Midsomer Murders' Neil Dudgeon opens up on replacement after getting 'too old' for role
EXCLUSIVE: Neil Dudgeon doesn't want to play DCI Barnaby to the point of it being "embarrassing".
TM: Neil Dudgeon says he isn't leaving Midsomer Murders
Midsomer Murders star Neil Dudgeon has opened up about being replaced as DCI Barnaby, whom he has played since 2011, when he took over from John Nettles as the lead detective.
While he has no plans to leave the ITV series anytime soon, Neil spoke exclusively to Reach PLC about his future on the show and how long he would like to play the DCI Barnaby.
When asked if he'd like to play the role for "as long as possible," Neil shared, "I think so, I mean I wouldn't want to do it to the point where it's embarrassing, and he's just too old. I just take it a year at a time.
"When they first came to me, I was asked, 'How do you feel if John leaves Midsomer Murders?' and I said, 'It would be fantastic, and I'd love to'," Neil explained when he was asked to take on the role.
"I started off thinking, 'I'll do the first episode and see how it is, ' and then they might think, 'Oh, we made a terrible mistake, or he's awful'."
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The actor continued, "By series one, I thought I'd shoot one episode, and they'd say, 'he's terrible, we are not doing anymore'. After having John Nettles for 13 years, and then I come along, and it's cancelled, that would be pretty embarrassing.
"But then, at the end of the first series, they recommissioned it, and I thought it was great because that sort of vindicates that people had faith in me to give me the job in the first place."
He added, "So that was great to have the first recommission and do a second series. When I first started, somebody said to me, 'I think everybody would be happy if you did another three years or so,' and 15 years later, I am still doing it.
"So, I think everyone is pleased that it is still going, but I always take it a year at a time, and at the end of every series, I think, 'Are there going to be more?'
"Sooner or later, somebody is going to say there can't be any more stories in Midsomer, but we keep coming up with them, and people seem to like it."
Last month, viewers were treated to two new episodes of Midsomer Murders, and while they'll need to wait a bit longer for additional new episodes, lead actor Neil has revealed when fans can anticipate the remainder of series 24.
"The two episodes that are going out are the first two episodes I think of series 24, so there'll be another two episodes from that series to go out at some point," he stated.
"Very soon hopefully, and then the next series, series 25, is what we shot earlier this year."
Midsomer Murders is available to watch on ITVX.
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