Can you believe, it’s 2016, which unfortunately means that it’s January again. But fear not because this bleakest of months just got a whole lot better for Midsomer Murders fans. That’s because a new series is upon us - like a welcome New Year present.
DCI Barnaby and DS Charlie Nelson are back for the 18th series of the show and it’s set to be bigger and better than ever. Neil Dudgeon and Gwilym Lee (who play Barnaby and Nelson respectively) are back for an extended run of six episodes on ITV.
They will be joined by some familiar faces, including Fiona Dolman as Barnaby’s wife Sarah, as well as their new baby Betty and, of course, Sykes the dog. There’s a new face in the form of Manjinder Virk who will be playing Dr Kam Karimore. Joining them will be the usual parade of stellar guest actors including, among many others, Helen Baxendale, Alison Steadman, Michelle Collins and Ralf Little.
As you might have read in our previous posts, some of the episodes for the new series sound very interesting indeed. Body snatching, UFO spotting and an international cycle race are just three of the strange and unusual settings for upcoming episodes.
Of course, as always, it also means that our very own South Oxfordshire will be playing a starring role. Keep your eyes peeled during episode 2 ‘The Incident at Cooper Hill’ and episode 3 ‘Breaking the Chain’ and you might just spot some of your favourite South Oxfordshire destinations.
Scenes for episode 2 were filmed in around the town of Benson at the Crown Inn, Crown Garage and RAF Benson. External filming for the cycle race in episode 3 took place in and around Wallingford during an actual race there. So, if you were there as a competitor or spectator, there’s even a chance you might spot yourself in the show. And while Wallingford was the original Causton, this time the market town will be known as Burwood Mantle.
Describing filming for the latest series, Producer Phil Hunter said: ‘We get to shoot in very picturesque villages and the privilege of having access to some truly stunning and precious homes, both stately and historic. When you add to this the fun we have telling stories with spectacular death scenes and Barnaby and Nelson’s intelligent pursuit of the truth, you have the perfect mix that makes Midsomer Murders a joy to make and hopefully a joy to watch.’
Rest assured Phil, it certainly is a joy to watch. So put those New Year blues away and settle in for a new series of the best show on the box.
So DCI Barnaby is now in charge of all the murders that keep happening in Midsomer. Not for him any more gardening! And his wife seems to be doing nicely too. She threw herself straight into motherhood - not for her the chaos of breastfeeding and a teething baby and a dog needing walkies and her being an elderly mother no tiredness. Not for her postnatal depression either! Usually but admittedly not always there is a granny and/or granddad around maybe an aunt, sister brother to share in the excitement of a new baby - not this family they just have Barnaby’s colleagues around for all celebrations. Most unusual. OK I know its only fiction but we like to believe the characters have real lives.
I enjoyed ep` 2 immensely as always
Will the new series be shown in the United States?
Was I mistaken or was part of the cycle race in “Breaking the Chain” filmed in Devizes, Wiltshire?
I love MM. I am so happy to have been introduced to it while browsing through Netflix. I love seeing the English countryside. I do miss the original characters, Tom and Gavin but still enjoy the series.
Where is the stunning home converted from a church with a round tower that was used as the headquesters for one of the cycle teams located? Series 18, epidsode 3.
Most of the locations in Breaking the Chain were filmed in Wallingford and Warborough. It’s possible the exact building you refer to is a private home and therefore we don’t have that information available.
Seems the numbering of series is different in the U.K. and USA I have to go by the episode description in order to not buy a second copy of something I already have. Good news to learn a new “season” is in the works I was wondering if they had been discontinued.
Where was the deserted village filmed please..?
Midsomer murders is the best detective I ewer see. ITS the best ,also the acteurs are great en believeble !!!
All filmed in Wallingford - South Oxfordshire.
The cycle race was all filmed at the Wallingford festival of Cycling - a real event.
According to the live Twitter feed by the programme producers when the epsiode broadcast in the UK, the deresrted village was two places located in Buckinghamshire. Unfortunately not Oxfordshire locations so we don’t have any other details.
Which cricket ground was used for location filming in Episode 3/series 19 “Last Man Out”?
The lovely cricket ground is on the private Wormsley Park Estate in Buckinghamshire. The former home of Sir Paul Getty, he was a huge cricket fan and had a replica ground built there.
How was Sykes written out of Midsomer?
There is this beautiful painting of a woman above the mantelpiece of Melody Hendersons house. Any idea someone who painted it and whats it called??