More Murderous Midsomer Facts All posts
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There is plenty about Midsomer Murders that is very interesting. There are the plots, the characters, the stunning Southern Oxfordshire locations and the increasingly ingenious ways for people to be murdered. But there are plenty more interesting facts about the show that you might not know. Here is a selection of some of our favourite little known Midsomer facts.

1. Since the show started in 1997, there have been nearly 300 murders. Victims have met their end variously by pitchfork, cricket bat, hemlock, a hatpin, an Iron Maiden (not the heavy metal band, although that would have been worth seeing), toxic fungus, a guillotine and a faulty microphone, amongst many others. It must be the longest and most varied list of murder weapons in history. Try playing Cluedo with that lot.

2. The pilot episode attracted viewing figures of 13.5 million, making it the highest rating drama show for 1997. Not bad for a first attempt.

3. The original and working title was Barnaby but was changed at the suggestion of scriptwriter Anthony Horowitz.

4. The solo instrument used in the show’s theme music is a theramin. It was invented by Russian scientist Leon Theramin in the early part of the 20th century. Lenin was said to be a huge fan and a skilled player. Other devotees include more or less every 1970s prog rock keyboard player.

5. Filming for the episode ‘The Blood Point’ had to be abandoned because the plot was unintentionally similar to a real-life event. Probably nothing to do with an Iron maiden though.

6. The show is screened in many countries around the world (almost all of them in fact) and in 2004 was in the top three most sold British TV shows in the world. In France the show has been re-titled Inspectuer Barnaby.

7.  Every episode takes about five weeks to film and usually involves around 120 people. That’s a lot of man-hours when you add them up.

8. The show’s former star John Nettles once knocked on a door and announced himself as ‘Detective Sergeant Bergerac’ during filming. Confusing his then current character with a famous former role.

9. Celebrity fans of the show include Johnny Depp, Sir Roger Moore, Sharon Stone and Holly Willoughby. All of whom have expressed an interest in appearing in an episode.

10. The show is filmed in and around the beautiful region of Southern Oxfordshire, which definitely provides the perfect backdrop for all the action – no matter how grizzly.

So there you go. Some insider information to share with other fans of the show.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Top 5 Midsomer facts – Published 18th June 2014

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All aboard the Midsomer Maiden – Published 6th June 2014

Take the Midsomer Murders trail – Published 28th May 2014

New Christie series to rival Midsomer – Published 21st May 2014

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Midsomer Murders fashion show and sale – Published 10th March 2014

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Happy New Year from Midsomer – Published 2nd January 2014

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New book reveals Midsomer realism – Published 28th November 2013

A new arrival in Midsomer – Published 13th November 2013

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Could you murder some food in Midsomer? – Published 18th October 2013

Facebook with Midsomer stars this Monday – Published 4th October 2013

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Murder Walks: Finding a Midsomer Murder – Published 30th August 2013

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Midsomer star turns superhero – Published 10th July 2013

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Midsomer Lovers get to Visit Locations – Published 7th June 2013

Filming begins on new series of Midsomer – Published 6th May 2013

Danes can’t get enough Midsomer Murders – Published 2nd May 2013

In Spring we bring Murders from Midsomer – Published 4th February 2013

Jason Hughes: End of a Midsomer Era – Published 21st January 2013

Start The Year With A Midsomer Murder – Published 4th January 2013

Midsomer Detectives on new Projects – Published 23rd November 2012

Midsomer: Killing them off for 15 years – Published 5th October 2012

The Midsomer Murders Christie Connection – Published 28th September 2012

The Best Ever Midsomer Murders part 2 – Published 21st September 2012

The Best Ever Midsomer Episodes: No.1 – Published 14th September 2012

Midsomer Taking A Step Back In Time – Published 7th September 2012

Midsomer Murders: better than the best? – Published 31st August 2012

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Great Drama On The Water And The TV – Published 10th August 2012

Bunkfest: The legend continues – Published 6th August 2012

More Murderous Midsomer Facts – Published 27th July 2012

Get Your Hands On The New Midsomer Book – Published 20th July 2012

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Famous Fans of Midsomer Murders – Published 4th July 2012

Midsomer murders the beautiful game – Published 21st June 2012

Celebrate Midsummer with Midsomer – Published 15th June 2012

No murder on the Henley dancefloor – Published 8th June 2012

Queen's Jubilee keeps murderers busy – Published 1st June 2012

Cricket and Jurassic Midsomer Murders – Published 25th May 2012

Midsomer Murders has talent too – Published 21st May 2012

The Midsomer Summer food and murder fest – Published 11th May 2012

Southern Oxfordshire ready for murders – Published 4th May 2012

Village Cricket With A Murderous Twist – Published 27th April 2012

Southern Oxfordshire's family outings – Published 20th April 2012

Easter Events in South Oxfordshire – Published 12th April 2012

South Oxfordshire ready for Olympics – Published 4th April 2012

How fit are the Midsomer Murders cast? – Published 27th March 2012

South Oxfordshire is festival ready – Published 20th March 2012

Midsomer Murders star praises sidekick – Published 14th March 2012

Where are Midsomer Murders' old coppas? – Published 8th March 2012

Midsomer Murders:No silence of the lambs – Published 2nd March 2012

South Oxfordshire cinema's amateur style – Published 29th February 2012

Midsomer Murders: Queen visits Henley – Published 24th February 2012

South Oxfordshire seeks rowing veterans – Published 20th February 2012

Henley 80s festival bill gets new star – Published 16th February 2012

Midsomer lovers not Midsomer Murders – Published 8th February 2012

Civil War in Midsomer proves popular – Published 6th February 2012

Henley’s 80s festival line-up revealed – Published 2nd February 2012

Midsomer Murders and all about Sgt Jones – Published 30th January 2012

Midsomer Murders and the castle of love – Published 25th January 2012

Waterperry Gardeners' lives honoured – Published 17th January 2012

Midsomer Murders: Fowl play expected – Published 11th January 2012

Henley meets TV's ‘Jesus of Nazareth' – Published 10th January 2012

Watching the birds of Waterperry Gardens – Published 1st January 2012

Midsomer millionaire's time capsule – Published 21st December 2011

Household comedy names coming to Didcot – Published 15th December 2011

24 evenings of Christmas fun in Henley – Published 11th December 2011

Dulcie Grey and Wallingford – Published 7th December 2011

More Xmas fun in South Oxfordshire – Published 30th November 2011

Top 10 Midsomer Murders – Published 25th November 2011

EastEnders star to light up Thame – Published 23rd November 2011

Panto in South Oxfordshire not murder – Published 18th November 2011

Christmas lunch Midsomer Murders style – Published 16th November 2011

Henley's coffee and rowing competitions – Published 15th November 2011

Olympic torch to light up Henley – Published 8th November 2011

Midsomer Murders Locations: Grey's Court – Published 2nd November 2011

Mapledurham unveils record water turbine – Published 31st October 2011

Midsomer Murders and A Sacred Trust – Published 31st October 2011

Boris’s bike hire scheme for Henley? – Published 28th October 2011

Celebrate autumn at Hill Farm Festival – Published 24th October 2011

Halloween in Waterperry and Wallingford – Published 20th October 2011

TOWIE stars beaten by murder stag night – Published 18th October 2011

Musical Youth lead Didcot Music Month – Published 14th October 2011

New episode review:The Night of the Stag – Published 13th October 2011

George Harrison's House near Henley – Published 11th October 2011

Midsomer Murders and Sherlock Holmes – Published 7th October 2011

Henley's rowing show to go nationwide – Published 6th October 2011

Time running out to enter Henley races – Published 6th October 2011

Food and films at Henley festival – Published 29th September 2011

Russell's Water a truly scrumptious spot – Published 23rd September 2011

Midsomer Murders comes back with a bang – Published 23rd September 2011

The Midsomer Murders druids did it – Published 20th September 2011

Johnny Ball in Henley kids lit fest – Published 16th September 2011

Looks rosy for Waterperry Apple Weekend – Published 14th September 2011

Walliams makes it! – Published 13th September 2011

Two great train weekends at Didcot – Published 9th September 2011

Midsomer keeps celeb chefs happy – Published 6th September 2011

Cool and Portillo to perform in Didcot – Published 5th September 2011

Footie and food: Thame's the place to be – Published 2nd September 2011

Thame to host feast of literature – Published 1st September 2011

Nettles Top 10 Midsomer Murders Episodes – Published 30th August 2011

Wallingford welcomes wedding planners – Published 24th August 2011

Waterperry’s Wonderful Daisy Weekend! – Published 19th August 2011

Oar inspiring exhibitions in Henley – Published 18th August 2011

Midsomer Murders says bye to Bullard – Published 16th August 2011

Bragg to head Towersey Village Festival! – Published 12th August 2011

Midsomer star praises South Oxfordshire – Published 10th August 2011

Female rowers rock the boat in Henley – Published 9th August 2011

Wallingford BunkFest's top headline act – Published 5th August 2011

Stonor: home to international craft fair – Published 3rd August 2011

5 famous Midsomer cameo appearances – Published 2nd August 2011

Countdown to Henley Literary Festival – Published 29th July 2011

Swiss Farm family camping in Henley – Published 27th July 2011

Wallingford: shaped by Saxon and Viking – Published 25th July 2011

Jupitus warms up for Edinburgh in Didcot – Published 22nd July 2011

Rowers’ lives through a lens in Henley – Published 20th July 2011

England's greatest agricultural show – Published 18th July 2011

Murdoch misses deal on Midsomer nosh – Published 15th July 2011

Midsomer's Top 3 Murder Books – Published 14th July 2011

Swanning about in South Oxfordshire – Published 12th July 2011

Henley previews the Edinburgh Fringe – Published 8th July 2011

Midsomer Murders on Chinnor's trains – Published 6th July 2011

Waterperry Gardens does Dickens – Published 5th July 2011

Rowing in Henley after rowing in Iraq? – Published 27th June 2011

Peter Andre pimps Thame's carnival – Published 24th June 2011

Don’t be late for Midsomer Murders fete – Published 23rd June 2011

Henley home of 80's festival near London – Published 21st June 2011

Talk by Midsomer Murders' author – Published 17th June 2011

New Life exhibition in Henley – Published 16th June 2011

Cricket star visiting South Oxfordshire – Published 13th June 2011

Coming soon: it's Henley Festival – Published 10th June 2011

Cycle 100 miles of Midsomer Murders – Published 8th June 2011

The Merkel Midsomer Murders Mystery – Published 6th June 2011

South Oxfordshire pubs play Aunt Sally – Published 3rd June 2011

South Oxfordshire gets ready for battle – Published 1st June 2011

Midsomer Murders in Sydenham – Published 30th May 2011

Midsomer Murders returns with cult show – Published 24th May 2011

TV chef and her South Oxfordshire deli – Published 17th May 2011

South Oxfordshire and animal adventures – Published 15th May 2011

It's all going on in Sydenham – Published 13th May 2011

Events near London: It's Mills Weekend – Published 11th May 2011

The English Music Festival in Midsomer – Published 7th May 2011

Wallingford food festival – Published 6th May 2011

Midsomer Murders extras sing to win – Published 4th May 2011

5 great eateries in South Oxfordshire – Published 2nd May 2011

Thame honours its boxing legend – Published 26th April 2011

Royal weddings and murder in midsomer – Published 22nd April 2011

Festivals near London start here – Published 18th April 2011

Family fun with Wallingford's donkeys – Published 13th April 2011

Country living at Thame country fair – Published 11th April 2011

Enjoy a royal weekend break near London – Published 8th April 2011

Half term for kids on Didcot's trains – Published 6th April 2011

Midsomer's Iron Distance Triathlon – Published 4th April 2011

New Midsomer Murders is winning fans – Published 1st April 2011

Weekend break near London, try Dunsden – Published 28th March 2011

The 2011 Boat Race and Wallingford – Published 25th March 2011

Agatha Christie helps Midsomer Murders – Published 24th March 2011

Midsomer Murders gets fresh start – Published 21st March 2011

Midsomer, Tom Jones and Henley Festival – Published 18th March 2011

Shakespeare's walks near London – Published 16th March 2011

Mozart starts events in Midsomer – Published 14th March 2011

Cameron gets a letter from Midsomer – Published 11th March 2011

Is DCI Barnaby ready for daytime sex? – Published 9th March 2011

Hotel in Wallingford mixes old with new – Published 7th March 2011

Cornerstone's latest line-up – Published 2nd March 2011

English weekend trips and microbreweries – Published 1st March 2011

Famous movie locations: Stonor – Published 28th February 2011

Ewe must see the Abingdon lambs – Published 23rd February 2011

Halfterm activities: Visit Waterperry – Published 21st February 2011

Thame pub heroes ready for TV appearance – Published 18th February 2011

Oldie's triathlon in South Oxfordshire – Published 16th February 2011

Raise money cycling in South Oxfordshire – Published 11th February 2011

Poohsticks World Championships is on – Published 9th February 2011

South Oxfordshire spa breaks – Published 4th February 2011

Neil Dudgeon is the new Barnaby – Published 3rd February 2011

Best Midsomer tweets – Published 2nd February 2011

Visit Midsomer for the Henley Festival – Published 31st January 2011

How Midsomer Murders said 'goodbye' – Published 28th January 2011

Comedy show to reveal darkside of Didcot – Published 26th January 2011

Trollope to talk in South Oxfordshire – Published 24th January 2011

Orwell's South Oxfordshire rest – Published 21st January 2011

Farewell John – Published 20th January 2011

Great Haseley – a place to investigate – Published 17th January 2011

Cycling in South Oxfordshire – Published 15th January 2011

How John Nettles whipped Harrison Ford – Published 14th January 2011

New film hails Oxfordshire music scene – Published 10th January 2011

Really Wild star visit Henley – Published 7th January 2011

Beautiful Wallingford Bridge reopens – Published 5th January 2011

Priceless Henley to host Flog It – Published 4th January 2011

Mapledurham and the Hollywood Watermill – Published 3rd January 2011

Titchmarsh to visit South Oxfordshire – Published 2nd January 2011

Larkin stage show to visit Thame – Published 30th December 2010

Time to remember Wallingford's Agatha – Published 29th December 2010

Getty's house to host Garsington Opera – Published 15th December 2010

Harpsden: setting of the Midsomer Christmas special – Published 13th December 2010

Fame in Thame – Published 9th December 2010

Henley to host star-studded Xmas Panto – Published 6th December 2010

Wallingford leads Christmas celebrations – Published 4th December 2010

Santa's South Oxfordshire service – Published 1st December 2010

Spotlight: beautiful Chinnor village – Published 29th November 2010

Group fights to preserve the Chilterns – Published 27th November 2010

Roll up for Wallingford's Bunk Fest! – Published 25th November 2010

No Football Murders, yet – Published 22nd November 2010

The delights of red kites – Published 19th November 2010

1960s star Jones to play Henley – Published 18th November 2010

Lets Drink to Midsomer Beer! – Published 15th November 2010

Sherlock Holmes and the Didcot case – Published 12th November 2010

Nettles: OBE award 'lovely and very kind' – Published 12th November 2010

Brunel relatives at Didcot Steam Fair – Published 8th November 2010

Did Agatha Christie want to kill off Poirot? – Published 7th November 2010

Henley mourns Olympic great Holmes – Published 6th November 2010

Barnaby's Top Pubs in South Oxfordshire – Published 3rd November 2010






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