| Midsomer Murders | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | |
| Created by | Anthony Horowitz Douglas Watkinson |
| Based on | Chief Inspector Barnaby by Caroline Graham |
| Starring | |
| Composer | Jim Parker |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| No. of series | 24 |
| No. of episodes | 142 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
|
| Producer | Betty Willingale |
| Cinematography |
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| Editor | Derek Bain |
| Running time | 89–102 minutes |
| Production company | Bentley Productions |
| Original release | |
| Network | ITV |
| Release | 23 March 1997 – present |
| Infobox instructions (only shown in preview) | |
Midsomer Murders is a British crime drama mystery television series, adapted by Anthony Horowitz and Douglas Watkinson from the novels in the Chief Inspector Barnaby book series created by Caroline Graham. It has been broadcast on the ITV network since its premiere on 23 March 1997. The series focuses on various murder cases that take place within small country villages across the fictional English county of Midsomer, and the efforts of the senior police detective and his partner within the fictional Midsomer Constabulary to solve the crime by determining who the culprit is and the motive for their actions. It differs from other detective dramas in featuring a mixture of lighthearted whimsy and dark humour, as well as a notable soundtrack with a title theme that includes a theremin.
The programme has featured two lead stars: from its premiere in 1997, John Nettles as Detective Chief Inspector (DCI) Tom Barnaby, until his retirement from the drama in February 2011; then Neil Dudgeon as DCI John Barnaby, Tom's younger cousin, since March 2011. Both main stars have featured a list of supporting actors who worked alongside them, including Jane Wymark, Barry Jackson, Daniel Casey, John Hopkins, Jason Hughes, and Gwilym Lee, with Nick Hendrix as the current co-star working with Dudgeon. Midsomer Murders remains a popular feature in British television schedules and has been broadcast internationally in over 200 countries and territories.