Fans of Midsomer Murders have much to look forward to as ITV airs classic episodes from the long-running detective series inspired by Caroline Graham’s novels. The network recently kicked off reruns with season 22’s premiere episode, “The Wolf Hunter of Little Worthy,” airing on June 24.
In this episode, a local photographer wins an urban myth contest with his imaginative story about the Wolf Hunter. However, when a murder occurs, DCI Barnaby and his partner DCI Winter investigate whether the legendary creature has taken on a chilling reality. Neil Dudgeon stars as DCI John Barnaby, having taken over the role following John Nettles’ portrayal of DCI Tom Barnaby, the series’ original lead from season one through thirteen.
John Nettles announced his departure from Midsomer Murders in February 2009, with his final episode airing in 2011, marking the close of an era. He cited a desire to embrace new challenges and avoid becoming “the oldest detective in the field” as key reasons for leaving.
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Reflecting on his time with the show in an interview with The Telegraph, Nettles said, “I never thought when we were filming the pilot The Killings at Badger’s Drift in 1996 that I would go on to film so many episodes. It has been a joy to be involved in such a long-running series with so many good actors and great storylines. It’s the end of an era for me.”
He acknowledged the deep bonds he had formed during his 14 years on the series, describing them as “familial ties” that would be hard to sever. Yet, Nettles chose to exit while his popularity was still high, explaining, “It’s always wise to leave people wanting more, rather than be booed off the stage because you bored them.”
Since leaving, Nettles has continued to work as a narrator for programs like Devon and Cornwall and My Unique B&B. He also briefly reprised the role of DCI Barnaby in 2020 for a special called Britain’s Favourite Detective.
Catch Midsomer Murders at 8 pm on ITV and experience the enduring charm of this beloved series.