Hot off the press release:

It’s a time of joy and happiness in Midsomer for once – Christmas is coming and DCI Barnaby is about to become a dad.

As Midsomer Murders returns to ITV, Barnaby (Neil Dudgeon) and his wife Sarah (Fiona Dolman) are celebrating the news that she is pregnant.

It’s not the only change facing Barnaby in the five-part series – new detective Charlie Nelson (Gwilym Lee) moves into the patch, taking up his posting just in time for an investigation at a ‘haunted’ house.

The regular team is completed by the return of Tamzin Malleson as pathologist Dr Kate Wilding.  Kate becomes landlady to DS Nelson and, together with the Barnabys, helps him celebrate his first Christmas in Midsomer.

Baby Barnaby, who is due to make an appearance later in the series, was written into the drama when actress Fiona Dolman discovered she was pregnant.

The pregnancy was a surprise, but much longed-for, for single mum Fiona.  In real life, her baby Madeleine Charlotte was born in July.

Says Fiona:  “I didn’t think I’d ever have a child so I feel very blessed.  I am very happy to bring up the baby on my own as I have incredible support and love from my family.

“Things might not be perfect but from the moment I held Madeleine in my arms we felt like a team.  I’ve got so much love around me, so I know we’re going to be all right.”

She adds:  “Everyone on Midsomer Murders  has been so supportive and lovely.  I went back in October to film the fifth episode and Neil was very excited for me.

“I’m sure the Barnabys will be good parents as they are both practical and have a good relationship of equals.  They share a fundamental set of values and approach problems in a similar sort of way.  The only problem is whether Sykes the dog feels has been usurped by the newest member of the family!”

The festive Midsomer Murders  episode The Christmas Haunting is set in Morton Shallows. DCI Barnaby and DS Nelson investigate the fatal stabbing of a man with an antique sword during a ghost-hunting party at a ‘haunted’ manor house.  Is blacksmith’s daughter Rose Wilton seeking revenge from the beyond the grave, or can Barnaby and Nelson find a more earthly motive behind the murder and trap the killer?

Guest stars in the episode include Elizabeth Berrington, Les Dennis, Mark Heap, Emily Joyce, James Murray and Hannah Tointon.  The Christmas Haunting is written by Chris Murray, directed by Nick Laughland, produced by Louise Sutton and the executive producer is Jo Wright.

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A one-off episode of ITV crime drama Midsomer Murders is to be filmed in Denmark and will feature Borgen actress Birgitte Hjort Sørensen (pictured below) and Ann Eleonora Jørgensen, who starred in The Killing.

The Danish Broadcaster DR and Bentley Productions  for ITV will join forces this October  to film the episode ‘The Killings at Copenhagen’ for the forthcoming 16^th series.  The episode will be filmed  partly in Copenhagen and its surrounding area and in the UK it will return to its first ever murder location – the iconic setting of ‘Badger’s Drift’.

In the story DCI Barnaby [Neil Dudgeon] and DS Nelson [newcomer Gwilym Lee, pictured] travel to Denmark when a body is discovered there that links back to a family who live in Midsomer.

Jo Wright, Executive Producer of Midsomer Murders, says:   ‘Midsomer Murders is incredibly popular on prime time Danish television. It is known as “Barnaby” and has been running for 12 years winning 40 per cent of the audience share.   The idea to shoot in Denmark came about because we wanted to do something special to mark the 100^th episode, and it’s great to be working with DR, producer of the award winning series ‘The Killing’.

Midsomer Murders out of the UK to film. And it is also fantastic to work with Danish actors from the ‘The Killing’ and ‘Borgen’.

Kaare Schmidt, DR’s series acquisitions executive says:  ‘Midsomer Murders is a benchmark in television entertainment and Danish viewers favourite programme for more than a decade.  It’s an honour and a thrill for us to be able to contribute to the series  distinguished line of murder victims and police detectives’.

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Hot off the press (release):

Gwilym Lee is the new face to join Midsome Murders following the departure of Jason Hughes as DS Jones.  Gwilym will play DS Charlie Nelson the new partner to DCI John Barnaby [Neil Dudgeon] helping to solve the many murders that crop up in the county of Midsomer.

The duo will start filming five new episodes for the sixteenth series of Midsomer Murders at the end of April for transmission on ITV later this year.

Gwilym said today:  ‘I am delighted to be joining such a popular and long running series as Midsomer Murders.  I have always watched it and can’t wait to start work on it now, as a regular character.  It’s a bit of a dream come true and I am even looking forward to the various stunts that lie ahead of me – I know Barnaby doesn’t like jumping into freezing lakes!’.

Neil Dudgeon said:  ‘We’ve met and got on really well and I really look forward to working with him this year.   It will be good to bring a new character into the series – and keep Barnaby on his toes!’.

Jo Wright, Executive Producer said:  ‘We looked long and hard for the right person and feel that Gwilym can bring so much to the new series of Midsomer Murders. I know he is a great choice, and he will work so well alongside Neil Dudgeon’.

Louise Sutton, Producer added:   ‘He is a delight to be with, enthusiastic and will be a great addition to the series.   It will show a totally new dynamic to the partnership with Barnaby which I am sure the viewers will enjoy.’

Gwilym’s TV credits include:  Restless, Fresh Meat; The Hollow Crown, Land Girls,  and his many theatre credits include The Promise, Othello, Hamlet, Oedipus and Richard III  for the National, RSC, the Crucible and the Donmar,  and King Lear on Broadway.

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