atmosphere, their architecture, many of them very old, Norman, and quintessentially Midsomer.

(Neil) Certainly the architecture comes out of Midsomer very well, 'cause we've had an awful lot of beautiful churches.

You can't go to one of the Midsomer villages without finding a beautiful church.

As to the personnel, that's a bit of a different thing.

Off the top of my head, I would think it's about 50/50.

If you're a vicar in Midsomer, you're either going to be very dodgy or you're gonna get murdered or both.

(screaming) (gasping) ♪ (Neil) Justin Salinger is a marvelous vicar, but unless you've seen the episode, look away now.

(solemn music) I'm here.

Where are you?

♪ (grunting) There have been nice vicars, there have been naughty vicars, there have been murdering vicars, there's been victim vicars, so we've got vicars of all sizes, vicars for all tastes.

Whatever kind of vicars you want, we've got 'em here in Midsomer.

(man) Father?

♪ (woman) Oh, my God!

♪ (theme music) (bicycle bell ringing) (scream, glass shatters) (John) The Great British Industrial Revolution happened in the mid-18th century.

However, in Midsomer, it's still going strong.

From the staple of village life such as the Midsomer high streets, the local shops, tea rooms, and those estate agents to the wild profiteering of the Causton Auction Room, breweries, cheese and pickle factories, and golf club bars, the stately homes opening themselves up to the great unwashed, and who can forget the export drive of Calder's Golden Cluster biscuits?

(solemn music) ♪ (grunting) ♪ These local businesses are breeding grounds for the twin specters of tradition and nepotism.

This primordial casserole of commerce enables petty hatreds and personal vendettas to simmer in an inevitable hot pot featuring the seven deadly sins and spices.

Should you ever visit the neighborhood, do make sure you engage with as many of the tradesfolk as you can, but always check your change.

How much is that?

(theme music) (bells ringing) ♪ The club thing was just a brilliant device, I think.

It worked brilliantly for the Midsomer world, and I loved it, because it brought me out of my domestic situation often and out there doing things, and I did a lot.

I was in a choir... (choir singing) ♪ (Jane) Oh, the photographic club, that was a really nice one.

I don't think I actually was a member of it, but there was a wonderful kind of photographic exhibition and the ultimate murderer was doing all kinds of fake photos and things and accusing Barnaby of infidelity.

(shuffling) (Tom Barnaby) What is that?

(Joyce) You tell me.

Bell ringing, I thought, was a splendid one, because the various victims, you know, are not doing their bit in the peal one after another as more and more blood flows down the walls of the church.

(bells ringing) (solemn music) ♪ (screaming) ♪ The painting one, there we all were on our beautiful village green and the sun really shone that year, so that was really nice.

I enjoyed that a lot.

In fact, you could say I was the queen of clubs.

(John) Yes, the queen of Barnaby's heart, too.

Next, the darker side of a club is a cult.

(theme music) (crows cawing) ♪ (solemn music) ♪ (voices hissing) ♪ (Neil) Another recurring theme and a rich theme for Midsomer has been the theme of cults.

(soft music) ♪ A number of times, we've had to deal with these sort of closed, strange groups.

Sometimes, happily, the detective sergeant has had to go undercover to infiltrate these cults.

(John Barnaby) A girl has gone missing from the Oblong Foundation.

How about going undercover on one of their induction courses?

(Jason) Jones gets told, "You've got to change your name, change your identity, keep your stubble, keep all that beard, and go and join this cult and be called Cosmo.

-Cosmo Jones.

-Oh, Cosmo.

-I like!

-And also the same detective sergeant who went undercover in the nunnery, which was hugely entertaining for all of us, and I hope it was for you.

(mellow music) ♪ One for the, uh, family album.

(chuckling) ♪ (John) Jason Hughes as a nun.

Where else could we see such delights?

(grunting) ♪ (Jason) The thing was that because they knew I was stupid enough to say yes to pretty much anything that they threw at me, they just decided, "Well, let's do that then."

And it also made my day more interesting.

I feel like I was very lucky, I got to do so much fun stuff.

(panting and moaning) (banging) (woman) It's making me feel a bit funny.

(Mark) One of the most bizarre episodes was the cult storyline where we had a miniature Stonehenge built on the side of a hill, and there was a human sacrifice and tame crows that ate the gizzards of the victim.

It looked so realistic, it was quite spooky.

(John Barnaby) I've got a strong stomach.

(Kate) Unlike the victim, who lacks a stomach entirely.

He's been disemboweled.

(police radio chatter) (Jones) So he was already dead before he had his guts... (Kate) Let's hope so.

(theme music) (dog barking) ♪ You follow the scent, okay?

Okay.

That's it, now go on, follow the scent.

(dog barking) Good boy.

(Neil) I've done a bit of dog walking in my time.

In fact, I believe in my first episode, Barnaby took Sykes along as a sort of sniffer dog.

Oh, and then he did a wee on the murder weapon, which was a car, I remember.

Maybe that's why he didn't come out again.

(John Barnaby) Okay, go and find, find.

(tinkling) (sighing) Wanted him to be a sniffer dog, but he says he has sinus problems.

When we decided that Barnaby had to have a dog, Brian True-May, who is, like myself, a veteran of many ill-behaving animals on set, insisted that we audition a few, and I have to say, when Sykes came in, he was probably the best trained we've ever seen.

He would do exactly what he was told.

He was incredibly focused.

(Neil) I remember when Sykes first came in, Jill said, "Do you want to see what he can do?"

And we all said, "Yeah, come on, let's see what he can do."

And she said, "Okay, Sykes, sit, stand, roll over, lie on your back, kick your legs in the air, play dead, pretend to wee on this--" and he did about 10 things.

It was the most brilliant audition I've ever seen.

I'm including human actors in this.

I've never seen an actor come in and nail an audition the way Sykes did with that, he was so great.

(Ian) If he was on set, he was probably more focused, had more concentration than most of the actors.

You could tell he was getting a little bit old and then Gill Raddings decided to retire him.

So we had to try and find another dog, and we didn't think we'd want another dog that was just like Sykes, a little bit of a mutt, but Paddy came in, and again, Paddy, despite the fact he was only about a year old, was so well-trained and so clever that he was an absolute shoo-in for the part.

(Neil) And they're both charming, charming creatures, and they're a lot of fun to work with.

People say, "Don't work with animals and children," but I find with animals they're great, 'cause you really don't know what they're gonna do, so that's all part of the fun of working with animals, really.

They bring a very special thing, especially those two dogs, they brought a lot of very special things.

And the question I am asked most often by people in the street is "Where's your dog?"

"Is that your dog?"

"I love that dog."

"I only watch the show to see the dog."

Dog's very popular.

We should have a whole program of just dogs detecting things.

(gasping) The art of misdirection, canine style!

Sykesey!

(John) And there we saw John Barnaby's lovely wife played by Fiona Dolman, of course.

(whirring) And you see they've got a bigger house and garden than I did.

Hm.

I'm not bitter.

ERIN CHREST: Oh, I absolutely loved both Sykes and Paddy.

They always stole the show, didn't they?

TONY HILL: They absolutely did.

And those dogs are just one of the many unique factors that make Midsomer Murders so appealing.

They are so cute too.

ERIN: Absolutely.

So please don't go anywhere because we are still counting down the 20 things to do in Midsomer before you die.

Hi, I'm ERIN Chrest.

TONY: And I'm TONY Hill.

And up next, we're going to visit some of the local pubs in Midsomer county.

That's always a good thing to do.

They're charming but can also be a little menacing.

And we'll also take a look at some very famous actors who've appeared on Midsomer over the years.

Now many of them before they became famous and household names.

ERIN:That's right.

You know, it's really wonderful watching John Nettles and Neil Dudgeon and all the other cast members reminisce about filming the series.

But we are here today to ask for your financial support so that this Public Television Station can continue to air terrific programs like Midsomer Murders TONY: Because we absolutely have to keep them coming, right?

Public Television is able to bring you the best mystery and drama programs from all over the world, featuring amazing award-winning actors, but it's only possible because of the financial support of viewers like you.

ERIN: And during this brief intermission, please give us a call at the number on your screen and make a donation.

You can also visit our safe secure website and make your pledge online.

TONY: And when you support the Station at certain levels we have some terrific ways as saying thanks.

Here's a look.

[Narrator] If coffee is your poison of choice there's no better way to administer it than with our exclusive Midsomer Murders Mug.

Become a member of this Public Television Station with an ongoing monthly contribution of $6 or a one time donation of $72.

And you'll be reminded with every sip that today is Another day in paradise- or is it?

Ask yourself, Could you survive Midsomer?

Can you avoid a bizarre death in England's most dangerous county?

For an ongoing monthly contribution of $10 or a one time donation of $120, you can find out.

This interactive novel provides hours of challenging fun.

As you assume the role of Midsomer CIDs newest recruit, choose your own path and try to determine who done it without being another victim in the county's suspiciously high death rate.

The writing is spot on Midsomer.

You'll feel like you're living in episode.

If John Nettles Tom Barnaby is your favorite Barnaby, then we have a DVD set for you.

When you make an ongoing monthly contribution of $20 or a one time donation of $240, we'll say thanks by sending you some of the best of Tom Barnaby in Midsomer Murders Mayhem and Mystery Files 15 disc DVD box set.

It contains 15 classic full length episodes featuring the unflappable DCI Tom Barnaby and his earnest protege, DS Ben Jones.

Who says you can't have your cake and eat it too.

When you make an ongoing monthly contribution of $25 or a one time contribution of $300 we'll send you the Midsomer Murders Mug, the interactive novel and the Mayhem and Mystery Files 15 disc DVD set.

Perhaps then you'll be able to answer the question, how can a county so lovely, be so deadly?

Call the number on the bottom of your screen or go online to let us know which thank you gift you'd like.

And many thanks for supporting mysteries on this Public Television Station.

JOHN BARNABY: It's a wonderful little world out here.

ERIN: Wow.

This book looks like so much fun.

You know, the Barnabies are top notch detectives.

They always solve the crime.

But have you ever watched Midsomer Murders only to decipher the culprit before DCI Barnaby?

That's always a great feeling.

And I think it's part of a good whodunnit.

You know, it's being able to piece all the clues together the plots, the clues, the characters, motivations they all fit together.

And this is what makes "Midsomer Murders" one of the best mystery shows ever produced.

And it's a direct result of your financial contribution to this Public Television Station.

"Midsomer Murders" is not part of the PBS National schedule.

It was acquired for your enjoyment specifically by this Public Television Station.

So if you appreciate having a place to tune in throughout the year for terrific mysteries and wonderful dramas, I hope you'll consider supporting this Station on an ongoing basis by becoming a Sustaining Member.

As a Sustainer, you'll sign up to make automatic monthly contributions directly from your bank account or your credit card.

You decide the amount, whatever works best with your budget.

And then since it's automatic, you never need to think about when it's time to renew.

Your account remains active until you ask us to stop.

This is such a great way to support your Public Television Station without having to even consciously think about it.

But trust me, whenever you tune in, you'll sit back and enjoy knowing that you have helped make it all possible.

Signing up is so easy.

You can enroll online at our website or by calling the number on your screen TONY: When you support us at certain levels, we love saying thanks with a great gift.

We have the Midsomer Murders Mug.

This is an all white Mug with Midsomer logo and it's followed by Another day in paradise.

Now this Mug is exclusive to Public Television.

It shows your pride as well and you can't get it anywhere else.

We'll send it to you when you make an ongoing monthly contribution of $6 or a one time donation of $72.

And then we have something that I think is really a lot of fun.

It's the "Could You Survive Midsomer" hardcover book.

This is an interactive novel where you take the role of Midsomer county's newest crime solving recruit.

You find the clues and make the decisions.

And there's many places your decisions can take you.

Now your task is to make the right choices, solve the case.

And most importantly, stay alive.

This book will give you hours of fun and we'll send it to you as our way of saying thanks when you make an ongoing monthly contribution of $10 or a one time donation of $120.

And now, we also have Midsomer Murders Mayhem and Mystery Files.

This is a 15 DVD box set.

That's right.

You heard me correctly.

This box set contains 15 full length "MidSomer Murders" featuring DCI Tom Barnaby played by the one and only John Nettles.

Now it's our gift to you when you make an ongoing monthly contribution of $20 or one time donation of $240.

Now let's just say you can't decide which one you want.

We have the solution for you.

We'll send you the Midsomer Collection featuring the Mug, the hard cover interactive book and the 15 DVD set when you make an ongoing monthly contribution of $25 or one time contribution of $300.

Now just about everything you enjoy on this station is prefaced with the phrase, Made Possible by viewers like you.

And we mean it.

While great drama and mystery programs may be a cornerstone of Public Television, your financial support is the foundation which supports everything you watch on this Station.

You can become a part of our foundation right now by visiting us online at our safe and secure website or by calling the number on your screen.

JOHN NETTLES: Hello, I am John Nettles and I hope you're enjoying the Midsomer scenery.

This wonderful English countryside, these little chocolate box Hamlet.

Well, perhaps more arsenic bottle than chocolate box, but I'm sure you're seeing beneath that sugary coating already.

Although this Station is expert at bringing you distinguished drama and mystery there's also a not so diabolical need laying below the surface that this Station needs your support to continue bringing you the programs you enjoy like "Midsomer Murders".

So please go online or go to the phone and make a generous contribution to keep these programs on the air.

And do think very carefully before you take one of those chocolates.

Thank you.

ERIN: Thanks John.

I hope you'll consider becoming a member and help us preserve high quality television for everyone in your community.

And when you join this station at one of our suggested levels or above, you'll also receive access to PBS passport.

This member only benefit will open the door to even more terrific programs for you to enjoy including more wonderful dramas and mysteries.

PBS passport is our digital member only streaming service.

And it's filled with thousands of hours of programming.

You can watch whenever and wherever you want to on your computer, your smartphone your smart TV and with streaming devices like Roku.

TONY: Let's return now to 20 Things to Do in Midsomer Before You Die.

Help keep the wonderful mysteries and dramas alive on Public Television.

These programs are a direct result of your financial support.

And with your help today we can keep bringing these series directly into your home without commercial interruptions.

You can call the number on your screen at any time to make a pledge.

We hope you'll call soon, If we haven't heard from you already.

And now let's return to Midsomer.

So, over to an excuse for murder most gruesome.

Outings to restaurants... (grunting) (John) ...and Joyce's cookbook.

(suspenseful music) ♪ (choking) Amy?

♪ Amy!

(woman) My first episode begins with not food, but a beverage which is not water being involved in someone's demise, so that was the first scene I ever shot with Neil.

Boiled human flesh isn't something I work with every day, so I need to consult a specialist.

And possibly a cookbook.

(soft music) (Annette) I believe there have been some extremely gruesome deaths, not from eating, but maybe being eaten, being covered in truffle oil and being eaten by a boar while still alive.

I think Fleur would have been really intrigued by that, working out if the person was still alive while they were being eaten and finding all the crevices the truffle oil had got into and why.

They use pigs to hunt for truffles on the continent, don't they?

Yes, they do.

(Nelson) You think Martin Strickland was eaten by a pig.

Not a pig, an ancient relative.

A wild boar.

(Tom Barnaby) Would you tell the manager that Detective Chief Inspector Barnaby from Causton CID would like to talk to him in private now, please?

(mixed chatter) Why do I get the feeling that I'm not going to eat tonight?

(Jane) One of the things that used to happen fairly regularly was that Tom and Joyce would go out to dinner... (cell phone ringing) (Tom Barnaby) Oh.

Sorry!

(Jane) ...and almost as regularly, his phone would ring, Joyce would be left there having to get home alone.

(Tom Barnaby) I'm sorry, Joyce.

I'll see you at home, okay?

All right, I'll get a cab.

(Tom Barnaby) Oh.

(waitress) Are you the risotto or the chicken pie?

(Jane) Joyce, although well-meaning, was a truly ghastly cook, which was a really sweet kind of character point, and it was very touching between Joyce and Tom that he tried very hard to sort of conceal the fact from her that her cooking was so dreadful.

Did you cook this, Cully?

-How can you tell?

-Oh, it's, um... it's a different style is all.

(Jane) It was a rather charming and sweet thing.

It sort of faded out eventually, there was only so many variations you could do on my terrible cooking.

(Tom Barnaby) How's the sauce coming?

(Joyce) It's a wee bit lumpy.

Tastes okay, though.

(theme music) ♪ (woman) Cheers!

I, in the last seven or eight years, have spent quite a lot of time in the local pub.

Thought if I was going to get to know the place, I ought to start in the pub.

Nice to meet you.

(Ian) It's seen as the hub and center of the village, and it's a very, very good device for getting various characters together.

(man) Cleo's over there.

(bartender) I'll bring the drinks over.

-On the house.

-Every single episode probably has a pub involved in it somehow, because you always have the village green, you've got the church, you've got the school, you've got the post office, whatever, and you've always got the pub.

(Ian) Just thinking about a few years back, Maid in Splendour, which is all about a pub, I think you'll find that that was four different pubs in one pub.

The exterior was in Dorchester on Thames, then I think there were two interiors in totally different villages.

And then when the pub had a makeover at the very end, that was another pub.

Hopefully the viewer never noticed it.

They went through one door and appeared in another, in completely another building.

(Neil) We've had some dodgy barmen, and then we had lovely Neil Morrissey, of course, ran a pub from series 19.

Someone sabotages my pub, then sure as hell I'm gonna hit back.

(Nick) We also have some beautiful-looking pubs in England where we film out in the Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire countryside.

Every village does have a pub, and we've managed to film inside them, outside them, and it's something that people recognize always and, you know, the pub will always be at the heart of Britain and therefore Midsomer.

(John Barnaby) Cheers.

♪ Cheers!

♪ (bubbling) ♪ (upbeat music) Mm, that's good.

I needed that.

(Nick) We have an episode which is set in a brewery.

Terrible things happen.

The beer was great, I'm sure highly affordable.

Someone maybe died in the beer.

Midsomer's got quite a history of brewing alcohol, none of it particularly successful.

If you remember Night of the Stag, they all start being sick.

(retching) ♪ You all right, sir?

Do I look all right?

(Ian) I personally wouldn't drink the beer after we find someone drowned in various vats.

Oh, my God.

(dramatic music) (Ian) And I think you'll find in the vineyard that the wine critic actually loathed wine.

(woman) Ladies and gentlemen, I have tasted some great English wines in my time.

Unfortunately, this is not one of them.

(Ian) Not only that, was then found dead because of the poisonous fumes in the vats.

(machinery whirring) Help me, please.

(solemn music) ♪ (John) From booze to tunes now, as we find time to listen to the music.

(theme music) (electricity zapping) (screaming) One of the really amazing things about Midsomer Murders was that the music was all written for each individual episode and the musicians were got together by our wonderful composer, Jim Parker, and they would record each episode.

I thought the music was absolute genius.

I wanted to use the theremin, and it's an instrument that's based on sound waves.

It's got two antennae, one is for pitch and one is for volume.

And you sort of wave your hands around and depending what you do, you get notes.

♪ (Jack) ♪ I love the way you walk (guitar music) (both) ♪ I love the way you talk ♪ ♪ I love the way you walk ♪ You're my babe, I got my eyes on you ♪ (Mark) Live music is always fun and it's always a bonus to any episode I'm working on.

I love hearing and seeing the music performed, and one of them was "The Ballad of Midsomer," when we had Lucie Jones, the Eurovision singer.

(Lucie) ♪ Come sit by me, all you fine lords and laddies ♪ ♪ I'll tell you the tale of young John Henry ♪ Well, quite often, I mean, in a musical sense, an actor is supposed to be playing an instrument or singing or conducting, they often need some kind of help in that direction.

Sometimes, they're very good.

Recently, I had Simon Callow playing the viola.

He looked for all the world like the world's best viola player.

(orchestral music) Quite often, people have to look very competent at playing a particular instrument or, indeed, singing.

We had one particular episode where-- which was about a piano competition.

We had some very young artists who were very good at the job, but they obviously couldn't really play Beethoven's Pathétique Sonata and that sort of thing, which is very difficult even for a professional.

So they had to look really good and really on the ball.

(dramatic piano music) ♪ And we also had an electric guitar program which was called The Axeman Cometh... (announcer) And the greatest... Jack "the Axeman" McKinley!

(cheering) (upbeat guitar music) ♪ (Jim) ...where the singer got electrocuted and the drummer was deaf.

That was fun.

♪ Whoa ♪ (screaming) ♪ (zapping) ♪ The other difficult thing is that, occasionally, one is invited to write a masterpiece.

One was called "Midsomer Rhapsody," where a manuscript from a brilliant composer who was dead was discovered, and of course, I had to write this alleged masterpiece called "Midsomer Rhapsody."

(melancholy music) ♪ And then we had Peter Capaldi before he did his Dr. Who stint.

He had to conduct.

He needed some help at first, as you would, you know, 'cause it looks easy.

It isn't all that easy, actually.

And quite often we have a choir and members of the cast are dotted around the choir.

(John) Ah, the wonderful Barry Jackson, our pathologist, Bullard, singing in the choir there.

(soft music) (theme music) (man) Off with his head!

(woman) Off with this head!

(metallic swishing) ♪ (exploding, shouting) (John) I myself have always maintained Midsomer Murders is a costume drama in contemporary clothing.

The show's apparent ageless appeal is perhaps that it is trapped in the amber of another time.

This view is, in part, down to some episodes offering more than a passing nod to our rich, pastoral heritage, a window on history played out as fulsomely and fiendishly as you'd expect.

But this trip down memory lane isn't mere wistfulness, especially when you have spectaculars such as the swing-and-jive night at Morton Fendle Parish Hall, the Annual Quitewell Battle Day, the Midsomer Barton Oak Apple Week, and never forget, the Annual Badger's Drift Fête which all serve as a canvas for us to sketch out ancient secrets, grudges, and disputes from down the ages.

You see, Midsomer villages specialize in bringing ancient history back to life and, of course, death.

(man) Everyone, get down!

(screaming) (gunshot, shattering) ♪ (birds chirping) (lips smacking) ♪ (man) I believe he's got a secret passion, our Nico.

(coughs) (man) It's not for dusting.

(man) I think he's having an affair.

(Neil) Another recurring theme that the avid viewer may have noticed about Midsomer, of course, is the prevalence of affairs.

Maybe there isn't as much to do in the countryside.

And some of this, of course, was before the dawn of the internet, so people had to make their own entertainment.

There have been over 120 affairs, I understand, in the various episodes in Midsomer.

(Kate) You're the only man I know who smells like a poof and shags like a rhino.

(laughing) (Daniel) There was another episode called Dark Autumn, which was one of my favorite episodes.

There's a local postman who's having affairs with different people.

(dramatic music) ♪ (woman) No, Dave, don't be stupid.

(Daniel) Troy falls in love with a local policewoman played by Gillian Kearney, and they dance underneath a glitter ball, which is really beautiful, it's really romantic.

And she talks about loving poetry, so he buys her a book of poetry.

In the end, she turns out to have been one of the people who was having an affair with the postman.

And the murderer was in love with her, and so he saves her from Robert Glenister's character.

Hey!

(gasping) (slamming) (Jonathan) I mean, before joining Midsomer, I had no idea what went on in these little villages, but, certainly, now I know it all.

I would say pretty much every episode that we write has an affair somewhere, and I'd like to think that you never see it coming, but they're quite filthy what they get up to in these little villages.

(woman) You are without a doubt the vainest, blatantest, loathsomest, serial womanizer in the history of adultery.

I thought you was at the cash-and-carry.

(Neil) A marvelous episode I remember called Garden of Death in which I myself in a former life played a young man who was a gardener, something of a saucy gardener, working at the big house with a number of lovely women.

I think there was the inference in the story that my character, the saucy gardener, was variously being saucy with anybody who'd be saucy with him.

(woman) Oh, we care about village opinion now, do we?

-Don't be stupid.

-Or maybe you're just keeping all your options open.

(Daniel Bolt) What options?

(woman) Well, there must be somebody in the village -you haven't slept with yet.

-He also tried to be saucy with, um, Joyce Barnaby, wife of Tom Barnaby.

(Daniel Bolt) I'd be quite happy to come back and make sure everything is nicely... Bedded in?

(Daniel Bolt) Ah.

But, yes, there's always that slight frisson of something might happen between any two people, anywhere in Midsomer, at any time.

It's a part of the excitement of living in the country.

If you're not being murdered, you're having an affair.

If you're not doing either, you're really not living.

You might as well move to the city.

(John) Not in front of the children.

And in the world of crime, where there are affairs, there is, of course, blackmail.

(birds chirping) (theme music) ♪ -Where does this come from?

-Hm?

This?

Um, some oik is using this to blackmail one of my suspects.

Suspect playing the lead.

(moaning, heavy breathing) (soft music) (groaning) (Jonathan) One of the challenges when crafting each episode of Midsomer is to make sure we have as many red herrings as possible.

And the best way, I think, to do that is to give each character a secret.

(Tom Barnaby) Happy, are you, in spite of a brat like David Cooke with an E blackmailing you?

(John) You've got that wrong.

He isn't.

(Tom Barnaby) Oh, yes, he is.

You tell me why and I'll stop him.

So, often, blackmail is absolutely essential.

It's perfect, juicy, dramatic territory because it gives characters reason to hate and despise one another.

(woman) Someone broke into drone HQ.

I think we can use it to our advantage.

The original proponents of that were the Rainbirds in Badger's Drift.

I mean, they were just a classic Midsomer family.

Five hundred pounds, Mrs. Lessiter.

That's what it'll cost to keep me quiet.

Otherwise...

I've got a story to tell, haven't I?

(dark music) (Daniel) And they had a lookout post at the top of their house from which they could view the whole of the village.

They saw all the goings-on.

So they began blackmailing people around the village, and that ultimately led to their demise.

(tense music) ♪ Dennis?

(John) Poor Dennis.

Such a nice young man.

(gasping) ♪ (yelping) ♪ Now, let's look at some of the fine actors who visited Midsomer.

(theme music) ♪ (blade swishes, scream) ♪ Of course, an enormous part of Midsomer Murders always was the guest stars.

We like our guest characters to be these larger-than-life, flamboyant figures, and in doing so, we get to attract a stellar lineup of guest actors.

Death by pitchfork.

Personally, I've never seen anything like it.

There were also a lot of young actors, one of whom I actually had some part in casting, because Orlando Bloom had been a student at the Guildhall School, and I did some tutoring there.

And a script came up and I thought, "Yeah, Orlando could play the hell out of this," and I suggested him for it.

And he got the part, unsurprisingly, really.

He really was incredibly gorgeous, and then he got pitchforked to death before the first ads.

(footsteps) (clicking, creaking) (tense music) What?

♪ Aggh!

(dark music) (Ian) Orlando Bloom heard he'd got the part in Lord of the Rings while he was filming with us.

I mean, over 20 years, we must have had well over a thousand actors in the series, and over that time, we've managed to help a lot of very famous people advance their careers.

Hugh Bonneville.

Henry Cavill.

Olivia Coleman went from waitress to the Queen.

There were so many great actors who came through it.

I particularly enjoyed working with Gemma Jones in the episode about the bell ringing.

(Maisie) You're a bell-ringer.

You have an outstanding debt to pay, all of you.

-Debt?

-From 1860.

(Jason) My very first episode was George Baker who played twins, so they only had to pay him once to play two roles.

I remember John Nettles laughing about that, that they managed to get George Baker really cheap.

I do remember being very excited when Ken Cranham came and getting a chance to do stuff with him.

Edward Fox, Saskia Reeves, Mark Gatiss.

Bob Pugh played a great part in it.

I mean, the list goes on and on and on, you know.

I've been very lucky to work with some great people.

Bill Bailey, he was brilliant, a lot of fun.

(Darwin) No, no, no, lift, not drag.

Please, some respect.

(Nick) We've had Hugh Dennis, Neil Morrissey, Simon Callow.

And I just loved Richard Briers, who played the evil vicar.

He was terrific, because all the way through it, he appeared to be, as Richard Briers often did, the nicest person you'd ever met in your whole life.

And when he went evil, he went really evil.

It was, uh, it was impressive.

Please, come in.

(organ music) ♪ (clinking) (shouting) ♪ (Daniel) He was just phenomenal.

When he did his confession, we were in a church, and he decided he wasn't gonna blink for the whole of the take.

And I think the take was about 3.5 minutes, so he didn't blink with those piercing blue eyes.

And, then, he makes a bolt for it, and he runs up a set of stairs, -up to the church roof.

-Get after him, Troy!

(Daniel) Now, I had to say, "Hang on, there's got to be a moment, we've got to pause here because, surely, I can catch a 70-year-old man."

So we said, "Okay, okay.

So he'll kick you at one point."

So he kicks me back down the stairs.

Then we get to the roof, he's climbing over the tower and he's about to jump off.

They were setting up everything, and I said to Richard, I said, "I used to love Roobarb and Custard when I was a little boy.

That was my favorite program when I was little."

And he stood there, and the 15 minutes at the top of that tower, I was a four-year-old boy again, because he did a full rendition of Roobarb and Custard.

And it's one of the best memories I have of Midsomer, 'cause he was such a special man, such a wonderful actor.

And, then, he did this scene where he had to then stand at the top of the real church roof, about 80 foot up, and he jumps off onto a scaffolding.

And he did it himself.

(DS Gavin Troy) Sir, don't do it!

Of course I'm going to do it.

I should've done it years ago.

No!

(screaming) (dramatic music) ♪ (thudding) (Daniel) And he just jumps, and it's really shocking.

What an opportunity as a young actor to work with some of the greats of 20th-century film and television and theatrical circles.

I mean, it was an absolute joy for me, but he was one of my highlights.

ERIN: Wow, it was great seeing actors like Orlando Bloom and Hugh Bonneville and Henry Cavill getting their start doing these small but really memorable roles in "Midsomer Murders" before they became big stars.

Thanks for joining us for "20 Things To Do in Midsomer Before You Die."

We'll be going back for more of the show in just a few minutes.

Hi, I'm Erin Chrest, I'm in the studio with Tony Hill.

And "Midsomer Murders" is an example of a drama that this station has purchased just for your enjoyment.

I hope you're gonna stay with us because in the final part, we're going to see some of the most memorable and favorite murders that the cast remembers from the show.

And, of course, the Death by Chocolate is hard to forget.

Great mystery series like "Midsomer Murders" can't be found on just any station but they can be found on Public Television, thanks to you.

Your financial support allows us to bring these wonderful programs directly into your home.

And the best part is, of course, you don't need premium cable or a subscription streaming service to enjoy them.

Public Television is here, thanks to you, and we vow to remain your source for programs that entertain, educate and enlighten.

So please help us fulfill this mission by making a contribution to this station right now.

JOHN NETTLES: Hello, this is John Nettles, Detective Chief Inspector Tom Barnaby of "Midsomer Murders."

Thank you for your support of "Midsomer Murders" and this Public Television station.

MAN: Please, we've got to agree on this.

WOMAN: I'm reaching the end of my tether here.

- [Announcer] Become a member of this Public Television station with an ongoing monthly contribution of $10 or a one-time donation of $120, and we'll show our appreciation by sending you the interactive novel, "Could You Survive Midsomer?"

This unique mystery presents different paths you can take to solve the murder, and hopefully, survive yourself.

The beauty of Midsomer belies the secrets hidden within, and it's up to you to uncover them.

Depending on which path you take through the story, you'll uncover different clues and meet with different endings.

Try it solo, or perhaps you and a friend can put your heads together.

You'll feel you've been recruited into the Causton CID.

When you make an ongoing monthly contribution of $20 or a one-time donation of $240, we'll show our appreciation with this massive 15-disc DVD set, "Midsomer Murders Mayhem and Mystery Files," featuring Tom Barnaby at his tenacious peak.

Whether it's a victim stabbed by a Masonic dagger or a rocker electrocuted on stage, "Midsomer Murders" always has a rich imagination for mayhem.

This is absolutely classic Midsomer to watch again and again.

And if you can't get enough cricket matches, village town meetings, church fetes, and pub life, why not go for our Midsomer Collection?

Become a member with an ongoing monthly contribution of $25 or a one-time contribution of $300, and we'll send you both, the 15-disc DVD set, "Midsomer Murders Mayhem and Mystery Files," and the interactive novel, "Could You Survive Midsomer?"

To round out this delightful package, let's add the exclusive "Midsomer Murders" mug.

Imagine yourself sipping away as you take pleasure in your other thank you gifts while reveling in the whimsy and dark humor of this landmark series.

Now, it's time for you to show your support for the great mysteries you love.

Call the number at the bottom of your screen or go online right now to support whodunits and this Public Television station.

Thank you.

TONY: One of the best parts, by the way, about Public Television is the fact that you make it happen.

You really do.

When you love a particular series or genre of program, you let us know by making a pledge of support.

Now, your feedback means a lot to us.

It lets us know which shows you'd like to see more of.

And in turn, it helps determine what you see here on this station.

When we say it's made possible by viewers like you, we really mean that.

"Midsomer" is an example of it.

We purchased the broadcast rights specifically for you.

So please make a contribution now online at our safe and secure website, or you can call the number on your screen and make a pledge over the phone.

ERIN: This station is home to first class award-winning dramas and mysteries from across the world, but there's so much more to enjoy and you can enjoy the terrific programs on Public Television on your own schedule with PBS Passport.

When you join this station at one of our suggested levels or above, you'll also receive access to PBS Passport, and that's our digital member-only streaming service.

It's filled with thousands of hours of programming so you can watch whenever and wherever you want to, on your computer or your smartphone, your smart TV, and with your streaming devices like Roku.

With PBS Passport, you'll find full length concerts, and documentaries, and dramas, and even more mystery programs such as "Masterpiece Mystery."

And then you can enjoy it on your schedule, whenever you want.

You can receive your Passport today by calling the number on your screen or by visiting us on the web.

No matter how you decide to give, we hope we're gonna hear from you soon.

TONY: We certainly hope that you'll call and support this station and get one of those great thank you gifts.

And we hope that you consider becoming a sustainer.

Now, let me tell you about that 'cause I do think it's really special.

As a sustainer, you'll sign up to make automatic monthly contributions directly from your bank account or credit card.

And then you decide the amount, whatever works best with your budget.

And since it's automatic, you never need to think about when it's time to renew.

Your account will remain active until you ask us to stop.

You can become a sustaining member by visiting us on our website or by simply calling the number on your screen.

And when you contribute at certain levels, we'd love to send you a great thank you gift.

Let me tell you about those.

The first one is the "Midsomer Murders" mug.

Now, you can show everybody that you're a fan of "Midsomer" and Public Television, and we'll send it to you when you make an ongoing monthly contribution of $6 or a one-time donation of $72.

And then, there's the "Could You Survive Midsomer?"

hardcover book.

This is cool.

This is an interactive novel where you find the clues and decide which direction you should follow the case.

Now, we'll send it to you as our way of saying thanks when you make an ongoing monthly contribution of just $10 or a one-time donation of $120.

And then we also have "Midsomer Murders Mayhem and Mystery Files," this is a 15-DVD box set.

It contains 15 full-length Midsomer episodes featuring Tom Barnaby played by the one and only, John Nettles.

And it's our gift to you when you make an ongoing monthly contribution of $20 or a one-time donation of $240.

And if you like all of them and you kinda can't decide between them, well, we can send you everything.

We can make that happen.

We can send you the Midsomer Collection featuring the mug, the hard cover interactive book and the 15-DVD set when you're making an ongoing monthly contribution of $25 or a one-time contribution of $300.

So please support the great programs that you enjoy all year long on this Public Television station.

Please visit our website or call the number on your screen.

NEIL DUDGEON: There never seems to be a shortage of ways that the good people of Midsomer meet a rather nasty end here on this station.

I'm Neil Dudgeon, Detective Chief Inspector John Barnaby of "Midsomer Murders."

In the world of Midsomer, there are endless ways that people seem to meet a dastardly demise.

When it comes to supporting Public Television, there's just one way to ensure that programming you love doesn't meet a similar fate.

The killer of public media is indifference.

I urge you to become an ongoing contributor to support our show and others you count on this channel to provide.

"Midsomer Murders" is an independent acquisition that is made possible by member dollars.

Thanks for making us part of your Public Television viewing and for supporting this station.

If you're not already a sustainer, please make that call or visit our website now.

ERIN: You know, this station provides you and your community with incredible dramas, music performances, news and public affairs programming, and of course the best educational shows for your children and grandchildren.

But your financial contribution is necessary for all of this to continue and to thrive.

Now, you've already taken the first step by joining us for this fun look back at "Midsomer Murders."

I hope you're now going to take a moment to ensure that Midsomer and all of your favorite mysteries and dramas can continue on Public Television in the months ahead.

TONY: By the way, ask the operator how you can get one of the thank you gifts when you call.

Let's return now to Midsomer County and more stories from the cast and creators of one of our favorite programs.

But please remember, "Midsomer Murders" is here on Public Television, thanks to you.

It's a direct result of your continued financial support.

And with your help today, the chills and thrills of this great show will continue well into the future.

If we haven't heard from you yet, we hope to hear from you soon.

Thank you.

(theme music) ♪ (birds chirping) ♪ (tense music) ♪ (gun cocking) ♪ I'm a police officer.

Detective Sergeant Winter.

Can I please just reach for my warrant card?

Why didn't you just say that?

(Winter) Well, you didn't give me a chance.

Do you normally greet your visitors with a shotgun?

It was only a warning shot.

I was aiming at the bucket.

Do you want me to prove it?

No!

No!

I gather that over the years there have been surveys made of actual policeman who have been asked which programs are most accurate in their depiction of police life and police procedure, and it turns out, you may struggle to believe this, that Midsomer Murders is considered by many police professionals to be the most accurate portrayal of police life they've ever s-- No, sorry, the least accurate portrayal of police life they've ever seen.

I am on house arrest.

-What?

-Yeah, well, it is what it is.

You keep looking for her.

-Should you be taking those?

-No.

-Okay.

-It was never too hot on procedural accuracy.

We'd notionally maybe put a pair of gloves on, but Troy would often either pick something up with a handkerchief or take his own Swiss Army knife out of his pocket and pick things up with it.

He'd walk across a crime scene with his big size tens.

I think that's the charm of it.

I think it was never about forensically getting something massively accurate.

It was more about, well, him stumbling onto some evidence that Barnaby would then uncover.

(Troy) This and the torn-up check were in the waistband and all this lot.

Worth testing, I think, in case it's the letter from Emma Tysoe.

(Tom Barnaby) Get it down to the lab straight away.

-Sir... -One moment that sticks in my mind is the Richard Briers episode.

There's a decapitated head.

And Troy is a detective sergeant, so he's risen through the ranks quite a bit.

They're examining the body and he asks Barnaby... (DS Gavin Troy) What's that he's got in his hand?

-Looks like a pear.

-Now this man can't recognize fruit.

I always thought that was rather nice.

He's a detective sergeant, he's in charge of murder investigations, and he's part of a detective duo that have 100% success rate, yet he can't recognize your commoner garden fruit.

(Troy) I knew we had a case as soon as I saw that terrific crack on her head.

-Oh, yeah?

-No water in the lungs.

Dead when he threw her in.

Stands to reason.

(Tom Barnaby) Sometimes I wonder why we bother going through all the usual procedures.

We could just come straight to you.

(Jonathan) I don't think viewers tune in for DNA evidence and CCTV footage.

Instead, I think they'd far sooner see Barnaby interrogate his suspects over a picnic table than in a dark and dingy police cell.

(Luke) Any differences I had with Grady were ideological and not psychopathic.

I wouldn't kill over it.

(John Barnaby) Grady Palmerston thought you would.

(Neil) I don't think that's really why people watch Midsomer, for that degree of supposedly scientific accuracy and detail.

(George) I'm taking it back to the lab, Tom.

-Any initial thoughts?

-Yes, he's dead!

(Neil) When I first joined the show, I think it was mentioned to me two or three times whether on appearing at a murder scene I'd like to get into the little blue shoes and the blue suit with the blue hood and the blue gloves, and I said, "No, thank you, I'll look like a Smurf."

(theme music) ♪ (man) Fore!

(grunting, clanking) ♪ (lively music) (John) Time for cricket and those sergeants getting physical.

♪ (cheering) (Jason) When I was on the show, one of the things that I liked to do was just to remind everybody how much I loved playing sport.

So I thought this was a very good way of being able to kind of have fun with certain sports whilst sort of doing my job.

They had two cricket episodes that I was involved in, which was fabulous, because in one episode, I was a really good batsman.

(tense music) (grunting) (announcer) And there it is!

Heading straight to the finals with an excellent batting display... (Jason) In the other one, I was a really good bowler.

And that was the first cricket episode that we did.

So, John had to learn the rules of cricket.

(Tom Barnaby) There are 42 basic areas in cricket rules and they are split into numbered subheadings which produce thousands and thousands of sub sub-clauses.

I will never forgive you for this.

(Jason) He was not playing, he was umpiring.

And I remember querying it when we were filming it because I didn't understand why he was being so cruel to Jones, because Jones was bowling people out quite legitimately and he was kind of saying "not out."

(cheering) (Jones) What's that?

(Tom Barnaby) Not out.

(Jones) It was LBW!

(man) Not out?

(Jones) Oh, that's unbelievable.

(Jason) And I kept turning to him all the time, you know, in character, obviously, to say, "Why?

Come on, he's out, it was LBW," and, "No, no, no, it's not."

(lively music) (Jones) Yes, how's that?

-No-ball.

-What?

(Tom Barnaby) Foot was over the line, yes.

-Get on with it.

-I can never remember why other than the fact that Barnaby absolutely loved the fact that Jones was getting irate because he was legitimately bowling out these people, and Barnaby, just for the hell of it, was not gonna let him have the wickets, and I think not only Barnaby but John enjoyed all that tremendously.

(shouting) ♪ (Jones) Oh, thank you.

(Jason) It sort of seems to be full of things like that: tennis, badminton.

Then, there was golf, which was also tremendous fun.

'Cause I'm ready if you are.

(tense music) (thwacking) (intense music) ♪ (thwacking) (Mark) In Series 20, we had a great sporting location.

It was made even more interesting because the whole team, including a lot of the crew, had to learn how to do a haka.

(chanting) (breathy exhale) (all) Ah-ha-ha!

(theme music) (fire crackling) (shouting) ♪ (Tom Barnaby) Miss Turner, I regret to inform you that your brother, Richard Turner, is dead.

My very favorite murder is Jonathan Coy in Destroying Angel, and it is death by a drinks cabinet.

The stunt team had never done anything like it.

It was--there was this huge, enormous, great drinks cabinet that was fixed to the wall.

They'd rigged up some handholds inside and so they, on action, they had to pull this thing and fall back, and the stuntman had to jump inside and land.

It had never been done.

They'd never done anything like it.

They didn't know whether it would work.

And so, we're standing there and everything, and then they pull this thing out, it goes "vrr" and it goes "boom!"

(clanking) (creaking) (tense music) (clanking) (shattering) ♪ (rumbling) ♪ Dust flew up in the air and everything, and there was absolute silence.

We thought, "Oh my God, is he dead?

Did he actually die?"

And then there's a knock, knock, knock.

"Oh my God, no, he's alive, he's fine, he's fine."

But then, it took about ten minutes to lift this thing back off him because all the sparks were in, all the chippies were in.

Everyone was trying to lift this thing because they hadn't-- they hadn't appreciated how heavy it was.

They were gonna get him back out again.

He didn't die from the thing, but he almost died of suffocation, I think.

Now I love croquet.

It's a very English game to play, and I know it can get violent, but the murder where a man was pinioned by the croquet hoops.

(clanking) (dark music) ♪ (Annette laughs) A machine thrusting his own bottles of vintage wine at him.

I thought that was pretty extraordinary.

(cracking) (swishing) (whooshing) (shattering) The bottles would hurt as they landed and, then, as they broke and dribbled wine into your mouth, your own vintage wine killing you.

His wife was made to watch as well.

Can I suggest about five degrees to the left?

(tense music) ♪ (cracking) ♪ (swishing) ♪ No!

♪ My favorite murder of many is probably the spontaneously combusting vicar in The Straw Woman.

(dark music) ♪ (screaming) ♪ Very few shows have shown a Church of England clergyman spontaneously combust on camera.

(Jane) It's funny that it's always a feature of Midsomer.

Even though the murders can actually individually be quite unpleasant, I do remember one with a hatpin.

That stayed with me for a while.

(tense music) (woman) Let go!

(groaning) Their nastiness gets kind of subsumed into this generally quite kind world.

So really horrible things can happen.

I suppose in a way it's an equivalent of reading horrible fairy tales, you know, Grimms' Tales and so on with your mother when you're little.

Nasty things happen in the world, but you're in Midsomer, you're in a safe place.

Ultimately, it's gonna be all right.

(John Barnaby) Who would use a tank as a murder weapon?

(Nick) There have been some great murders, obviously, over the years.

I'm gonna pick one from the series that I've been in, and I would say the one is the death by chocolate.

(dark music) (tense music) (creaking) (sloshing) ♪ There's something beautifully romantic and slightly ridiculous about death by chocolate.

(woman) Enrobed.

That's how they describe it, isn't it, on the box?

Mind you, they're usually talking about a hazelnut, not a head.

We've seen people knocked over the head, people killed with a wheel of cheese, who'd been crushed under shelves of cheese.

(dark music) ♪ (creaking, gasping) (thudding) ♪ Cheese can kill you.

♪ No!

Among other favorites of mine, there was the poor man who heard a noise out in the garden outside his castle, went out to investigate, and then heard something above him, looked up, and a gargoyle fell from the roof of his castle and crushed him to death.

Where'd you go, then?

(ominous music) (scraping) (whooshing) (Jonathan) Whilst we always try and make the motives as emotionally truthful as possible, we do allow our writers to come up with the most fantastically theatrical murders and deaths imaginable.

(gunshot, exclamations) (upbeat music) ♪ -She's been shot.

-I love that.

I think it's a great part of the fun of the series, and it allows us all behind the scenes to be as imaginative as possible.

And we have a great time coming up with those ideas.

(ominous music) ♪ (indistinct singing) ♪ (crackling) ♪ (shouting) ♪ (theme music) (John) So what have we, who have been involved in the show, learned about perfecting the art of murder?

The perfect murder is meant to be, um, to use an icicle.

I would probably try and stab someone with an icicle.

A sharpened piece of ice driven through the heart of the victim.

Because the weapon disappears.

So it could never be traced, there could never be fingerprints or anything, and you'd never catch me.

Saunter away, get in the black Jag, you know, cool as a cucumber, and he's left there dying slowly and painfully, with the evidence disappearing in a watery puddle.

Quite good, eh?

I'd like to suggest how to perform the perfect murder, but in actual fact, in Midsomer Murders, the murderer always gets caught.

I'm not sure Midsomer Murders is the best research tool.

But most of the time they were such wild murders, I think it would be hard to conceal them.

I believe in real life they sometimes get away with it, but not in Midsomer Murders.

TONY HILL: Well, that was a fun and very entertaining look back at "Midsomer Murders".

I think the death by wheel of cheese was just as imaginative as the death by chocolate.

And I'm a foodie so it works for me.

ERIN CHREST: I think that's true, and the creators of Midsomer always know how to keep us on the edge of our seats, keep us in suspense and anticipation.

So it was really great hearing all these stories from the cast and crew.

TONY: It sure was.

I mean, I love getting a peek behind the scenes too of my favorite series, and it's so great that public television brings shows like "Midsomer Murders" directly into our homes.

Hi everybody, I'm Tony Hill.

ERIN: And I'm Erin Chrest, and this is the last opportunity to pledge during this special.

So we hope you're gonna take the time to support Midsomer and all the other terrific drama and mystery programs that you enjoy on public television.

TONY: And it's your generous donations, by the way, which allow us to produce and broadcast these terrific series.

I mean, they wouldn't be here on public television without your generous financial support.

The rights to broadcast "Midsomer Murders" were purchased by this station, just for the members of our community.

Not all public television viewers across America can enjoy Midsomer, but you can.

ERIN: So, please, take this last opportunity to support this station by calling the number on your screen.

And when you do, we'll send you a fantastic thank you gift.

Here's a little bit more about them.

[Announcer] If coffee is your poison of choice, there's no better way to administer it than with our exclusive "Midsomer Murders" mug.

Become a member of this public television station with an ongoing monthly contribution of $6 or a one time donation of $72.

And you'll be reminded with every sip that today is another day in paradise, or is it?

Ask yourself, could you survive Midsomer?

Can you avoid a bizarre death in England's most dangerous county?

For an ongoing monthly contribution of $10 or a one time donation of $120, you can find out.

This interactive novel provides hours of challenging fun as you assume the role of Midsomer CID's newest recruit, choose your own path and try to determine, whodunit?

Without being another victim in the county's suspiciously high death rate.

The writing is spot on Midsomer.

You'll feel like you're living an episode.

If John Nettles' Tom Barnaby is your favorite Barnaby, then we have a DVD set for you.

When you make an ongoing monthly contribution of $20 or a one time donation of $240, we'll say thanks by sending you some of the best of Tom Barnaby in "Midsomer Murders: Mayhem and Mystery Files" 15 disc DVD box set.

It contains 15 classic full length episodes featuring the unflappable DCI Tom Barnaby, and his earnest protege, DS Ben Jones.

Who says you can't have your cake and eat it too?

When you make an ongoing monthly contribution of $25 or a one time contribution of $300, we'll send you the "Midsomer Murders" mug, the interactive novel, and the Mayhem and Mystery Files 15 disc DVD set.

Perhaps then, you'll be able to answer the question, how can a county so lovely be so deadly?

Call the number on the bottom of your screen or go online to let us know which thank you gift you'd like.

And many thanks for supporting mysteries on this public television station.

JOHN BARNABY: It's a wonderful little world out here.

JOHN NETTLES: Hello, I'm Detective Chief Inspector Barnaby, better known around my house as John Nettles.

Now I'm doing my very best to contain the criminality rampant in the English countryside to that side of the pond.

But seeing my exploit on this side is only possible with your support.

Now, this station needs your generous contribution to continue to expose you to the murderous mayhem that you so enjoy.

So please, go to the phone, or go online to support all the drama and mystery you crave, very interesting, tranquility and lawfulness, boring.

TONY: And if you contribute at one of our suggested levels, you will also receive access to PBS Passport as a member benefit, and this is really wonderful.

It'll open a whole world of terrific programming that you can enjoy whenever you like.

I mean, something I really like about "Midsomer Murders" is it's wit and humor.

Instead of the excessive blood and violence, we get just enough detail about the murder to keep it interesting but it's the quirky characters and the suspense, the twisty plots that keep us entertained and coming back each week.

Now, not only are terrific mysteries and dramas a tradition on public television, but I bet you tune in quite often to watch programs in other genres.

I mean, this station is a showcase for the performing arts, there's cooking, travel, and award-winning documentaries.

Public television brings you shows from many different genres, from all parts of the world, every day of the year.

But this is only possible because of the financial support that we receive from viewers like you.

ERIN: This station wants to bring you more great episodes of "Midsomer Murders", but we need your help.

The future of great mystery and drama on public television hinges on you.

This is our final break for the program so we hope you consider calling us right now.

And when you do, don't forget about our thank you gifts.

We have some really wonderful ones to share with you including the "Midsomer Murders" mug.

This has "Another Day in Paradise" written in gold on the side so you can proudly show everyone that you're a fan of Midsomer, and of public television.

We'll send it to you when you make an ongoing monthly contribution of $6 or a one time donation of $72.

And then, there's the "Could You Survive Midsomer?"

interactive novel.

This is such a neat piece.

It's a hardcover book that lets you step into the shoes of Midsomer's newest recruit, and decide which way the story goes.

You get to make different choices to see whether you'll get to the bottom of the mystery, will you figure out the identity of the killer and perhaps most importantly, will you avoid an untimely and possibly bizarre death?

This book will take you on a different journey each time time you read it.

We'll send a copy your way when you make an ongoing monthly contribution of $10 or a one time donation of $120.

And we also have the "Midsomer Murders: Mayhem and Mystery Files" 15 DVD box set.

This set contains 15 full length Midsomer episodes starring the original DCI Barnaby, John Nettles.

You can relive some of the earlier cases with this terrific set when you make an ongoing monthly contribution of $20 or a one time donation of $240.

And if you can't decide, don't worry, we'll send you the Midsomer collection featuring the mug, the hard cover interactive novel, and the 15 DVD set when you make an ongoing monthly contribution of $25 or a one time contribution of $300.

So please support the great programs that you enjoy all year long on this public television station.

Please visit our website or call the number on your screen.

NEIL DUDGEON: Hello, this is Neil Dudgeon, Detective Chief Inspector John Barnaby of "Midsomer Murders".

Thanks for making us part of your public television viewing and for supporting this station.

If you are not already a sustainer, please make that call or visit our website now.

TONY: The programs on public television, not only engage, but they also entertain.

And that's what makes "Midsomer Murders" so captivating.

I mean, it's the well-drawn characters, but also the fact that these mysteries keep us guessing right up until the very end.

Wonderfully crafted plots that make every character a suspect until the murderer is finally revealed.

But please don't keep this station guessing about whether you are ready to support "Midsomer Murders" and all the other superb programs that you see here every day.

You and your continued financial support make this oasis of quality programming possible in your home and in the homes of everybody in our community.

Just think of how much good you can do by simply making one phone call.

Or how much can be accomplished in a year with you as a sustaining member.

Well, we hope that you'll take us up on this opportunity and become a supporter, if you haven't done so already.

ERIN: By becoming a member of this station, you are doing your part in protecting the shows that you love.

You're providing yourself and your loved ones with a safe place to learn and to be entertained, and you're helping everyone in our community become master detectives through shows like "Midsomer Murders".

Thank you for joining us for this wonderful inside look at "Midsomer Murders".

Everyone in our community benefits from public television and we vow to remain a source of inspiration and entertainment for everyone who watches.

We want to thank everyone who tuned in and especially those of you who made a contribution during the program.

Thanks to you, great storytelling is alive and well on this station, and it will continue to flourish right here all because of you.

(theme music) (John) So, dear viewer, surely enough there to tempt you to visit us.

The show is seen in over 200 territories still, and there's more murder, much more murder, to come.

Though I'm happily retired with Joyce in some unstated location, I still sleep better knowing that a younger Barnaby and a lineup of enthusiastic sergeants will keep all in the world of Midsomer safe and sound.

♪