Midsomer Murders

The series originally focuses on Detective Chief Inspector Tom Barnaby, played by John Nettles, who investigates crimes with his partner. In later seasons, his cousin, DCI John Barnaby (played by Neil Dudgeon), takes over the lead role. The show utilizes a blend of humor and distinctive character dynamics between the leads.

The series takes place in the fictional, predominantly rural English county of Midsomer. The show is famous for depicting these seemingly idyllic small villages that have incredibly high murder rates. Many of the villages are filmed in locations across Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire.

Yes, the television show is based on the Chief Inspector Barnaby book series written by author Caroline Graham. The pilot episode, The Killings at Badger's Drift, was adapted directly from the first novel in her series. However, the show has far surpassed the books in the number of total episodes.

The long-running British television series has produced over 130 feature-length episodes. It debuted on ITV in 1997 and continues to air new series to this day. Its longevity has made it a staple of British television exports worldwide.