Neil Dudgeon, the beloved star of ITV's long-running crime drama Midsomer Murders, has revealed a shocking on-set injury that left him temporarily unable to walk.
The actor, who plays DCI John Barnaby in the hit series, shared the frightening incident during a recent interview, admitting it was one of the most painful experiences of his career.
The Accident That Brought Production to a Halt
Dudgeon explained that the injury occurred while filming a seemingly innocuous scene. "I was walking across a gravel driveway when my foot slipped, and I twisted my ankle in the most unnatural way," he recalled. "The pain was instant and excruciating."
Production was immediately halted as crew members rushed to his aid. "I couldn't put any weight on it at all," Dudgeon admitted. "They had to help me off set and straight to hospital."
A Long Road to Recovery
Medical examinations revealed severe ligament damage that required weeks of rehabilitation. "I was on crutches for what felt like forever," the actor revealed. "It was incredibly frustrating because we had to delay filming while I recovered."
Despite the setback, Dudgeon praised the production team for their support. "Everyone was so understanding. The show's physio became my new best friend during those weeks!"
Back to Solving Murders
Now fully recovered, Dudgeon is back to solving bizarre murders in the fictional county of Midsomer. "I'm just grateful it wasn't worse," he said. "Though I do get teased now whenever we film on gravel!"
The accident hasn't dimmed his enthusiasm for the role he's played since 2011. "I still love every minute of bringing Barnaby to life, even if it occasionally comes with the odd injury," he joked.
