There is plenty about Midsomer Murders that is very interesting. There are the plots, the characters, the stunning Southern Oxfordshire locations and the increasingly ingenious ways for people to be murdered. But there are plenty more interesting facts about the show that you might not know. Here is a selection of some of our favourite little known Midsomer facts.
1. Since the show started in 1997, there have been nearly 300 murders. Victims have met their end variously by pitchfork, cricket bat, hemlock, a hatpin, an Iron Maiden (not the heavy metal band, although that would have been worth seeing), toxic fungus, a guillotine and a faulty microphone, amongst many others. It must be the longest and most varied list of murder weapons in history. Try playing Cluedo with that lot.
2. The pilot episode attracted viewing figures of 13.5 million, making it the highest rating drama show for 1997. Not bad for a first attempt.
3. The original and working title was Barnaby but was changed at the suggestion of scriptwriter Anthony Horowitz.
4. The solo instrument used in the show’s theme music is a theramin. It was invented by Russian scientist Leon Theramin in the early part of the 20th century. Lenin was said to be a huge fan and a skilled player. Other devotees include more or less every 1970s prog rock keyboard player.
5. Filming for the episode ‘The Blood Point’ had to be abandoned because the plot was unintentionally similar to a real-life event. Probably nothing to do with an Iron maiden though.
6. The show is screened in many countries around the world (almost all of them in fact) and in 2004 was in the top three most sold British TV shows in the world. In France the show has been re-titled Inspectuer Barnaby.
7. Every episode takes about five weeks to film and usually involves around 120 people. That’s a lot of man-hours when you add them up.
8. The show’s former star John Nettles once knocked on a door and announced himself as ‘Detective Sergeant Bergerac’ during filming. Confusing his then current character with a famous former role.
9. Celebrity fans of the show include Johnny Depp, Sir Roger Moore, Sharon Stone and Holly Willoughby. All of whom have expressed an interest in appearing in an episode.
10. The show is filmed in and around the beautiful region of Southern Oxfordshire, which definitely provides the perfect backdrop for all the action – no matter how grizzly.
So there you go. Some insider information to share with other fans of the show.
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Midsomer murder capital of Britain – Published 18th July 2014
Traditional Skills at Midsomer location – Published 9th July 2014
Nettles and Dudgeon in antiques hunt – Published 2nd July 2014
Enjoy a pint of Midsomer at The Argyll – Published 26th June 2014
Top 5 Midsomer facts – Published 18th June 2014
Midsummer in Midsomer 2014 – Published 12th June 2014
All aboard the Midsomer Maiden – Published 6th June 2014
Take the Midsomer Murders trail – Published 28th May 2014
New Christie series to rival Midsomer – Published 21st May 2014
What are your favourite Midsomer murders – Published 15th May 2014
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Midsomer Murders fashion show and sale – Published 10th March 2014
Gwilym Lee reveals all – Published 26th February 2014
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Friend's asking about Midsomer Murders? – Published 30th January 2014
Get to know DCI Barnaby – Neil Dudgeon – Published 15th January 2014
Happy New Year from Midsomer – Published 2nd January 2014
Midsomer Murders Christmas special news – Published 11th December 2013
New book reveals Midsomer realism – Published 28th November 2013
A new arrival in Midsomer – Published 13th November 2013
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Could you murder some food in Midsomer? – Published 18th October 2013
Facebook with Midsomer stars this Monday – Published 4th October 2013
Midsomer attracts euro murder tourists – Published 27th September 2013
Murder is a top UK export – Published 10th September 2013
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Murder Walks: Finding a Midsomer Murder – Published 30th August 2013
Solve Midsomer Murders on Facebook! – Published 19th July 2013
Midsomer star turns superhero – Published 10th July 2013
Download Midsomer online, for free – Published 21st June 2013
Midsomer Lovers get to Visit Locations – Published 7th June 2013
Filming begins on new series of Midsomer – Published 6th May 2013
Danes can’t get enough Midsomer Murders – Published 2nd May 2013
In Spring we bring Murders from Midsomer – Published 4th February 2013
Jason Hughes: End of a Midsomer Era – Published 21st January 2013
Start The Year With A Midsomer Murder – Published 4th January 2013
Midsomer Detectives on new Projects – Published 23rd November 2012
Midsomer: Killing them off for 15 years – Published 5th October 2012
The Midsomer Murders Christie Connection – Published 28th September 2012
The Best Ever Midsomer Murders part 2 – Published 21st September 2012
The Best Ever Midsomer Episodes: No.1 – Published 14th September 2012
Midsomer Taking A Step Back In Time – Published 7th September 2012
Midsomer Murders: better than the best? – Published 31st August 2012
ITV investigates Midsomer Murder Rate – Published 20th August 2012
Put Your Midsomer Skills To The Test – Published 17th August 2012
Great Drama On The Water And The TV – Published 10th August 2012
Bunkfest: The legend continues – Published 6th August 2012
More Murderous Midsomer Facts – Published 27th July 2012
Get Your Hands On The New Midsomer Book – Published 20th July 2012
The Top 5 Summer Murder Mysteries – Published 13th July 2012
Famous Fans of Midsomer Murders – Published 4th July 2012
Midsomer murders the beautiful game – Published 21st June 2012
Celebrate Midsummer with Midsomer – Published 15th June 2012
No murder on the Henley dancefloor – Published 8th June 2012
Queen's Jubilee keeps murderers busy – Published 1st June 2012
Cricket and Jurassic Midsomer Murders – Published 25th May 2012
Midsomer Murders has talent too – Published 21st May 2012
The Midsomer Summer food and murder fest – Published 11th May 2012
Southern Oxfordshire ready for murders – Published 4th May 2012
Village Cricket With A Murderous Twist – Published 27th April 2012
Southern Oxfordshire's family outings – Published 20th April 2012
Easter Events in South Oxfordshire – Published 12th April 2012
South Oxfordshire ready for Olympics – Published 4th April 2012
How fit are the Midsomer Murders cast? – Published 27th March 2012
South Oxfordshire is festival ready – Published 20th March 2012
Midsomer Murders star praises sidekick – Published 14th March 2012
Where are Midsomer Murders' old coppas? – Published 8th March 2012
Midsomer Murders:No silence of the lambs – Published 2nd March 2012
South Oxfordshire cinema's amateur style – Published 29th February 2012
Midsomer Murders: Queen visits Henley – Published 24th February 2012
South Oxfordshire seeks rowing veterans – Published 20th February 2012
Henley 80s festival bill gets new star – Published 16th February 2012
Midsomer lovers not Midsomer Murders – Published 8th February 2012
Civil War in Midsomer proves popular – Published 6th February 2012
Henley’s 80s festival line-up revealed – Published 2nd February 2012
Midsomer Murders and all about Sgt Jones – Published 30th January 2012
Midsomer Murders and the castle of love – Published 25th January 2012
Waterperry Gardeners' lives honoured – Published 17th January 2012
Midsomer Murders: Fowl play expected – Published 11th January 2012
Henley meets TV's ‘Jesus of Nazareth' – Published 10th January 2012
Watching the birds of Waterperry Gardens – Published 1st January 2012
Midsomer millionaire's time capsule – Published 21st December 2011
Household comedy names coming to Didcot – Published 15th December 2011
24 evenings of Christmas fun in Henley – Published 11th December 2011
Dulcie Grey and Wallingford – Published 7th December 2011
More Xmas fun in South Oxfordshire – Published 30th November 2011
Top 10 Midsomer Murders – Published 25th November 2011
EastEnders star to light up Thame – Published 23rd November 2011
Panto in South Oxfordshire not murder – Published 18th November 2011
Christmas lunch Midsomer Murders style – Published 16th November 2011
Henley's coffee and rowing competitions – Published 15th November 2011
Olympic torch to light up Henley – Published 8th November 2011
Midsomer Murders Locations: Grey's Court – Published 2nd November 2011
Mapledurham unveils record water turbine – Published 31st October 2011
Midsomer Murders and A Sacred Trust – Published 31st October 2011
Boris’s bike hire scheme for Henley? – Published 28th October 2011
Celebrate autumn at Hill Farm Festival – Published 24th October 2011
Halloween in Waterperry and Wallingford – Published 20th October 2011
TOWIE stars beaten by murder stag night – Published 18th October 2011
Musical Youth lead Didcot Music Month – Published 14th October 2011
New episode review:The Night of the Stag – Published 13th October 2011
George Harrison's House near Henley – Published 11th October 2011
Midsomer Murders and Sherlock Holmes – Published 7th October 2011
Henley's rowing show to go nationwide – Published 6th October 2011
Time running out to enter Henley races – Published 6th October 2011
Food and films at Henley festival – Published 29th September 2011
Russell's Water a truly scrumptious spot – Published 23rd September 2011
Midsomer Murders comes back with a bang – Published 23rd September 2011
The Midsomer Murders druids did it – Published 20th September 2011
Johnny Ball in Henley kids lit fest – Published 16th September 2011
Looks rosy for Waterperry Apple Weekend – Published 14th September 2011
Walliams makes it! – Published 13th September 2011
Two great train weekends at Didcot – Published 9th September 2011
Midsomer keeps celeb chefs happy – Published 6th September 2011
Cool and Portillo to perform in Didcot – Published 5th September 2011
Footie and food: Thame's the place to be – Published 2nd September 2011
Thame to host feast of literature – Published 1st September 2011
Nettles Top 10 Midsomer Murders Episodes – Published 30th August 2011
Wallingford welcomes wedding planners – Published 24th August 2011
Waterperry’s Wonderful Daisy Weekend! – Published 19th August 2011
Oar inspiring exhibitions in Henley – Published 18th August 2011
Midsomer Murders says bye to Bullard – Published 16th August 2011
Bragg to head Towersey Village Festival! – Published 12th August 2011
Midsomer star praises South Oxfordshire – Published 10th August 2011
Female rowers rock the boat in Henley – Published 9th August 2011
Wallingford BunkFest's top headline act – Published 5th August 2011
Stonor: home to international craft fair – Published 3rd August 2011
5 famous Midsomer cameo appearances – Published 2nd August 2011
Countdown to Henley Literary Festival – Published 29th July 2011
Swiss Farm family camping in Henley – Published 27th July 2011
Wallingford: shaped by Saxon and Viking – Published 25th July 2011
Jupitus warms up for Edinburgh in Didcot – Published 22nd July 2011
Rowers’ lives through a lens in Henley – Published 20th July 2011
England's greatest agricultural show – Published 18th July 2011
Murdoch misses deal on Midsomer nosh – Published 15th July 2011
Midsomer's Top 3 Murder Books – Published 14th July 2011
Swanning about in South Oxfordshire – Published 12th July 2011
Henley previews the Edinburgh Fringe – Published 8th July 2011
Midsomer Murders on Chinnor's trains – Published 6th July 2011
Waterperry Gardens does Dickens – Published 5th July 2011
Rowing in Henley after rowing in Iraq? – Published 27th June 2011
Peter Andre pimps Thame's carnival – Published 24th June 2011
Don’t be late for Midsomer Murders fete – Published 23rd June 2011
Henley home of 80's festival near London – Published 21st June 2011
Talk by Midsomer Murders' author – Published 17th June 2011
New Life exhibition in Henley – Published 16th June 2011
Cricket star visiting South Oxfordshire – Published 13th June 2011
Coming soon: it's Henley Festival – Published 10th June 2011
Cycle 100 miles of Midsomer Murders – Published 8th June 2011
The Merkel Midsomer Murders Mystery – Published 6th June 2011
South Oxfordshire pubs play Aunt Sally – Published 3rd June 2011
South Oxfordshire gets ready for battle – Published 1st June 2011
Midsomer Murders in Sydenham – Published 30th May 2011
Midsomer Murders returns with cult show – Published 24th May 2011
TV chef and her South Oxfordshire deli – Published 17th May 2011
South Oxfordshire and animal adventures – Published 15th May 2011
It's all going on in Sydenham – Published 13th May 2011
Events near London: It's Mills Weekend – Published 11th May 2011
The English Music Festival in Midsomer – Published 7th May 2011
Wallingford food festival – Published 6th May 2011
Midsomer Murders extras sing to win – Published 4th May 2011
5 great eateries in South Oxfordshire – Published 2nd May 2011
Thame honours its boxing legend – Published 26th April 2011
Royal weddings and murder in midsomer – Published 22nd April 2011
Festivals near London start here – Published 18th April 2011
Family fun with Wallingford's donkeys – Published 13th April 2011
Country living at Thame country fair – Published 11th April 2011
Enjoy a royal weekend break near London – Published 8th April 2011
Half term for kids on Didcot's trains – Published 6th April 2011
Midsomer's Iron Distance Triathlon – Published 4th April 2011
New Midsomer Murders is winning fans – Published 1st April 2011
Weekend break near London, try Dunsden – Published 28th March 2011
The 2011 Boat Race and Wallingford – Published 25th March 2011
Agatha Christie helps Midsomer Murders – Published 24th March 2011
Midsomer Murders gets fresh start – Published 21st March 2011
Midsomer, Tom Jones and Henley Festival – Published 18th March 2011
Shakespeare's walks near London – Published 16th March 2011
Mozart starts events in Midsomer – Published 14th March 2011
Cameron gets a letter from Midsomer – Published 11th March 2011
Is DCI Barnaby ready for daytime sex? – Published 9th March 2011
Hotel in Wallingford mixes old with new – Published 7th March 2011
Cornerstone's latest line-up – Published 2nd March 2011
English weekend trips and microbreweries – Published 1st March 2011
Famous movie locations: Stonor – Published 28th February 2011
Ewe must see the Abingdon lambs – Published 23rd February 2011
Halfterm activities: Visit Waterperry – Published 21st February 2011
Thame pub heroes ready for TV appearance – Published 18th February 2011
Oldie's triathlon in South Oxfordshire – Published 16th February 2011
Raise money cycling in South Oxfordshire – Published 11th February 2011
Poohsticks World Championships is on – Published 9th February 2011
South Oxfordshire spa breaks – Published 4th February 2011
Neil Dudgeon is the new Barnaby – Published 3rd February 2011
Best Midsomer tweets – Published 2nd February 2011
Visit Midsomer for the Henley Festival – Published 31st January 2011
How Midsomer Murders said 'goodbye' – Published 28th January 2011
Comedy show to reveal darkside of Didcot – Published 26th January 2011
Trollope to talk in South Oxfordshire – Published 24th January 2011
Orwell's South Oxfordshire rest – Published 21st January 2011
Farewell John – Published 20th January 2011
Great Haseley – a place to investigate – Published 17th January 2011
Cycling in South Oxfordshire – Published 15th January 2011
How John Nettles whipped Harrison Ford – Published 14th January 2011
New film hails Oxfordshire music scene – Published 10th January 2011
Really Wild star visit Henley – Published 7th January 2011
Beautiful Wallingford Bridge reopens – Published 5th January 2011
Priceless Henley to host Flog It – Published 4th January 2011
Mapledurham and the Hollywood Watermill – Published 3rd January 2011
Titchmarsh to visit South Oxfordshire – Published 2nd January 2011
Larkin stage show to visit Thame – Published 30th December 2010
Time to remember Wallingford's Agatha – Published 29th December 2010
Getty's house to host Garsington Opera – Published 15th December 2010
Harpsden: setting of the Midsomer Christmas special – Published 13th December 2010
Fame in Thame – Published 9th December 2010
Henley to host star-studded Xmas Panto – Published 6th December 2010
Wallingford leads Christmas celebrations – Published 4th December 2010
Santa's South Oxfordshire service – Published 1st December 2010
Spotlight: beautiful Chinnor village – Published 29th November 2010
Group fights to preserve the Chilterns – Published 27th November 2010
Roll up for Wallingford's Bunk Fest! – Published 25th November 2010
No Football Murders, yet – Published 22nd November 2010
The delights of red kites – Published 19th November 2010
1960s star Jones to play Henley – Published 18th November 2010
Lets Drink to Midsomer Beer! – Published 15th November 2010
Sherlock Holmes and the Didcot case – Published 12th November 2010
Nettles: OBE award 'lovely and very kind' – Published 12th November 2010
Brunel relatives at Didcot Steam Fair – Published 8th November 2010
Did Agatha Christie want to kill off Poirot? – Published 7th November 2010
Henley mourns Olympic great Holmes – Published 6th November 2010
Barnaby's Top Pubs in South Oxfordshire – Published 3rd November 2010
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