Neil Dudgeon Extols Midsomer Murders Co-Stars as 'Absolute Treasures' in Exclusive Interview
In an exclusive conversation with Express.co.uk, Neil Dudgeon, the esteemed star of the long-running ITV drama Midsomer Murders, has lavished praise upon his cherished co-stars, describing them as "absolute treasures" and highlighting the vital importance of their camaraderie on set. As production for the forthcoming series of the beloved show is currently underway, Dudgeon reprises his iconic role as DCI Barnaby, alongside Sergeant Jamie Winter, portrayed by Nick Hendrix, and Dr. Fleur Perkins, played by Annette Badland.
Working with Annette Badland: A Dynamic Partnership
When questioned about collaborating closely with Annette Badland, Dudgeon expressed immense admiration for her talent and dedication. "It is great. Annette has played Fleur for years and years and is still there," he remarked. He further elaborated on her busy schedule, noting, "Whenever we meet her, she's saying, 'Oh, you know, I've just come back from such and such, where I've been filming this, and I'm going to Manchester next week.' She's in three or four days and episodes in between, she's going off doing all sorts of things, but she's in great demand, because she's such an absolute treasure."
Nick Hendrix: A Fantastic Successor
Dudgeon also shared heartfelt reflections on his working relationship with Nick Hendrix, who joined the series as Sergeant Jamie Winter. "And Nick is fantastic, and where I feel very blessed. I've always felt very blessed because when I started, I had Jason Hughes, who was the Sergeant," he recalled. He admitted initial concerns when Hughes departed, saying, "And then when Jason left, I thought 'Oh, it won't be the same', and then Gwilym Lee came along, and it changes him because Barnaby and Jason's characters were more similar in age, they had a different kind of relationship, and me and Jason had a different kind of relationship, which was hilarious."
Behind-the-Scenes Antics and Camaraderie
Recalling a particularly amusing incident from the set, Dudgeon revealed, "And we behaved terribly. I remember one day we were both so overcome with the hysterics that the director said to us, 'You can't carry on until you calm down...alright, both of you out'. And he sent us out of the location, and to the car park to calm down, which just made us worse." This anecdote underscores the lighthearted atmosphere that has characterised his time on the show.
He continued to heap praise on his co-stars, stating, "And then Gwilym came along, who was just wonderful and lovely and fantastic. And then when he left, I thought, 'Oh no, I can't be lucky a third time'. And then Nick came along, and he's just fantastic. He's great to work with, and I think we get along pretty well, and it's so important, because for the five months or so that we're filming, you meet up at seven o'clock in the morning, and you're standing next to each other, working with each other until seven o'clock at night."
The Significance of Strong On-Set Relationships
Emphasising the critical nature of their working dynamic, Dudgeon explained, "You know, it's like 12 hours a day, five days a week for five months. During that period, I'm seeing much more of him than I am of my own family. I think if you're doing that with somebody you didn't get on with, that would be really, really hard." This insight highlights how essential positive relationships are for the success and sustainability of long-running television series like Midsomer Murders.
Midsomer Murders remains available for streaming on ITVX, allowing fans to continue enjoying the mysteries and character dynamics that have made it a staple of British television.
