EXCLUSIVE: Midsomer Murders’ Neil Dudgeon Reveals He’s the Secret Troublemaker on Set—And the Costar Who Can’t Keep a Straight Face

The Man Behind the Collar: Neil Dudgeon’s 13-Year Reign as Midsomer’s Finest

For Neil Dudgeon, playing DCI John Barnaby on Midsomer Murders is more than a job—it’s a legacy. Since taking over from John Nettles in 2011, the 62-year-old actor has become the face of one of Britain’s longest-running crime dramas, solving murders in the picture-postcard villages of fictional Midsomer County. But behind the stern suit and tie, Dudgeon harbors a mischievous secret that his on-screen partner, Nick Hendrix, is finally spilling.

“Neil keeps a very straight face, but he does it to trap me!” Hendrix, 38, who plays DS Jamie Winter, tells TV WEEK in a candid interview. “He has a little twinkle in his eye, which sets me off. It looks like I’m the one ruining filming and he’s being very serious and professional, but actually he started it.”

The revelation adds a delightful layer to a show that has captivated audiences for over two decades. With 23 seasons and counting, Midsomer Murders remains a staple of British television, thanks in no small part to Dudgeon’s steady presence—and his penchant for subtle, calculated mischief.

From Taxi Driver to Top Cop: Neil Dudgeon’s Unlikely Road to Stardom

Before he was solving murders in the English countryside, Dudgeon was a journeyman actor with a resume as varied as the show’s murder methods. He appeared in gritty dramas like Common As Muck, the long-running police series The Bill, and the sitcom Life Of Riley. But his most unexpected role came in 2004, when he played a taxi driver in the rom-com juggernaut Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason.

“I’ve only been working as an actor for about 37 years, so more than a quarter of my career has been spent on Midsomer Murders,” Dudgeon reflects. “I carry on doing it because it’s a fun show. We film in beautiful places, we’ve got lovely buildings and it’s a joy to have different guest actors each week, who bring fresh energy.”

That “fresh energy” is part of what keeps the series feeling new. Each episode introduces a parade of eccentric suspects, crackpot motives, and increasingly inventive murders—from a giant wheel of cheese to a face-off with a headless horseman. But Dudgeon insists the real drama happens off-camera.

The Costar Confession: “He Started It!”

Nick Hendrix, who joined the show in 2016, admits that working with Dudgeon is a constant battle against laughter. “Neil is like that old friend you don’t see very often, but when you do, you slip straight back into the patter and banter,” Hendrix says. “The crew are almost always the same every time, so there’s something lovely about turning up and seeing all these familiar, lovely faces. Within seconds, it’s like we’ve never been away.”

But the camaraderie comes with a price: Dudgeon’s sly sense of humor. Hendrix recalls specific moments where Dudgeon’s deadpan delivery during intense scenes left him unable to keep a straight face. “He sets me off with just a look. The director calls ‘cut’ and I’m in trouble, but Neil walks away looking like a saint.”

Dudgeon, for his part, plays coy. “I don’t know what he’s talking about,” he says with a grin that suggests otherwise.

The Dark Side of Midsomer: Neil’s Most Unforgettable Murders

Over 13 years, Dudgeon has seen it all—and all includes being killed by a giant wheel of cheese, mauled by a wild boar, and terrified by a headless horseman. When asked which murders stand out, he doesn’t hesitate.

• “The Dark Rider” – Murray Melvin as Bentham DeQuetteville falling to his death after seeing a headless horseman. “Something that doesn’t happen around our house every day,” Dudgeon quips.
• “Schooled in Murder” – Martine McCutcheon’s character, Debbie Moffett, crushed by a giant round of cheese. A truly cheesy demise.
• “Wild Harvest” – Neil McCaul as Martin Strickland, covered in truffle oil and eaten alive by a wild boar. “Very inventive,” Dudgeon says dryly.

These increasingly absurd scenarios are a testament to the show’s enduring appeal. “Midsomer is known for its flamboyant means of murder,” Dudgeon notes. “It’s part of the charm.”

Would Neil Dudgeon Move to Midsomer? A Reluctant Londoner’s Confession

Despite spending months each year filming in the dreamy villages of Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire, Dudgeon has no desire to swap the city lights for a rural idyll. “I live in London and when we’re filming, I’ll think, ‘Ooh, this is a lovely place. I could get a nice house here,'” he says. “But I grew up in a town and have lived in big cities ever since. I feel that if I moved to the countryside, I’d go outside, breathe in the fresh air and think, ‘Ahh, lovely… now what am I going to do here?'”

Still, the actor knows he might cause a stir if he settled in a real-life Midsomer village. “Barnaby has this suit-and-tie image, but, here’s an international exclusive…” Dudgeon stands up on the Zoom call to reveal he’s wearing khaki shorts. “It’s the type of thing I tend to wear when it’s warm. They’re very un-Barnaby, so I’m not sure I’d be that recognised.”

It’s that casual, unpretentious attitude that endears Dudgeon to fans. While his alter ego is buttoned-up and methodical, the actor himself is far more relaxed—and apparently, a master of on-set mischief.

What’s Next for Midsomer and Neil Dudgeon?

With the show’s 24th season on the horizon, speculation about Dudgeon’s future is inevitable. “As I get older, I do think whether it and I are ever going to end,” he admits. “But then I reason that unless I stopped acting altogether, why would anybody in their right mind not do Midsomer?”

For now, the partnership with Hendrix continues to thrive, and the chemistry between Dudgeon’s Barnaby and Hendrix’s Winter is a fan favorite. The duo’s off-screen friendship translates into a believable rapport on screen, making each new episode feel fresh.

As Midsomer Murders prepares to air its next batch of whodunits, one thing is certain: Neil Dudgeon isn’t going anywhere. And neither is his little twinkle—the one that drives his co-star crazy and keeps millions of viewers coming back for more.

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