For Neil Dudgeon, Midsomer Murders is certainly not the only role to his name. He’s appeared in numerous British shows, including Common As Muck, The Bill and Life Of Riley. He even played a taxi driver in the 2004 film Bridget Jones: Edge Of Reason.
But it’s for the role of DCI John Barnaby, which he’s played since 2011, that he’s best known. And he’s fine with that.
Neil has starred in Midsomer Murders since 2011.
(Image: Supplied)“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,” Neil, 62, tells TV WEEK.
“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.
“As I get older, I do think whether it and I are ever going to end. But then I reason that unless I stopped acting altogether, why would anybody in their right mind not do Midsomer?”
Given the picturesque locations, you wonder whether Neil is ever tempted to move to the fictional county of Midsomer.
Neil is a little more casual than his character.
(Image: Supplied)“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,'” Neil says. “But I grew up in a town and have lived in big cities ever since and 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?'”
The actor would cause a bit of a stir living in a Midsomer-like village, because he’s pretty recognisable.
“Barnaby has this suit-and-tie image, but, here’s an international exclusive…” Neil begins, before standing up and backing away from the camera on our 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.”
Midsomer is known for its flamboyant means of murder in its 23 seasons since 1997. Which have been favourites?
“Murray Melvin playing Bentham DeQuetteville in ‘The Dark Rider’, falling to his death having seen a headless horseman, is something that doesn’t happen around our house every day,” Neil says.
“Martine McCutcheon, as Debbie Moffett, was killed by a giant round of cheese in ‘Schooled In Murder’. And, of course, Neil McCaul as Martin Strickland in ‘Wild Harvest’ being covered in truffle oil and then eaten alive by a wild boar was very inventive.”
It’s no wonder Neil’s offsider, Nick Hendrix, 38, who plays DS Jamie Winter, confesses he often gets the giggles during filming – although he blames Neil.
Nick Hendrix plays DS Jamie Winter.
(Image: Supplied)“Neil keeps a very straight face, but he does it to trap me!” he says. “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 thing with Midsomer and Neil is it’s like that old friend you don’t see very often, but when you do, you slip straight back into the patter and banter.
“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.”
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