THE body count is set to rise even further in the villages of Midsomer.
When Michael Grade took over as ITV executive chairman, there was concern that he might kill off the drama.
But he knows a hit series when he sees one, with Midsomer Murders still attracting big audiences despite some odd scheduling.
“A new regime came in and suddenly realised how valuable the show was and promptly ordered an awful lot more,” says executive producer Brian True-May.
“So we now have another 14 episodes guaranteed over the next two years. That takes us up to April shooting in 2009. And that means there’ll be 70 episodes - that’s 140 hours of murder and mayhem.”
John Nettles, who plays Det Chief Insp Tom Barnaby, has just begun filming series 11. The first episode, due on screen later this year, will feature two weddings, one of which will be the marriage of his screen daughter Cully (Laura Howard) to Simon Dixon (Sam Hazeldine).
The series will also feature a second Christmas special, to be broadcast in 2008, plus guest stars, including George Cole and Donald Sinden.
Jason Hughes is back in the new series as Barnaby’s sidekick Det Sgt Ben Jones, while Daniel Casey returns for Cully’s wedding, four years after he quit as Gavin Troy.
Former Bergerac star John, 63, has also signed up to make series 12 from next June, with no thoughts of handing in his police badge. “I’m very happy. There is no reason why it should end,” he insists.
“Originally, I thought we’d go just with the five viable books written by Caroline Graham. I thought we’d do five episodes, and that would be it. Then, all of a sudden, it took off. And here we are 11 years down the road, I’m approaching pensionable age now and I’m very happy.”
Jokes
Asked what he thinks about his adoring female fans, John jokes: “I think it would be a good idea if there were. This is a fantasy created by somebody. I get strange letters from people - I don’t get the fan mail I used to with Bergerac.
“There was an extraordinary woman recently who decided I was unholy and a Satanist of some kind, and was a blot on the face of God’s Earth. It was about 10 pages of tightly-written foolscap.
“And on the net, extraordinary things happen on MySpace and YouTube and so on. There was, I think, a 13-page website up there, purporting to be by me - it refers to sexual prowess which I do not possess. I’ve tried to have it taken off but it’s very difficult.”
Brian is also managing director of Bentley Productions, which makes Midsomer Murders. He has no qualms about John continuing in the role. “I don’t know how old David Jason is, but he’s managed to carry on. John keeps very fit and he looks good on camera. He doesn’t look his age. So he’s got a few more years to go.”
Like many fans, Brian would like the drama to return to its original Sunday night slot. “But, of course, ITV tends to use Midsomer Murders as a sort of battering ram against the BBC. The last time round there was a bit of an issue about Midsomer Murders going out on a Tuesday against Holby Blue.
“There was uproar. But ITV can schedule the show when they like. Anyway, it went out and hammered Holby Blue, which we were very pleased about. But I would prefer it to be on a Sunday.”
The new contract means plans for a possible wartime drama starring Nettles have been shelved. “Unfortunately, ITV don’t want anything that’s period, even though Foyle’s War is coming to an end.”
But Brian says he’s still working on the project - in case his star `gets fed up’ with Midsomer Murders. “I think we should have something standing by. I don’t want to lose him - and he likes working with us.”
Article by Ian Wylie at www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk