A Death in Paradise star has joined the Midsomer Murders cast alongside Neil Dudgeon in the new episode Book of the Dead
Neil Dudgeon will reprise his role as DCI Barnaby in tonight’s episode of Midsomer Murders, titled Book of the Dead. He’ll be joined by his trusty sidekick DS Jamie Winter, played by Nick Hendrix, and Fleur Perkins, portrayed by Annette Badland, as they tackle a series of perplexing murders.
The episode will also feature several well-known faces in the guest cast, including Death in Paradise star Felixe Forde.
Felixe, known for her role as Luna Jones in Death in Paradise, will portray Scarlett Myhill in Midsomer Murders. Oliver Dimsdale, star of Downton Abbey and Grantchester, will also make an appearance as Rev Sebastian Butts.
Coronation Street legend Sally Lindsay will join Neil in the ITV drama, taking on the role of Danica Trask.
Tonight’s second instalment teases: “When the author of a book that sparked a nationwide treasure hunt is found dead, Barnaby and Winter must unravel the cryptic clues to find the killer among a group of dedicated seekers,” reports the Express.
Corrie star Sally Lindsay also features in the episode(Image: ITV)
Felixe isn’t the only Death in Paradise star to appear in the new series, as Jinny Holder featured in “The Devil’s Work” last night. The actress, who played Darlene Curtis, took on the role of Lila Blundell.
Ahead of the new episodes, lead actor Neil spoke exclusively to Reach PLC about his future on the programme after taking over from John Nettles in 2011.
When quizzed about whether he’d like to continue portraying Barnaby for as long as possible, Neil responded: “I think so, I mean I wouldn’t want to do it to the point where it’s embarrassing, and he’s just too old. I just take it a year at a time.”
Felixe Forde was in Death in Paradise(Image: ITV)
Reflecting on his initial doubts, he admitted: “By series one, I thought I’d shoot one episode, and they’d say, ‘he’s terrible, we are not doing anymore’. After having John Nettles for 13 years, and then I come along, and it’s cancelled, that would be pretty embarrassing.”
The actor went on: “But then, at the end of the first series, they recommissioned it, and I thought it was great because that sort of vindicates that people had faith in me to give me the job in the first place.”
Neil continued: “So that was great to have the first recommission and do a second series. When I first started, somebody said to me, ‘I think everybody would be happy if you did another three years or so,’ and 15 years later, I am still doing it.”
Grantchester and Downton Abbey star Oliver Dimsdale(Image: ITV)
He explained his approach to the role’s longevity: “So, I think everyone is pleased that it is still going, but I always take it a year at a time, and at the end of every series, I think, ‘Are there going to be more?'”
Adding: “Sooner or later, somebody is going to say there can’t be any more stories in Midsomer, but we keep coming up with them, and people seem to like it.”
Midsomer Murders can be streamed on ITVX.