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Midsomer Murders

Midsomer Murders

ITV 1998

A veteran DCI and his young Sergeant investigate murders around the regional community of Midsomer.
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The Top 10 Actors and Characters of Midsomer Murders (Ranked Cast in 2024)

Barry Jackson

#1 - Barry Jackson (Doctor George Bullard)

Barry Jackson was born on March 29, 1938 in Birmingham, England. He is known for his work on Wimbledon (2004), Barry Lyndon (1975) and Midsomer Murders (1997). He was married to Denise. He died on December 5, 2013 in London, England.

Barry Jackson plays as Doctor George Bullard in Midsomer Murders.
Barry Jackson is the top #1 member of the cast and appears in 82 episodes.

John Nettles

#2 - John Nettles (DCI Tom Barnaby)

​John Nettles has been a familiar face on British and International television screens for over thirty years. From his early beginnings in the UK hit comedy "The Liver Birds" (1969), he became a household name overnight playing the Jersey detective "Jim Bergerac". The series, "Bergerac" (1981), was a huge hit in Britain and was exported to many countries across the world including France, Spain and Greece, gaining him thousands of fans. His new found fame as Bergerac gave him almost film-star-like fame and fortune, not to mention thousands of female admirers! Despite "Bergerac" (1981) being mothballed in the early 1990s, the series still has a considerable fan base and lingering popularity abroad, especially in Jersey, where images of John Nettles are still used for advertising tourist attractions and other services on the island. Nettles' polished Shakesperean performances have won him critical acclaim and many consider him to rival fellow British stalwarts of theatre such as Patrick Stewart and Sir Ian McKellen. Oddly enough, however, he has never really ventured onto the big screen and has seemed happy to stick to stage and television throughout his successful career. Most recently he has enjoying continued success playing the straightforward DCI Tom Barnaby in ITV's _"Midsomer Murders" (1997). He is on record as wanting to create a TV detective without any of the usual tics, and consequently Tom Barnaby is a happy family man, who just happens to live in the most murderous part of an otherwise stereotypically idyllic English countryside.

John Nettles plays as DCI Tom Barnaby in Midsomer Murders.
John Nettles is the top #2 member of the cast and appears in 81 episodes.

Jane Wymark

#3 - Jane Wymark (Joyce Barnaby)

Jane Wymark is a British actress, best known for her roles on the BBC drama Poldark (1975), as well as the television series Midsomer Murders (1997). She was born on October 31, 1952 in London, England, and is the daughter of American writer and playwright Olwen Wymark and English actor Patrick Wymark, both of whom she credits with instilling a love of acting in her. Jane Wymark was educated a Birmingham University. She has appeared in a series of projects ranging from TV dramas to stage plays.

Jane Wymark plays as Joyce Barnaby in Midsomer Murders.
Jane Wymark is the top #3 member of the cast and appears in 81 episodes.

Laura Howard

#4 - Laura Howard (Cully Barnaby)

British actress Laura Howard has worked extensively on stage and screen since she was in her mid teens, most notably as the longstanding regular character Cully Barnaby in ITV's Midsomer Murders. She has appeared in recurring roles in Soldier Soldier (Central Television) and Young Dracula (CBBC), leading roles in Jack Rosenthal Screen One films (BBC) and short films for Brag Productions and RSA Films, as well as numerous guest appearances for the BBC and ITV. Laura's stage credits include productions at the Royal Shakespeare Company, The Donmar Warehouse, Chichester Festival Theatre, Southwark Playhouse, Watford Palace and Liverpool Playhouse, as well as premiers of new writing at Theatre Royal Stratford East and HighTide Festival. She has also toured the UK in shows for The English Touring Theatre, Northern Stage, Touring Consortium and for Sir Alan Ayckbourn and the SJT.

Laura Howard plays as Cully Barnaby in Midsomer Murders.
Laura Howard is the top #4 member of the cast and appears in 73 episodes.

Neil Dudgeon

#5 - Neil Dudgeon (DCI John Barnaby)

Neil Dudgeon was born in Doncaster, South Yorkshire on 2 January 1961 and attended Danum Grammar School among others. He established himself as an actor in school plays and went on to study drama at university . He made his first screen appearance in 1987. The following year, he appeared as a World War II pilot in Piece of Cake, alongside Tim Woodward, Jeremy Northam and Nathaniel Parker. As well as occasional appearances in long-running series such as Casualty, London`s Burning and Lovejoy, he has appeared as George the Chauffeur in The Mrs Bradley Mysteries (alongside Diana Rigg), in Inspector Morse (episode “The Way Through The Woods”), A Touch of Frost with David Jason, Between The Lines, Common As Muck (in 1994 & 1997) , Out of the Blue, Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Silk Stocking and all four series of Messiah with Ken Stott. In 2007 Dudgeon appeared in the eponymous role of self-made millionaire Roman Pretty in the BBC2 sitcom Roman`s Empire. Since 2009 he has played Jim Riley in the BBC`s successful comedy Life of Riley. In 2010, Dudgeon appeared in an episode of the long-running ITV crime drama Midsomer Murders, called “The Sword of Guillaume”. He was introduced in the episode as the cousin of Detective Chief Inspector Tom Barnaby, played by John Nettles, who has announced his retirement from the role. Neil, also cast as a senior detective, will take over as the lead character in Midsomer Murders after the last episodes featuring John Nettles are screened in 2011. Neil appeared for the first time in Midsomer Murders in the opening episode of the fourth series (“Garden of Death”), Neil is married to Radio Producer Mary Peate, they have two children.

Neil Dudgeon plays as DCI John Barnaby in Midsomer Murders.
Neil Dudgeon is the top #5 member of the cast and appears in 52 episodes.

Jason Hughes

#6 - Jason Hughes (DS Ben Jones)

Jason Hughes is a Welsh actor best known for playing Sergeant Ben Jones in the ITV series Midsomer Murders (2005–2013) and for the BBC drama This Life (1996–1997) in which he played lawyer Warren Jones. Hughes has also appeared in theatre such as the 1999 re-enactment of Our Country's Good as the Second Lieutenant Ralph Clark. Hughes was born in Porthcawl, South Wales, UK, on December 18, 1971. He is of Italian and Welsh descent. His grandfather, Raldo Carpinini, was the son of an Italian immigrant from Bardi, Emilia-Romagna who came and settled into Ammanford. Hughes' great-grandfather was originally trained to lay train tracks but eventually began an ice-cream business. Hughes' maternal grandfather became a policeman in Porthcawl. Hughes planned to become a sportsman in either rugby or cricket as a teenager but he had to become a lot bigger and lacked the support to become a first class rugby player. Hughes trained as a registered nurse in Cardiff in 1990 before moving to London and working in neurosurgery. From there, he moved into magazine publishing, and the hospitality industry, before returning to nursing in 2003. Hughes began his acting career in theatre, appearing in productions such as Our Country's Good and The Crucible. He made his television debut in 1996, playing Warren Jones in the BBC drama This Life. In 2005, he joined the cast of Midsomer Murders as Sergeant Ben Jones, a role he played for eight seasons. In addition to his work on television and theatre, Hughes has also appeared in films such as Killing Me Softly (2002) and The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (2008). He has also written two books, The ABCs of Love: A Love Story and Game Dev Insights. Hughes is married to Natasha Dahlberg and they have three children. He is a keen rugby fan and supports the Ospreys. In 2013, Hughes left Midsomer Murders after eight seasons. He said that he wanted to pursue other projects and that he felt it was time for a change. His final episode aired in March 2013. Since leaving Midsomer Murders, Hughes has appeared in a number of television shows, including Holby City, Doctors, and The Coroner. He has also starred in the films The Girl with All the Gifts (2016) and The Levelling (2019).

Jason Hughes plays as DS Ben Jones in Midsomer Murders.
Jason Hughes is the top #6 member of the cast and appears in 52 episodes.

Fiona Dolman

#7 - Fiona Dolman (Sarah Barnaby)

Fiona was born in Findhorn, Scotland, to mother Rosemary Dolman and father Gordon Dolman. She moved to Gibraltar at 15 years old when her father was posted there in the RAF. She won awards for the Gibraltar RAF women's windsurfing championships at the age of 16 and 17 years. She is the youngest child.

Fiona Dolman plays as Sarah Barnaby in Midsomer Murders.
Fiona Dolman is the top #7 member of the cast and appears in 52 episodes.

Kirsty Dillon

#8 - Kirsty Dillon (WPC/DC Gail Stephens)

Kirsty Dillon plays as WPC/DC Gail Stephens in Midsomer Murders.
Kirsty Dillon is the top #8 member of the cast and appears in 30 episodes.

Daniel Casey

#9 - Daniel Casey (Sgt Gavin Troy)

Daniel Casey is an English actor who is best known for playing DS Gavin Troy in the first six series of the long-running television programme Midsomer Murders. He has also appeared in a number of other television shows, including Our Friends in the North, Steel River Blues, and Marchlands. Casey was born in Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham, England, in 1972. He studied English literature at Durham University, and then trained as an actor at the Drama Centre London. Casey's first professional acting role was in the touring production of Dead Fish in 1996. He made his television debut in the BBC series Our Friends in the North in 1996. In 1997, Casey was cast as DS Gavin Troy in Midsomer Murders. He played the role for six series, and his character was one of the most popular in the show's history. After leaving Midsomer Murders, Casey has appeared in a number of other television shows, including Steel River Blues, Marchlands, and Coronation Street. He has also appeared in a number of films, including The Last King of Scotland and The Damned United. Casey is married to Ellie Casey, and they have two sons. He is a keen supporter of Sunderland AFC.

Daniel Casey plays as Sgt Gavin Troy in Midsomer Murders.
Daniel Casey is the top #9 member of the cast and appears in 28 episodes.

Tamzin Malleson

#10 - Tamzin Malleson (Doctor Kate Wilding)

Tamzin Malleson was born on May 1, 1974 in Yeovil, Somerset, England. She is an actress, known for Teachers (2001), Poirot (1989) and Midsomer Murders (1997).

Tamzin Malleson plays as Doctor Kate Wilding in Midsomer Murders.
Tamzin Malleson is the top #10 member of the cast and appears in 23 episodes.

Last updated: feb 08, 2023

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