Midsomers Murders return date finally confirmed after being replaced in schedules

FANS of Midsomer Murder will be thrilled to know that the mystery surrounding its return is finally over.

The much-loved crime drama has been confirmed for a landmark 25th series.

Neil Dudgeon will return as DCI John Barnaby, with Nick Hendrix as DS Jamie Winter, Fiona Dolman as Sarah Barnaby, and Annette Badland as Fleur Perkins.

The series has captivated fans with its murder mysteries since first gracing TV screens in 1997.

The hit TV show was adapted by Douglas Watkinson from the Chief Inspector Barnaby book series by Caroline Graham.

John Nettles famously played Detective Chief Inspector Tom Barnaby until his retirement in 2011, with Neil Dudgeon coming in the same year as DCI John Barnaby, Tom’s younger cousin.

Fans of the show were left devastated when the series ended in July this year, with no news of a return, with Vera filling the show’s slot in the Tuesday night TV schedule.

The much-loved detective drama sees the solving of the many murders that take place in the chocolate box villages of Midsomer.

The picturesque Causton was the main fictional town, with filming taking place in South Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire.

The show became a huge hit, with its inaugural episode in 1997 the highest-rated single drama programme that year watched by 13.5 million viewers.

It went on to air 24 series of the show (released episode-by-episode) and was broadcast internationally in more than 200 countries.

In 2022 ITV commissioned a 25th anniversary documentary to celebrate the show.

Called Midsomer Murders – 25 Years of Mayhem in May 2022, the documentary featured cast members from over the years alongside behind-the-scenes footage.

There were also appearances from A List names before they made it big.

Orlando Bloom, known for his role in Lord of the Rings appeared in season 3, while Henry Cavill (Superman) appeared in series 7 of the show. Hugh Bonneville and Olivia Colman also made appearances before their rise to fame in Downtown Abbey and The Crown respectively, while Holly Willoughby also made a cameo.

ITV has yet to confirm a date for the new series.