GMB: Neil Dudgeon on taking over from John Nettles
Neil Dudgeon has been the face of Midsomer Murders since 2010, after he stepped into the shoes of John Nettles.
His successor spent 13 years as the beloved DCI Tom Barnaby, but despite the challenge of following such a strong lead, Dudgeon’s portrayal of DCI John Barnaby quickly won over viewers.
Now Neil has spent over a decade on the show, fans are curious about how long he’ll continue to call Midsomer home.
Back in 2020, Neil addressed his future on the series, sharing that he has "no intention" of stepping down any time soon.
"I don't know what else I'd do!" he told RadioTimes.
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He explained that he’s grateful for the stability of such a long-running role, which is rare in the acting world.
"When you're an actor, you always think, whatever job I'm doing, it's going to end next week and that'll be it, I won't work again", he said, adding that as long as ITV continues commissioning new episodes and viewers keep tuning in, he’s happy to stay.
Reflecting on how the role of Barnaby has come to define his career, Neil compared it to Dr Johnson’s famous quote about London: "When a man is tired of London, he’s tired of life."
For Neil, "when an actor's tired of doing Midsomer, he's tired of acting."
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In recent years, however, Neil has acknowledged that there will come a time when he might feel "too old" to play DCI Barnaby.
He expressed surprise at how long the role has lasted in a chat with The Mirror, admitting that no actor would expect a part to extend over a decade.
"Nobody in their right mind as an actor would think: 'I'm taking a job here for the next few months and it'll last for 12 years or something,'" he noted.
As the actor put it himself, the role ‘ticks all the necessary boxes’, but he knows there will be a point where age becomes a factor.
"I imagine there's a point at which I just get too old and it looks a bit daft," he joked.
Despite that, his commitment to the role remains as strong as ever. Neil told RadioTimes he tries to keep his performance fresh by reviewing scripts thoroughly, even after 14 years on the ITV drama.
For now, Dudgeon is still "extremely grateful" for his place in Midsomer Murders.
