Just a couple of alterations, the first scene might include both Sykes and the baby, in some convoluted fashion.

There will be at some stage during the episode a tense part where Nelson and Barnaby will be seen speeding through the countryside with blue lights and sirens, arriving just in time to prevent or witness something not relevant to the murder investigation, but still criminal in some way. There being no other units available anywhere in Midsommer to go to the scene.

Can someone answer my question about the diversity fascists? As we know we now have to have the obligatory Black/Asian/Gay couple etc. Ive also no doubt in these murder dramas if the murderer was always a Black or an Asian the usual professional offendees would be out screaming racism by typecasting, well isn't having a white murderer in every episode of every type of whodunit drama then racist and typecasting white people or is reverse racism still acceptable? Ive yet to see anyone other than a white person portray a killer even though we do have a few red herrings where a Black/Asian is suspected then found to be innocent. Ive even noticed this in many US dramas and films too.

Absolutely spot on, especially the humour, it could be very tongue in cheek


LOL You can imagine the scriptwriters being given this for guidelines


I caught a John Nettles ep last week (Vixens Run), honestly there was one part which comprised of him not saying anything for a couple of seconds, but he managed to express so much in those seconds than I've seen in the New Midsomer.

I still think Dudgeon talks to everyone in a very condescending manner from his wife to the suspects. It really is rather irritating.

That is true, Jones' gran knew everything also, Jones did get more involved in everything. I do miss Jones, that was something about him that was more homely. Always thought that, when Nettles left, the natural progression was Jones taking over from him..was actually gutted it didn't to be honest

Jones sometimes had a personality change, depending on the script.

Must admit I thought that too, seemed as if he would take the reins. Could have even married Cully and changed his name to Barnaby to ensure it worked in France too .

Unfortunately Jones didn't get the job and became totally stupid all of a sudden for some reason.

Its strange because I always think of Jones as that new bloke who took over from (Troy Who supported Middlesbrough and I suspect had a bit of a crush on Cully )I never really liked Jones and ima am quite surprised by the love for him on here .Id like to see the new Barnaby meet the Rainbirds but then I long for the kind of plots that needed peope like the rainbirds

Think Elizabeth Spriggs is currently unavailable for that role

"Oh Dennis, Dennis you beautiful clever boy"

Yeah, the love for Jones is a bit strange. I wonder, is it because he was the longest-serving sidekick? I found him annoying at times.

When Dudgeon first took over they made Jones dumber than the more intelligent character he was with Nettles, that grated to be honest.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz...departure.html

There have been at least 24 ethnic minority characters in the last 20 episodes of the show. Conversely, there is believed to have been just one non-white character in the 89 episodes before the race row.
Of the 24 non-white characters who have appeared in the show following the race row, at least 22 have been cast in a mixed-race relationship with a white actor or actress.

They were great characters.

Anyone remember the horrible miscast:
John Hopkins (born 1974) , known for playing Sgt. Dan Scott on Midsomer Murders!

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/...30_468x317.jpg

"DS Scott was never formally written out of the show; he is merely described as being “ill” in one episode and then never mentioned again."

I think he would have done better as an Elvis impersonator, assuming he can sing a bit.

Like you, I was expecting Jones to take over with Gail Stevens, who had come to the fore in recent episodes, as his sidekick. An opportunity missed I think.

I liked Scott he was by far the fittest sidekick in any detective series

I always thought it was cruel the way he got totally written out in that way

He actually jacked it in.

A shame that John Hopkins quit after just 2 series.


He wasn't miscast... And he happened to be in some of the show's best episodes.

He preferred the theatre to tv work.

"The hearts are fish paste, the spades are ham"........

The Rainbirds were fabulous

Has it not occurred to the Daily Mail that these characters are not real people, they are being played by actors who just happen not to all be the same colour?

I accept that, I just didn't like how he was in one episode, then the next he was "ill" then he was just gone. Couldn't they have just said he transferred because he didn't like it in Midsommer?

Actually, they were pretty p***ed with him as they expected a few more series. He decided he just wanted out and left them in limbo. That is what I read somewhere, then again, it could have been a dream