What is Midsomer Murders about?

The peacefulness of the Midsomer community is shattered by violent crimes, suspects are placed under suspicion, and it is up to a veteran DCI and his young sergeant to calmly and diligently eliminate the innocent and ruthlessly pursue the guilty.

Midsomer Murders

"The deadliest county in England."

TV Show TV-14 1997 1h 30m/ep 7.5 /10 Returning

A ITV1 Original

Created by Anthony Horowitz, Caroline Graham

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Streaming availability last verified: February 02, 2026

About Midsomer Murders

A deceptively tranquil English county becomes the scene of repeated murders, each one exposing grudges, secrets and rivalries beneath manicured hedges. Detective Chief Inspector John Barnaby, calm and methodical, and his younger sergeant sift through eccentric locals, local institutions and hidden histories to piece together motives and opportunity. Episodes balance careful police work with the odd eccentric suspect, letting clues and character interactions drive the investigation rather than high-speed action. The tone mixes polite village life with darker impulses, and each case rewrites the map of who can be trusted without revealing any long-term twists here.

Midsomer Murders premiered in 1997, adapting Caroline Graham's novels with Anthony Horowitz among the early writers. The ITV series has featured a rotating cast over decades, with Neil Dudgeon, Nick Hendrix, Fiona Dolman and Annette Badland among those anchoring its later seasons.

Despite its longevity and popularity, the show hasn't been an international awards juggernaut. It has nonetheless received recognition within British television circles, with occasional nominations for acting and technical categories, and its sustained run is often cited by industry observers as evidence of lasting respect.

The series has left a clear cultural mark, turning "Midsomer" into shorthand for quaint settings hiding grim secrets. Its distinctive mix of black humor, eccentric characters and inventive murders has generated parodies, inspired interest in filming locations, and cemented its place in British popular culture as a recognizable TV brand.

Critics and audiences generally respond well to the show's plotting and character-focused investigations, reflected in a 7.481/10 voter average from 338 votes. Themes often revolve around hypocrisy, class and tradition clashing with modern pressures, while the steady pace and procedural emphasis keep viewers engaged across numerous self-contained episodes.

Details

Release Date: March 23, 1997
Episode Length: 1h 30m
Rating: TV-14
User Ratings: 339 votes
Type: TV Series
Seasons: 25
Episodes: 144
Network: ITV1
Status: Returning Series
Genres: Crime, Drama, Mystery
Country: United Kingdom
Studio: Bentley Productions +2 more
External Links: View on IMDB

Official Trailer

Cast

Neil Dudgeon

DCI John Barnaby

Nick Hendrix

DS Jamie Winter

Fiona Dolman

Sarah Barnaby

Annette Badland

Fleur Perkins

Created by: Anthony Horowitz, Caroline Graham

Seasons (25 seasons, 144 episodes)

Series 1

5 episodes - 1997

Series 2

4 episodes - 1999

Series 3

4 episodes - 1999

Series 4

6 episodes - 2000

Series 5

4 episodes - 2002

Series 6

5 episodes - 2003

Series 7

6 episodes - 2003

Series 8

9 episodes - 2004

Series 9

8 episodes - 2005

Series 10

8 episodes - 2006

Series 11

7 episodes - 2008

Series 12

7 episodes - 2009

Series 13

8 episodes - 2010

Series 14

8 episodes - 2011

Series 15

6 episodes - 2012

Series 16

5 episodes - 2013

Series 17

4 episodes - 2015

Series 18

6 episodes - 2016

Series 19

6 episodes - 2016

Series 20

6 episodes - 2019

Series 21

4 episodes - 2020

Series 22

6 episodes - 2021

Series 23

4 episodes - 2024

Series 24

4 episodes - 2025

Series 25

4 episodes

Frequently Asked Questions

Midsomer Murders is not currently available on streaming subscription services, but you can rent or buy it on Apple iTunes, Google Play, and Amazon Video.

Yes, you can buy on Apple iTunes, Google Play, and Amazon Video.

Midsomer Murders has 25 seasons with a total of 144 episodes.

With a rating of 7.5/10 from 339 viewers, Midsomer Murders is well-regarded and recommended by viewers.

Midsomer Murders stars Neil Dudgeon, Nick Hendrix, Fiona Dolman, and Annette Badland.

Midsomer Murders was created by Anthony Horowitz and Caroline Graham.

Midsomer Murders was released on March 23, 1997.

Midsomer Murders is a Crime, Drama, and Mystery series.

The show plays on a deliberate contrast between an idyllic English county and a surprisingly high murder rate, it's a long-running storytelling hook rather than a realistic portrayal. The frequent killings let each episode explore a new mystery and a wide cast of quirky suspects.

Filming takes place across real English villages and countryside, with many locations in Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire standing in for the fictional county of Midsomer. The production uses a rotating set of towns and villages to give each episode a distinct local flavor.

Actor John Nettles, who played Tom Barnaby, left the series, and the show introduced DCI John Barnaby, played by Neil Dudgeon, as Tom's cousin to preserve continuity. That allowed the series to carry on in the same fictional world while giving it a new lead.

Early episodes were adapted from Caroline Graham's Inspector Barnaby novels, but most later episodes are original teleplays written by a variety of writers, including Anthony Horowitz among others. The series mixes book adaptations and original stories as it progressed.