Midsomer Murders is back on our screens tonight with a brand new episode, A Grain of Truth, which follows the controversy around a local bakery.

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"The superstar couple of the baking world have recently revamped their family's beautiful old water mill Larkton's, which has brought the couple huge success and a dedicated online following," reads the official synopsis.

But its popularity "has caused resentment in Lower Blissingham", leading to poison and a grisly murder.

"Can Barnaby steer through the lies to catch the killer before it is too late?"

Neil Dudgeon and Nick Hendrix return as John Barnaby and Jamie Winter alongside a number of other familiar faces, and a raft of shiny new guest stars.

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Read on for everything you need to know about the characters you'll meet in the latest episode of Midsomer Murders – and the stars who play them.

Midsomer Murders cast

Here is the main cast for Midsomer Murders. Read on to learn more about the actors and the characters they play, as well as upcoming guest stars.

  • Neil Dudgeon plays DCI John Barnaby
  • Nick Hendrix plays DS Jamie Winter
  • Fiona Dolman plays Sarah Barnaby
  • Annette Badland plays Fleur Perkins

Neil Dudgeon plays DCI John Barnaby

Neil Dudgeon plays DCI John Barnaby, wearing a suit and standing next to another man
Neil Dudgeon plays DCI John Barnaby. ITV

Who is DCI John Barnaby? The younger cousin of DCI Tom Barnaby, Midsomer's original star. Once Tom retired, John was transferred from Brighton Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to Causton CID to step into the role. Despite the local murder rate, John Barnaby lives a comfortable life in Midsomer with his wife Sarah, their young daughter Betty and their dog, Paddy.

What else has Neil Dudgeon been in? Before he replaced Midsomer Murders star John Nettles in the lead role in 2011, Neil Dudgeon played Jim Riley in the TV series Life of Riley, and also appeared in The Nativity, Silent Witness, Most Evil, Roman's Empire, Son of Rambow, and Messiah: The Harrowing. One little known fact: Dudgeon was the taxi driver in Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason who took Bridget (Renée Zellweger) to meet Mark Darcy (Colin Firth) near the end of the film.

Nick Hendrix plays DS Jamie Winter

Nick Hendrix in Midsomer Murders sitting in a car in a suit
Nick Hendrix in Midsomer Murders. ITV

Who is DS Jamie Winter? Detective Sergeant Jamie Winter is John’s right-hand man. He’s young, keen and smart and has a strong relationship with his boss. Jamie has had a string of predecessors as DS, but since joining the show in 2016 he has been determined to make his mark.

What else has Nick Hendrix been in? The actor starred as Billy Wallace in the first season of Netflix's The Crown, and played Adrian Cooper in ITV's Marcella. He has also appeared in films Suffragette and Legend, and in sci-fi series Black Mirror.

Fiona Dolman plays Sarah Barnaby

Fiona Dolman plays Sarah Barnaby sitting in a black shirt
Fiona Dolman plays Sarah Barnaby. ITV

Who is Sarah Barnaby? Sarah Barnaby is John’s wife. They have one daughter together, Betty, and a dog called Paddy. Mrs Barnaby is the headteacher of Causton Comprehensive School.

What else has Fiona Dolman been in? Fiona Dolman played Jackie in the TV series Heartbeat. Since then, her TV credits have included The Royal Today, Da Vinci's Demons, and Waterloo Road.

Annette Badland plays Fleur Perkins

Annette Badland plays Fleur Perkins in Midsomer Murders, wearing a blue hazmat suit
Annette Badland plays Fleur Perkins in Midsomer Murders.

Who is Fleur Perkins? The formidable pathologist "doesn't suffer fools gladly" and has a sense of humour, deliberately ruffling feathers. She has a colourful past that includes many husbands and lovers, and she drives a swanky black Jaguar convertible.

What else has Annette Badland been in? With more than 150 acting credits to her name, Annette Badland is perhaps best known for starring as Babe Smith in EastEnders. You may also recognise her for playing Mrs Fitzgibbons in Outlander, Holodora in The Sparticle Mystery, Mrs Wigmore in Man Down, Margaret Blaine in Doctor Who, Brawdie Henshall in Cutting It, the pub landlady in Ted Lasso, and Nanny Bingo in Big Boys.

Season 23 guest cast: A Grain of Truth

  • Jo Martin (Doctor Who, Holby City)
  • Robert Gilbert (Killing Eve, Big Boys)
  • Paul Chahidi (This Country)
  • Martin Trenaman (Never Mind the Buzzcocks)
  • Rebecca Night (Starlings)
  • Laila Rouass (Footballers' Wives)
  • Jola Jassy (Mammals)
  • Chris Coniston (All Creatures Great and Small)
  • Flaminia Cinque (Coronation Street)
  • Harry Taurasi (Young Dracula)
  • Russell Floyd (EastEnders)
  • Geoffrey Lumb (Holby City)
  • Natasha Atherton (Get Even)
  • Daniel Eghan

Midsomer Murders airs on ITV1 and ITVX.

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