Crime drama series. Detective Chief Inspector Barnaby and his right hand man Sergeant Troy investigate murders in a collection of seemingly tranquil villages, most of which have highly individual names. 

REGULAR CAST

JOHN NETTLES as D.C.I. Barnaby / DANIEL CASEY as Sergeant Troy / JANE WYMARK as Joyce Barnaby / LAURA HOWARD as Cully Barnaby / BARRY JACKSON as Dr Bullard 

Music: Jim Parker / Novels: Caroline Graham / Producers: Betty True-May, Betty Willingdale (Pilot plus season 1 - 3)

UK / Yorkshire TV-Bentley / A&E / 14x120m-e / 1998-continuing / Four seasons plus one special

PILOT SHOW

1 episode / 1997

1. THE KILLINGS AT BADGER'S DRIFT

WRITER: Anthony Horowitz

Barnaby and Troy's investigation of a murder in the quiet village of Badger's Drift sees them uncover a murky world of intrigue and incest before the crime is solved.

With:- EMILY MORTIMER as Katherine Lacey / JONATHAN FIRTH as Michael Lacey / ELISABETH SPRIGGS as Iris Rainbird / JULIAN GLOVER as Henry Trace / BILL WALLIS as Dr Trevor Lessiter / RENEE ASHERSON as Emily Simpson / ROSALIE CRUTCHLEY as Lucy Bellringer 

DIRECTOR: Jeremy Silberston

SEASON ONE

4 Episodes / 22 March - 6 May 1998

(2) 1. WRITTEN IN BLOOD (Sunday 22 March 1998)

WRITER: Anthony Horowitz

The competitive writers circle of Midsomer Worthy is targeted by a murderer and it looks like one of the group may be the evil doer.

With:- JANE BOOKER as Laura Hutton / JOANNA DAVID as Amy Liddiard / ANNA MASSEY as Honora Lyddiard / JOHN SHRAPNEL as Max Jennings / UNA STUBBS as Selina Jennings / DAVID TROUGHTON as Brian Clapper / ROBERT SWANN as Gerald Hadliegh / DANIEL NEWMAN as Tom Carter

DIRECTOR: Jeremy Silberston

(3). 2. DEATH OF A HOLLOW MAN (Sunday 29 March 1998)

WRITER: Caroline Graham

Barnaby and Troy get involved with local amateur dramatics (on a production of Amadeus) after starting an investigation into the death of one of the elderly residents of one of the village of  Midsomer.

With:- SARAH BADEL as Rosa Carmichael / JANINE DUVITSKI as Deidre Tibbs / BERNARD HEPTON as Harold Winstanley / GEOFFREY HUTCHINGS as Colin Smy / RICHARD HUW as Tim Young / NICHOLAS LE PREVOST as Esslyn Carmichael / ANGELA PLEASANCE as Doris Winstanley / DEBRA STEPHENSON as Kitty Carmichael / HILARY CRANE as Mrs Maddox / JOHN CATER as Mr Tibbs

DIRECTOR: Jeremy Silberston

(4) 3. FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH (Wednesday 22 April 1998) 

WRITER: Douglas Watkinson

A murder in the village of  Morton Fondle sees Barnaby uncovering murky financial goings on at the Morton Mill Craft Centre (most of the villagers have a financial stake in the place). It then become apparent that the owner of the centre's wife has been kidnapped.

With:- LESLEY VICKERAGE as Simone Hollingsworth / TESSA PEAKE-JONES as Sarah Lawson / PAUL BROOKE as Nigel Anderson / ROSALIND AYRES as Doreen Anderson / ELEANOR SUMMERFIELD as Elfrida Molfrey / MICHELE DOTRICE as Felicty Buckley / DAVID DAKER as Herry Vellacott / PETER JONES as Bunny Dawlish

DIRECTOR: Baz Taylor

(5) 4. DEATH IN DISGUISE (Wednesday 6 May 1998)

WRITER: Douglas Watkinson

Barnaby investigates when someone is murdering the residents of the local commune - the lodge of the Golden Horse.

With:- MILES ANDERSON as Guy Camelin / DIANE BULL as Heather Beavers / JUDY CORNWELL as May Cuttle / COLIN FARRELL as Ken Beavers / SUSAN TRACY as Felicity Gamelia / CHARLES KAY as Amo Gibbs / MICHAEL FEAST as Ian Craigie / STEPHEN MOYER as Christopher Wainwright

DIRECTOR: Baz Taylor

SEASON TWO

2 Episodes / 20 Jan - 3 February 1999

(6) 1. DEATH'S SHADOW (Wednesday 20 January 1999)

WRITER: Anthony Horowitz

When a property developer with a terminal illness is murdered with an Indian sword that belongs to the local vicar Stephen Wentworth, Barnaby is convinced the answer to the case lies 30 years in the past.

With:- RICHARD BRIERS as Stephen Wentworth / ANNA CROPPER as Claire Williams / NICK DUNNING as Ian Eastman / DOMINIC JEPHCOTT as Richard Bayly / JUDY PARFITT as Angela Wentworth / VIVIEN PICKLES as Agnes Sampson / MOSSIE SMITH as Barbara Henson / JESSICA TURNER as Brenda Eastman / CHRISTOPHER VILLIERS as David Whitely

DIRECTOR: Jeremy Silberston

(7) 2. STRANGLER'S WOOD (Wednesday 3 February 1999)

WRITER: Anthony Horowitz

The naked body of a young woman is discovered in some woods, nine years before this three other (identical) murders took place in the same spot, Barnaby is convinced they are linked to this new murder.

With:- KATHLEEN BYRON as Dorothea Pike / JEREMY CLYDE as Bill Mitchell / PETER EYRE as Leonard Pike / NICK FARRELL as John Merrill / PHYLLIS LOGAN as Kate Merrill / TRUDIE STYLER as Liz Frances / FRANK WINDSOR as George Meakham / ANNE STALLYBRASS as Emily Meakham / CYRIL SHAPS as Sebastian Renwick

DIRECTOR: Jeremy Silberston

SEASON THREE

2 Episodes / Sundays 8.30pm then 9.00pm 12 - 19 September 1999

(8) 1. DEAD MAN'S 11 (Sunday 12 September 1999 - 8.30pm)

WRITER: Anthony Horowitz

Barnaby and Troy investigate the murder of the wife of a wealthy landowner, soon even more murders are piling up.

With:- ROBERT HARDY as Robert Cavendish / ANTHONY CALF as Stephen Cavendish / ANNABELLE APSION as Jane Cavendish / FELICITY DEAN as Tara Cavendish / PENELOPE BEAUMONT as Mrs Wilson / DUNCAN PRESTON as Colin Cooper / IMELDA STAUNTON as Christine Cooper / TERENCE RIBGY as Ian Frasier / ZOE HART as Patricia Smith / DOREEN BEAVIS as Hilda Braid 

DIRECTOR: Jeremy Silberston

(9) 2. BLOOD WILL OUT (Sunday 19th September -9.00pm)

WRITER: Douglas Watkinson

A group of new age travellers disturb the tranquility of village life in Matyr Warren; Barnarby and Troy are called in when a magistrate (who was a harsh critic of the travellers) is found murdered.

With:- ROWENA COOPER as TILLY DINSDALE / JOHN DUTTINE as Willy Saxby / ELIZABETH GARVIE as Muriel Saxby / TRICIA GEORGE as Jenny Bridges / HONEYSUCKLE WEEKS as Fleur Bridges / KEVIN McNALLY as Orville Trudway / PHYLLIDA LAW as Felicity Dinsdale / PAUL JESSON as Hector Bridges / NICK MORAN as Michael Smith / JEROME WILLIS as John Smith / DANIEL BETTS as Steffan Miller

DIRECTOR: Moira Armstrong

SPECIAL

1 episode / Friday 9.00pm / 31 December 1999

(10) 1. DEATH OF A STRANGER (Friday 31 December 1999 - 9.00pm)

WRITER: Douglas Livingstone

Following the murder of a tramp (after a hunt) in the wood near the village of Marshwood, a local poacher is jailed for the crime; When a second murder occurs Barnaby and Troy realise their case is not finished.

With:- JAMES BOLAM as Ronald Pringle / RICHARD JOHNSON as James Fiyzroy / JENNIFER HILARY as Sarah Fitzroy / DOMINIC MAFHAM as Grahame Tranter / DIANE FLETCHER as Marcia Tranter / SARAH WINMAN as Kate Tranter / JANET DALE as Betty Pringle / JEANNE HEPPLE as Linda Wagstaff / PETER BAYLISS as Tramp / JANE WOOD as Cathy Gurdie

DIRECTOR: Peter Cregeen

SEASON FOUR

3 Episodes / Saturdays 8.55pm / 22 January - 5 February 2000

Additional production details for this season:- Script Editor: Mariana Mejia / Costume: Reg Samuel / Camera: Graham Frake 

(11) 1. BLUE HERRING (Saturdays 22 January 2000 / 8.55pm)

WRITER: Hugh Whitmore

Barnaby investigates a series of strange deaths amongst the residents of the Lawnside Nursing where his elderly aunt Alice Bly is recuperating following an operation.

With:- PHYLLIS CALVERT as Alice / NIGEL DAVENPORT as William Smithers / GEOFFREY BAYLDON as Arthur Prewitt / MARY WIMBUSH as George Watson / GUDRUN URE as Celia Armstrong / ANGELA DOWN as Pru Bennett / COLIN TIERNEY as Mungo Mortimer / CLIVE WOOD as Dr Clive Warnford / CAROLYN PICKLES as Sister Lovelace / CAROLINE JOHN as Florist 

DIRECTOR: Peter Smith

(12) 2. JUDGEMENT DAY ( Saturday 29 January 2000 -8.55pm)

WRITER: The Perfect Village competition turns murderous for the residents of Midsomer Mallow when two of the judges of the competition, following the murder of a local petty thief, are also found dead.

With:- TIMOTHY WEST as Marcus De Vere / HANNAH GORDON as Bella De Vere / RICHARD HOPE as Gordon Brierly / MARSHA FITZALAN as Laura Brierly / NICHOLAS GRACE as Frank Mannion / JOSPEHINE TEWSON as Samantha Johnstone / BARBARA JEFFORD as Barbara Drinkwater / MORAY WATSON as Edward Allardice / SHELAGH FRASER as Jane Rochelle / MARLENE  SIDAWAY as Mrs Foster

DIRECTOR: Jeremy Silberston

(13) 3. BEYOND THE GRAVE (Saturday 5 February 2000 - 8.55pm)

WRITER: Douglas Watkinson

The residents of Aspern Tallow become convinced that their village is haunted and later when a body is found dumped in a graveyard Barnaby and Troy investigate.

With:- PATRICIA BRAKE as Anne Quarritch / CHERYL CAMPBELL as Sandra McKillop / JAMES LAURENSON as James Tate / SYLVESTRA LE TOUZEL as Linda Marquis / DAVID ROBB as Charles McKillop / PRUNELLA SCALES as Eleanor Burnsall / CHARLES SIMON as Marcus Lowrie / MALCOLM SINCLAIR as Alan Bradford / BARRY JACKSON as Dr George Bullard

DIRECTOR: Moira Armstrong

SPECIAL NUMBER 2

1 Episode / 1x120m-e / 10 September 2000

(14) GARDEN OF DEATH (Sunday 10 September 2000)

WRITER: Chris Russell

When the flighty Fliss Inkpen-Thomas is murdered by a blow to the back of the head there is no shortage of suspects; Within twenty four hours her mother is also murdered. This was an unscheduled edition of Midsomer Murder broadcast when the ITV network decided to bring in one of their popular shows (at the expense of a drama called Where Theres Smoke) to try and combat BBC1 in the ratings. 

With:- SARAH ALEXANDER as Fliss Inkpen-Thomas / ANNA CALDER-MARSHALL as Susan Milland / NEIL DUDGEON as Daniel Bolt / BELINDA LANG as Elspeth Inkpen-Thomas / DEAN BATCHELOR as Michael / SIMON CHANDLER as Richard Deverill / TOM CHADBON as Charles King / VALERIE MINFIE as Cynthia / DAVID ROSS as Rodney Wdiget / VICTORIA HAMILTON as Hilary Inkpen / KATE DUCHENE as Jane Bennett / FREDERICK TREVES as Gerald Bennett / MARGARET TYZACK as Naomi Inkpen 

DIRECTOR: Peter Smith