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Ncuti Gatwa (The Doctor) and Millie Gibson (Ruby Sunday)

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The BIG Interview: Doctor Who’s Ncuti Gatwa, Millie Gibson and Russell T Davies

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Meet the cast of Midsomer Murders!

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TV Choice - Issue 20

The MY TV YEARS podcast from TVChoice is HERE!

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The MY TV YEARS podcast from TVChoice is HERE! 📺

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Meet the cast of Death In Paradise!

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TV Choice - Issue 19

## **We sit down with the Doctor himself, plus companion Ruby Sunday and the showrunner to talk about the new series, bringing the programme up-to-date for 2024, The Beatles, fan-moans, and launching it in the US** {#h-we-sit-down-with-the-doctor-himself-plus-companion-ruby-sunday-and-the-showrunner-to-talk-about-the-new-series-bringing-the-programme-up-to-date-for-2024-the-beatles-fan-moans-and-launching-it-in-the-us}

**Hi Ncuti, Millie and Russell! How’s life been since your debuts in the _Doctor Who_ Christmas special?**

**Millie:** We were filled with love on all levels because of the themes we addressed in that episode. I got so much love about Ruby's foster family.

**Millie:** Yeah, everyone was so touched. It's such a beautiful element to have in Ruby’s character, and it helps people reach out and connect with her on a more personal level. So that was really lovely. But yeah, God, what a reaction! It was amazing, wasn’t it?

**Ncuti:** Oh, my God! So amazing. So, anxiety-calming. I just couldn't leave the house a week before! And it was Christmas Day as well. I called my parents and said, ‘There's no chance you're gonna see me!’ I still have the voice-note where I said to my mum, ‘I’m going to lock myself in a room, and not look at anyone!’  So egotistical! But then the episode dropped, and was like, ‘Oh, I'm glad that, it works.’ I mean, I knew all the components for the show were there in, like, strong to 100 per cent. We had amazing writing, we had an amazing crew, amazing sets, budget – everything was there. But my ego was saying, \[spiteful voice\], ‘You’re the problem, you’ve _f\*\*\*\*\*\* this up for everyone_. Everyone's doing good, but you!’ So it was that.

**Ncuti:** And it works and it’s lovely.

**Russell, we’ve already seen your vision for _Doctor Who_ with last year’s special episodes – but is this series going to be the unfettered version, where you get the chance to spread out over eight instalments?**

**Russell:** Yes, I mean, there’s a reason why we're calling it season one. It's new for the show with these two \[Ncuti and Millie\]. It's brand new, it's got its own energy. Now, you know me – I'm an old fan, and the series still carries all that heritage of the past. Nothing's been rebooted, nothing's been rewritten. It's still the same joyous, fantastic show. But new viewers start here – with a flavour of 2024 in it. There are things we talk about, characters, issues. There's a planet called Finetime where extraordinary things happen… There are stories you wouldn't have told in the past. Equally, it's still the same old _Doctor Who_ – land, meet a monster, and fight it, with jokes, with joy and with chases, so that's all still intact. But I hope it buzzes with ‘now’.

**What can you tell us about the two episodes we’ll see this week?**

**Russell:** First of all, we have _Space Babies_ – ha ha! Which is the best title for anything! There's an episode of _Star Trek: Picard_ \[titled _No Win Scenario_\], in which Jonathan Frakes \[Riker\] turns around and goes, ‘Space babies’. And I was like, ‘You've just said our title!’ Ha ha! It's just weird. That's about babies in outer space. It's a baby farm run by babies. And the point is, it's a trip for Ruby to go into the future. The show is at its best when it's an open door and exploring what _Doctor Who_ is and explaining that to a new audience. I think the old audience loves that just as much. My favourite scenes of all are when a human steps into the TARDIS for the first time and says, ‘Oh, it's bigger on the inside.’ I don’t get tired of those. You saw how Christmas ended. Ruby barely met the Doctor, he’d barely explained himself to her. So it's not a two-parter, but it’s very much the next step from that. I've always started a series by going into the future, going into the past, going to an alien planet. So, we've got all that to come and they travel to a space station which is… a baby farm run by babies. Why? How does that happen? And with how many hours of shooting with babies!? Strangely, I wasn't on set much for this!

**Millie:** Because they're babies, they were only allowed on set… Was it an hour a day? So, we either got ‘em right at the start of the day or right at the end, which either way wasn’t great! They didn’t know their cues, they weren’t professional…

**Millie:** It was just mad. I remember having a speech and Russell’s stage directions were that the babies were in awe of Ruby. Obviously, you couldn’t give them that note!

**Ncuti:** I loved it. It was so much fun. It was like cute things everywhere to have a little cuddle with. But, oh, my gosh! The stress! Imagine being in a room of 12 screaming babies and a screaming crew. It’s a bit like, everyone is just screaming! It was one of those where it was like, ‘OK, the set must come together, and we have to be as one. We must get through this day together – and we must all love each other…’

**Ncuti:** I think because it takes the old audience along with it as well as the new. I feel like it's showing where like the programme is now going. You can see how _Doctor Who_ has evolved and how it's grown and where it's going to go. And yet, it also has the themes and trimmings of everything that’s been. So, I just think it's the perfect opening for our new era.

**Millie:** I completely agree. But I think the second episode is a lot more… I want to say…

**Millie:** It’s not really been done before ever in _Doctor Who_. I think it's just a lovely new way to show fans where Russell has taken the series.

**Now you’ve intrigued us – so tell us about that second episode, _The Devil’s Chord_…**

**Russell:** It’s The Beatles one. The Doctor says to Ruby, ‘Where do you want to go in time and space?’ She replies, ‘I want to see The Beatles recording their very first album,’ which a friend of mine suggested to me, when I got the job back on _Doctor Who_. I was saying this to Ncuti yesterday, but I knew at the same time you cannot use Beatles music on television. You can't afford it. You simply cannot get the copyright to do it, which is a major fault, I think, may I say, of The Beatles Estate. What a mad thing to do! So having someone suggest a Beatles episode and knowing you couldn't use their music suggested the whole show.  Into that we cast Jinkx Monsoon as Maestro. Over to you \[Millie and Ncuti\]…

**Millie:** With this Sixties episode, Russell's incorporated whole new themes and layers and just… I mean, you _have_ to watch. Even the ending… Ha ha!  
**Russell:** The rules are off!

**Ncuti:** Jinkx was amazing.She absolutely owns that episode. The torque of her energy when she came in on the first day was like, ‘Oh, this is going to be something special.’ She eats up that role for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It’s delicious to watch.

**Russell, tell us about casting her…**

**Russell:** We definitely want to bring a younger audience to the show, and she’s not your classical name who’d be on an ITV drama at nine o’clock. Although, we’ll have those people too, thank you very much. She’s someone I absolutely knew could act. We’d _never_ cast someone who can't – you've got to be very careful about that. Genuinely, we can't let you two \[Ncuti and Millie\] down. I knew also that she'd spent a long time watching _Doctor Who_. I used to get texts off Michael, her husband, saying, ‘Oh, I love Donna Noble!’ So, I realised we didn't have to explain _Doctor Who_ to her from scratch.

**The challenge of featuring The Beatles, of course, is that not only do you have _Doctor Who_ fans scrutinsing everything that you do, but now Beatles fans also! We've already heard grumbles about the accuracy of Ringo's drum kit.**

**Russell:** Oh, absolutely not. No, I think we've lost that argument already! Someone sent me a tweet with someone saying, ‘John Lennon’s strap around his guitar is two inches too low’. ‘Well done!’ I say! What you must remember is when someone points out something like that, they're happy. That's a moment of happiness for them. They really enjoy it when they’re experts. They can revel in it. They can correct us. Joy! Don't take anyone's joy away from them! The f\*\*\*\*\*\*! Ha ha ha!

**And did you anticipate fans moaning when it was announced the show would premiere on BBC iPlayer at midnight?**

**Russell:** Oh, we absolutely anticipated that. I know fandom well enough to know what their reactions will be. Let's face it, if we gave Millie a new hat they’d be up in arms! But you can't complain about the monster you've created. And I know the show does unashamedly have a great big online voice. People at the BBC have done research and our reach in terms of #DoctorWho, and it’s astonishing. It's making other franchises look like they’re in the playground. It's marvellous!

**Millie, how do you deal with all the scrutiny?**

**Millie:** I think it just comes with the job, and we were prepared for that. It's the way of the industry. People complain about anything. It's all… it’s clickbait, innit?

**Ncuti:** Well… It depends on what type of scrutiny. People are allowed to say, ‘Why are you playing the Doctor?’ I feel like you’re not important if you don't have haters! Ha ha!

**Russell**: He literally did a hair-flick there!

**Ncuti:** You’re no one if you don’t have haters, so welcome! Welcome! I guess the only thing I've ever been confused about is when storylines get leaked. I used to struggle with that, because I thought, ‘Why would you not want it to be a surprise?’

**Millie:** Peopleget a buzz out of spoiling something.

**Ncuti:** Entire scripts end up on Twitter, and you're like, ‘How? _How_?’ And that used to really annoy me. But now I think I see how it all works. It all feeds into each other. It’s all just feeding the beast.

**Russell:** What is very difficult about our situation is when something's leaked – whether it's a lie, or whether it's true or a spoiler – we’re demanded to comment. And it's like you're trying to hit a moving target. The more you comment, the more you will increase the debate, the more you will give validity to something that isn't true. So, I think most of the time, silence is the right reaction. I know that’s tough, sometimes, but otherwise… Also, when you do comment, let's not pretend this is an online world in which what you say is understood. It's _completely_ misunderstood. They run away with it, they come up with a new theory. It's like a runaway train that’s hurtled off over the mountains, and you’re left at the microphone and the crowd is gone, because they’ve run on to the next disaster.

**You’re all now heading off to launch the series in the US – how are you feeling about that?**

**Millie:** Oh my gosh. I mean, I've just gone from _Coronation Street_ – which is really big in Canada… Ha ha ha! So \[sarcastically\] I’m used to it! It’s nothing really! Ha ha! But, no, it's crazy. I think because _Doctor Who_'s such a British drama, it's very much like, ‘Oh my God, taking it to the US is just a whole other level.’

**Ncuti:** It’sexciting. I feel like there's a lot of hunger for _Doctor Who_ Stateside. But they haven’t had the access for it, which is what's great about Disney coming on board \[as co-producers\]. And, yeah, a lot of Americans I've spoken to have all been fans of the show. There’s an awareness of it there, and so it makes sense to do it. Exciting. It’s good for the show.

**Thank you so much, Ncuti, Millie and Russell!**

**Oh, are you applauding our interview questions?**

**Russell:** No, we’re applauding for next year’s finale, which is so brilliant…

**_Doctor Who_ returns to TV on BBC iPlayer and BBC1 on Saturday 11 May**

## Life in the fast lane {#h-life-in-the-fast-lane}

**DMB Collection’s Dean Bartle spills the beans on his new TV series**

How many of us have daydreamed about driving a sports car and pushing it to its limits? Well, anyone buying a supercar at Dean Bartle’s Leeds-based DMB Collection, can accelerate as much as they like, because his business is located alongside an airport – and he uses the runway for test drives!

‘And some clients fly in,’ beams Dean, as we chat on a gorgeous, sunny day in the departure lounge of Leeds East airport, next to his showroom. ‘One guy bought a very expensive Ferrari 812 from me. He was in Marbella and owned a plane. He said he’d like to come and see the car and asked where the nearest airport was. I told him it was outside the showroom and sent him a selfie of me with the \[air traffic control\] tower in the background. So, he flew here, then bought the car.’

Dean’s unique business is the focus of new **Quest** series, _Supercar Showroom_, where we’ll meet his team and see some of the cars that pass through his doors - like a rare Alfa Romeo Giulia GTAm, of which only 500 were made. And it soon attracts the attention of a potential buyer in Belfast – who flies over.

‘Selling cars like that is great, because there wasn’t one on the market,’ adds Dean, 45. To be the only dealership with these bespoke and exotic cars makes you feel quite special.’

But using a working runway is not without its issues, and viewers will see Dean asked to leave the area while on a test drive with friend and racing driver, Archie Hamilton, due to an incoming helicopter emergency.

‘It’s never happened before!’ he says. ‘And it was caught on camera, so you saw our genuine reactions.’

Archie isn’t the first famous face to walk through the showroom’s doors…

‘It was a very surreal moment when Tom Cruise flew in,’ recalls Dean. ‘He’s got a collection of Porsches and it was great to spend time with him. He was filming in North Yorkshire, and I showed him around. He was real gent.’

Dean’s interest in cars was first piqued by his dad’s job as a traffic cop, and his own career began working for various manufacturers including Volkswagen and Porsche. Eventually, he set up on his own, initially trading from his driveway.

‘I sold seven vehicles in my first month. The first car I sold was a Porsche 911 to one of my oldest Porsche customers who said he was very proud to be my first and sent me a photo of us shaking hands. That’s hanging in my office.’

So how did he end up with his current showroom?

‘I liked the idea of a hangar with an office, and originally this premises was set to be bought by a larger business with a staff of around 150 people. But because of the pandemic and everyone working from home, that deal fell through, which opened things up for me. I was getting busier as people were stuck at home and wanted to buy cars. I was posting on social media, showing that we’re moving cars and giving people the confidence to buy them.’

Dean’s daughter, Ellie, also features in the series.

‘She doesn’t have a clue about cars,’ he laughs. ‘The stuff she comes out with is comedy gold. She’s a bright girl and she’s learning. She’s been involved with the marketing side of things and has just finished uni after four years. I’m really proud of her.’

Despite his decades of experience, things could have worked out very differently, had Dean followed his other passion - performing.

‘I used to do a lot of shows when I was a kid. I think that’s where my confidence comes from. Then I worked at Haven holiday parks, and you had to be bubbly and upbeat. I took everything I learned there into the car showroom. Talking to people at work never fazed me.

‘When I was at Haven, I auditioned in London for 19 Management, which was co-run by Simon Cowell. I was one of 7000 applicants for the boyband, Upside Down. I had seven recalls and got down to the last five! But I was told I didn’t get it because of the height difference, as it was all about the image, and not to do with my singing. I felt so deflated afterwards. It’s funny how paths lead you in different places.

‘My best friend Nathan \[Miles-Davis\] landed a recording contact for a while. But about 10 years ago, we launched Swing Thing vocal duo, singing Michael Bublé and big band numbers.

‘Selling cars can be quite stressful. But when you’re out on an evening with your best mate of 30-odd years, having a laugh and singing, it’s the best release. I’ll be waving a customer goodbye at 6pm, shooting off home to get changed into my suit and then straight out to a gig. I’ve sometimes turned up in a Rolls-Royce or a sports car to people’s houses. They’re like, “How much are we paying him?”’

## The need for speed {#h-the-need-for-speed}

**As well as talking to Dean Bartle about _Supercar Showroom_, TVChoice’s Deputy Editor, Elaine Penn, also took his Ferrari for a spin…**

‘After being treated to a track day by **Quest** for their 2014 series, _Cars That Rock With Brian Johnson_, where I was the slowest person on the circuit, I vowed to be braver with Dean’s own Ferrari Scuderia 430.

‘With a top speed of over 200mph, and a runway on which to floor it, it should have been an easy task. But after being clipped into the harness-style seat belt – first as a passenger while Dean’s colleague Brad took me out, and then as the driver – the nerves began!

As soon as I put my foot down, I started screaming (with fear and delight) as I shot back in my seat. I didn’t even notice the speedometer as I was concentrating so hard on looking ahead of me, even though the only things even close to being obstacles were motorcyclists utilising some space along the side to practise exercises around cones.

On my second run, I gained a little confidence, and the roar of the engine spurred me on. I was just getting into my stride when I spotted a pheasant crossing the runway! That was my cue to start slowing down. I certainly won’t be troubling Max Verstappen anytime soon.’

## WHERE TO WATCH _SUPERCAR SHOWROOM_ {#h-where-to-watch-supercar-showroom}

**The new eight-part series starts on Thursday, June 15 on Quest (Freeview 12/Sky 144/Virgin 169/Freesat 172/167)**

Supercar Showroom

## It’s run for more than a quarter of a century – but who are all of the show’s main characters, both past and present? {#h-it-s-run-for-more-than-a-quarter-of-a-century-but-who-are-all-of-the-show-s-main-characters-both-past-and-present}

Midsomer Murders has been one of television’s best-loved police dramas for almost 30 years. Having begun in 1997, it’s become one of ITV’s most successful shows, having produced almost 150 episodes. That amounts to an awful lot of murders being committed in one English county! Over the years, there have been two detectives who have lead the series – Tom Barnaby, followed by his cousin John Barnaby – who have been ably supported by a host of supporting cast.

We’ve put together a guide to all of Midsomer Murders’ main characters, including those who have since left the show, complete with information about where else you might have seen the actors…

## Neil Dudgeon plays Detective Chief Inspector John Barnaby {#h-neil-dudgeon-plays-detective-chief-inspector-john-barnaby}

**Duration**: Series 13 (guest role), 14 to present

John Barnaby transferred to Midsomer’s Causton CID to replace his cousin, Chief Inspector Tom Barnaby (John Nettles) who was retiring. John didn’t get on particularly well with DS Ben Jones (Jason Hughes) when he first arrived, but the pair later formed a great partnership. John lives locally with his wife Sarah (Fiona Dolman) and daughter Betty.

Long-time Midsomer Murders viewers may remember that Neil first appeared in the show as an entirely different character. Back in the fourth series’ opening episode Garden Of Death, he played the gardener Daniel Bolt. Neil is also known for playing the lead role of Jim Riley opposite Caroline Quentin in the BBC comedy Life Of Riley between 2009 and 2011. During an acting career which has spanned 40 years, Neil has made appearances in some of the UK’s best known TV shows, including Lovejoy (1991), Casualty (1991), The Bill (1991), A Touch Of Frost (1994), Inspector Morse (1995) and Silent Witness (2008).

## Fiona Dolman plays Sarah Barnaby {#h-fiona-dolman-plays-sarah-barnaby}

Sarah is the wife of John Barnaby (Neil Dudgeon), and is the headmistress of a local secondary school, and the couple live together in a country cottage – with their dog Sykes, until their beloved bet sadly died. The couple later adopted a terrier pup named Paddy, after his previous owner was murdered. Sarah fell pregnant during the course of the 16th series, and gave birth to their first child, Betty.

In 2008, Fiona played Miss Pamela Andrews in 48 episodes of The Royal Today – the daytime spin-off series to The Royal. She was also well known for playing Jackie Bradley, the wife of PC Mike Bradley, in the long-running ITV series Heartbeat between 1998 and 2001. She has also appeared in Ultraviolet (1998), The Bill (1997, 2001, 2003 and 2009), Holby City (2003, 2007 and 2009), Coronation Street (2009), Waterloo Road (2010), The Syndicate (2013) and Casualty (2016).

## Nick Hendrix plays Detective Sergeant Jamie Winter {#h-nick-hendrix-plays-detective-sergeant-jamie-winter}

Jamie is the latest sergeant to be paired with DCI John Barnaby (Neil Dudgeon), replacing DS Charlie Nelson (Gwilym Lee). Before moving to Midsomer, Jamie had worked in London, and had gone on a crime management course with Dr Kam Marimore (Manjinder Virk).

Before joining the cast of Midsomer Murders in 2016, Nick had made guest appearances in quite a few British dramas, including Inspector George Gently (2012), Call The Midwife (2013), Lightfields (2013), The White Queen (2013), Foyle’s War (2015) and The Crown (2016). He also appeared in the very first episode of Charlie Brooker’s anthology series Black Mirror back in 2011.

## Annette Badland plays Dr Fleur Perkins {#h-annette-badland-plays-dr-fleur-perkins}

Fleur is the chief forensic pathologist for the county of Midsomer. She has been married several times, and when she first joined the CID she was dating a vet. However, that relationship didn’t last and she is currently single. Fleur owns two motorcycles, which she calls Gladys and Brenda, and she drives a convertible.

**What else has Annette Badland been in?**

Annette’s major breakthrough came in the first three series of Bergerac, where she played Charlotte, the secretary at the Bureau des Étrangers, alongside John Nettles as DS Jim Bergerac, between 1981 and 1984. In more recent years, she achieved notoriety as wicked Aunt Babe Smith, matriarch of the Carter family in EastEnders – a role she played between 2014 and 2017. She also played Brawdie Henshall in all four series of hairdressing drama Cutting It (2002-2005). Annette has clocked up a huge number of guest appearances in many of the best-known shows on British television, including Crossroads (1978), All Creatures Great And Small (1989), Casualty (various roles between 1990 and 2012), Poirot (2003), Coronation Street (2005), Doctor Who (2005), Not Going Out (2018), The Crown (2020), Silent Witness (2021) and Beyond Paradise (2023).

So, that’s all of Midsomer Murders’ current main cast of characters, but what about the many familiar faces who are no longer appearing in the show? And might we see any of them again in the future? Let’s meet all of the previous cast members…

## John Nettles played Detective Chief Inspector Tom Barnaby {#h-john-nettles-played-detective-chief-inspector-tom-barnaby-nbsp}

The character of Tom Barnaby was originally created by English writer Caroline Graham for her Chief Inspector Barnaby series of novels, published between 1987 and 2004. Having previously worked for MI6, Tom became a DCI based in the town of Causton in south-east England, who travelled into the countryside to solve murders in a number of nearby villages in the county of Midsomer. Barnaby married Joyce (Jane Wymark) back in 1973, and the couple are parents to their adult daughter Cully (Laura Howard), who was born in 1978. Tom had three Detective Sergeants during his time investigating murders in Midsomer – DS Gavin Troy (Daniel Casey), DS Daniel Scott (John Hopkins) and DS Ben Jones (Jason Hughes). When Tom retired, he was succeeded by his cousin John Barnaby (Neil Dudgeon).

John Nettles is in the unusual position of having played not one, but two of British television’s most famous detectives! Before he played Tom Barnaby in Midsomer Murders, he became a household name in BBC1’s Jersey-set thriller Bergerac, in which he played Detective Sergeant Jim Bergerac between 1981 and 1991. John starred in all 87 episodes of the hugely popular show, and even made an encore appearance as Bergerac in a 1993 episode of Jasper Carrott’s sitcom The Detectives! Earlier in his career, John played Ian McKenzie in A Family At War (1971-1972) and Paul in The Liver Birds (1972-1976). He also made guest appearances in Robin Of Sherwood (1984), Boon (1992) and Heartbeat (2001). In more recent times, he has appeared in several episodes of Poldark (2016-2017) as well as being the narrator of Devon And Cornwall (2020-2021).

## Jane Wymark played Joyce Barnaby {#h-jane-wymark-played-joyce-barnaby}

Joyce is the long-suffering wife of Tom Barnaby (John Nettles), who is extremely patient with her workaholic husband. She initially wanted them to move out of their home in Causton, and into one of the Midsomer villages. However, she was subsequently put off by all the gruesome murders that seemed to happen there on a regular basis!

Aside from her role in Midsomer Murders, Jane is best known for playing Morwenna Chynoweth Whitworth in the 1970s BBC period drama Poldark (1977). She has also made guest appearances in Maigret (1993), Lovejoy (1993), Pie In The Sky (1996), A Touch Of Frost (1997) and Dangerfield (1998).

## Daniel Casey played Detective Sergeant Gavin Troy {#h-daniel-casey-played-detective-sergeant-gavin-troy}

**Duration**: Series 1-7 (main cast), Series 11 (guest appearance)

DS Gavin Troy was Tom Barnaby’s first assistant. He was an ambitious officer who provided able support for his DCI. However, Gavin was also occasionally seen to be slightly unreconstructed in some of his views, and was a particularly careless driver, being responsible for several near-fatal accidents! After being promoted to the rank of Inspector, Gavin was transferred to Northumbria. He did later return to Midsomer briefly to attend the wedding of Tom’s daughter Cully (Laura Howard).

Besides Midsomer Murders, Daniel is most recognised for playing Anthony Cox in Our Friends In The North (1996), and firefighter Tony Barnes in Steel River Blues (2004). He has made guest appearances in Inspector George Gently (2010), Marchlands (2011), Casualty (2012 and 2014), Coronation Street (2016), EastEnders (2017) and Emmerdale (2018).

## Barry Jackson played Dr George Bullard {#h-barry-jackson-played-dr-george-bullard}

George was the resident pathologist in Causton – a popular and professional doctor, who was respected throughout the community. He was a close friend of Tom Barnaby (John Nettles), and was married to Catherine, a physician at the Midsomer Market Medical Centre.

Barry, who died in 2013 aged 75, enjoyed an incredible career, which took off in the Sixties with roles in Cathy Come Home (1966), The Bofors Gun (1968) and Alfred The Great (1969). He also made his first appearance in Doctor Who in 1965, later returning as a completely different character in a 1979 storyline. His CV takes in many of British television’s most famous shows, including Z Cars (1962, 1967, 1971 and 1975), Dixon Of Dock Green (1967, 1969 and 1974), Softly Softly: Task Force (1969, 1972 and 1973), Doomwatch (1972), Crown Court (1973, 1976 and 1977), Poldark (1975-1976), The New Avengers (1976), The Onedin Line (1976 and 1978), Secret Army (1977), Blake’s 7 (1978), The Professionals (1978), Coronation Street (1978), All Creatures Great And Small (1980 and 1989), Minder (1984 and 1994), Lovejoy (1986), Bergerac (1990), The Bill (1991, 1996, 2001 and 2003), A Touch Of Frost (1994 and 2002), Heartbeat (1994, 2004 and 2006), Silent Witness (1997), Kavanagh QC (1998) and Holby City (2004).

## Toby Jones played Dr Dan Peterson {#h-toby-jones-played-dr-dan-peterson}

**Duration:** Series 2 (recurring) and 3 (main)

Dan was a pathologist at the Causton CID, who temporarily covered for Dr George Bullard (Barry Jackson) when he was away for a while.

Toby has enjoyed a hugely successful film career, as well as his work for the small screen. His cinema credits include Captain America: The First Avenger (2011), Dad’s Army (2016), and Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny (2023). He was also the voice of Dobby the House Elf in Harry Potter And The Chamber of Secrets (2002) and Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows – Part 1 (2010). On television, he recently won huge praise for his role as sub-postmaster Alan Bates in Mr Bates Versus The Post Office (2024). His other credits include Lovejoy (1993), The Last Detective (2007), Doctor Who (2010), Agatha Christie’s Poirot (2010), Titanic (2012), Detectorists (2014-2017 and 2022), Sherlock (2017), and The Long Shadow (2023).

## John Hopkins played Detective Sergeant Daniel Scott {#h-john-hopkins-played-detective-sergeant-daniel-scott}

Daniel replaced DS Gavin Troy (Daniel Casey), and proved to be a lot cockier than his predecessor. Initially, he was unhappy to be transferred from London to Midsomer, considering it to be ‘out in the sticks’. This caused some tension between him and his superior officer, Tom Barnaby (John Nettles). However, their frosty relationship thawed after a while, with the pair gaining a grudging respect for one another. Daniel left the department quite abruptly, and was replaced by DS Ben Jones (Jason Hughes).

After leaving Midsomer Murders, John went on to appear as Rex Randall for a run of episodes in soap opera Family Affairs (2005). He has also guest-starred in Wire In The Blood (2008), Hotel Babylon (2009), Merlin (2010), Dancing On The Edge (2013), Endeavour (2016), and Poldark (2017-2018).

## Jason Hughes played Detective Sergeant Benjamin Jones {#h-jason-hughes-played-detective-sergeant-benjamin-jones}

**Duration:** Series 9-15 (main role), Series 19 (guest appearance)

Welsh-born Ben became Tom Barnaby’s third junior partner after DS Gavin Troy (Daniel Casey) and DS Daniel Scott (John Hopkins). Unlike his two predecessors, Ben was initially seen as a uniformed officer, before he was promoted from Detective Constable to Detective Sergeant. When Tom retired, Ben harboured hopes of taking over from him, and was disappointed when Tom’s cousin John (Neil Dudgeon) was appointed instead. However, Ben did later receive a promotion to Inspector, and he was transferred to Brighton.

Welsh-born Jason’s early roles were in London’s Burning (1994), The Bill (1995) and Peak Practice (1995), but he really came to prominence as lawyer Warren Jones in BBC2’s seminal drama This Life (1996-1997, with a reunion in 2007). Since then, he has guest-starred in Waking The Dead (2003), Mine All Mine (2004), Death In Paradise (2017), Three Girls (2017), Marcella (2018) and The Pact (2021).

## Kirsty Dillon played Detective Constable Gail Stephens {#h-kirsty-dillon-played-detective-constable-gail-stephens}

DC Gail Stephens was transferred to Midsomer from Binwell. During her stay, she came close to having an affair with Sergeant Benjamin Jones (Jason Hughes), but she ultimately decided not to get romantically involved with a colleague.

Kirsty appeared in the 2004 BBC drama The Man That Broke Britain. She also has numerous other TV credits to her name, including Holby City (2000, 2010 and 2012), London’s Burning (2002), Casualty (2006 and 2014), Emmerdale (2015), Strike (2018), Man Like Mobeen (2019), MotherFatherSon (2019) and The Kindred (2021).

## Tamzin Malleson played Dr Kate Wilding {#h-tamzin-malleson-played-dr-kate-wilding}

Kate replaced Dr George Bullard (Barry Jackson) as the resident pathologist. Although she has never been married, she started a relationship with DS Benjamin Jones (Jason Hughes) while she was working in Midsomer. She later took up a professorship in Brighton, where she was reunited with Ben, who had already moved there.

**What else has Tamzin Malleson been in?**

Before Midsomer Murders, Tamzin was most recognisable for playing Alison Dangerfield in series three and four of BBC drama Dangerfield (1996-1997). She then went on to play Penny Nevill in series two to four of Channel 4 comedy Teachers (2002-2004). Between 2004 and 2006, she portrayed Polly Grey in Bodies. She has also guest-starred in A Touch Of Frost (1996), Kavanagh QC (1996), Agatha Christie’s Poirot (2001), Boy Meets Girl (2009), Unforgotten (2015) and Marcella (2018).

## Gwilym Lee played Detective Sergeant Charlie Nelson {#h-gwilym-lee-played-detective-sergeant-charlie-nelson}

Detective Sergeant Charlie Nelson replaced Benjamin Jones (Jason Hughes) after he was promoted to Inspector. During his time at Midsomer, Charlie was a lodger in the house belonging to Dr Kate Wilding (Tamzin Malleson). He later started an undercover course and moved away.

## As the detective drama approaches its 100th episode, who are all of the main characters, both past and present, on the island of Saint Marie? {#h-as-the-detective-drama-approaches-its-100th-episode-who-are-all-of-the-main-characters-both-past-and-present-on-the-island-of-saint-marie}

We’re looking forward to the 13th series of Death In Paradise, as the popular crime drama approaches its 100th episode. The show, set on the idyllic island of Saint Marie, first appeared on our TV screens way back in 2011. Since then, there have been four different lead actors, as well as a host of other supporting characters.

Over the years, the award-winning series has amassed millions of loyal fans, and has even spawned a successful spin-off series, Beyond Paradise, which launched in 2023.

We’ve put together a guide to all of Death In Paradise’s main characters – including those who have since left the show – complete with information about where else you might have seen the actors…

## **Ralf Little plays Detective Inspector Neville Parker**

Originally from Manchester, DI Neville Parker took over as the new Honoré Police inspector after the departure of DI Jack Mooney (Ardal O’Hanlon). When Neville first arrived on the island, he hated it, partly due to being allergic to mosquito bites. After solving his first case, he collapsed and was declared unfit to travel for a month. He planned to fly back home at the next opportunity, but after talking with a blind actress about facing up to her problems, Neville changed his mind and decided to stay on the island full-time.

After developing romantic feelings for DS Florence Cassell (Joséphine Jobert), Neville gradually adapted to life on the island, eventually warming to the lifestyle. However, Florence told him that she would prefer to remain just friends.

Later, Neville met Sophie Chambers (Chelsea Edge), a traveller from Manchester. Although the two started a relationship, it later transpired that Sophie had orchestrated the entire thing. In revenge for the suicide of her sister, for which she blamed Neville, Sophie tried to frame him for murder. However, the truth was ultimately revealed, and Sophie was sent to prison.

At the age of 18, Ralf was cast as Antony Royle in the BBC sitcom The Royle Family, and he appeared regularly for all three series until 2000, before returning for three Christmtas specials in 2006, 2009 and 2010. In 2001, he was cast in a new BBC sitcom, Two Pints Of Lager And A Packet Of Crisps, in which he played Johnny Keogh. He remained in the show for the first six series, but when he decided not to return for series seven, his character was killed off. Ralf also appeared in an episode of Death In Paradise called A Dash Of Sunshine in 2013 in a one-off guest role, several years before he was cast as DI Neville Parker. In 2014, he starred in the six-part BBC drama Our Zoo, playing Billy Atkinson. Like several of his Death In Paradise predecessors, Ralf has made a guest appearance in Doctor Who. He played the part of Steadfast in a 2017 episode called Smile.

## **Don Warrington plays Commissioner Selwyn Patterson**

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