GREAT NEWS FOR MYSTERY LOVERS! 
Midsomer M:urders is OFFICIALLY BACK for Series 26! 
WATCH FULL TEASE NOW: 
DCI Barnaby (Neil Dudgeon) & DS Winter (Nick Hendrix) are returning to unravel four brand-new feature-length murders in the deadliest (and prettiest) villages in England!
That’s right — 148 episodes of dark humor, eccentric k:illers, and jaw-dropping twists… and it’s only getting better!
AND for the first time ever — Barnaby is coming…

Milestone Season Brings Total to 148 Episodes, Stage Adaptation Announced, and FAST Channel Dominates ITVX Charts

LONDON – November 18, 2025 – The deadliest county in England is back in business. ITV has officially greenlit Series 26 of Midsomer Murders, the beloved British crime drama that’s been delighting mystery lovers with its lethal villages and eccentric killers since 1997. DCI John Barnaby (Neil Dudgeon) and DS Jamie Winter (Nick Hendrix) will once again trade the quiet charm of Midsomer’s thatched cottages for a fresh batch of four feature-length murders, bringing the series’ staggering total to 148 episodes. “We’re thrilled to return,” Dudgeon said at the announcement. “The show’s dark humour, clever twists, and wonderfully bonkers suspects are as strong as ever.”

Filming begins in spring 2026 across the picturesque Chilterns, Oxfordshire, and Buckinghamshire, with the new season expected to air on ITV1 and stream on ITVX in early 2027. Producers promise the classic Midsomer recipe: idyllic settings hiding dark secrets, a body count that would alarm any real police force, and Barnaby’s trademark raised eyebrow as yet another villager confesses over tea. “Midsomer is unique,” said executive producer Michele Buck. “It’s cozy, camp, and cunning all at once—and the audience can’t get enough.”

The renewal comes as Midsomer Murders enjoys a global renaissance. Its dedicated FAST channel on ITVX—launched in 2024—has consistently topped the platform’s viewership charts, outranking even Coronation Street repeats in several weeks. Internationally, the series streams on Acorn TV, BritBox, and Netflix in select territories, with Season 25 (aired 2024) averaging 6.2 million consolidated viewers per episode in the UK alone—a remarkable feat for a show entering its third decade.

In another milestone, Midsomer Murders is finally coming to the stage. A major UK tour, produced by Simon Friend Entertainment, will debut in autumn 2025, bringing Barnaby’s investigations to life with a brand-new murder mystery written by series regulars. “Imagine the audience sitting in a village hall while a body drops during the fete,” teased writer Jeff Povey. Early ticket sales have crashed regional box offices, with venues from Bath to Birmingham already adding extra dates.

Since taking over from original lead John Nettles in 2011, Dudgeon’s Barnaby—dry-witted, unflappable, and perpetually bemused by Midsomer’s homicide rate—has become a national treasure. Hendrix’s Winter, promoted to DS in 2016, provides the perfect foil: earnest, tech-savvy, and still learning not to trust anyone holding a pitchfork. The duo’s chemistry, paired with guest stars ranging from Samantha Bond to Griff Rhys Jones, keeps the formula fresh despite the show’s tongue-in-cheek repetition.

Buck hinted at ambitious plans: “Series 26 will push boundaries while staying true to what fans love—beautiful villages, bonkers murders, and Barnaby sighing ‘Not again’ as another corpse turns up in the flower show.” With 148 episodes, Midsomer Murders now ranks among Britain’s longest-running crime dramas, surpassing even Inspector Morse and closing in on Doctor Who’s episodic count.

For mystery lovers, the news is pure joy. Whether binge-watching every past episode on ITVX’s FAST channel, booking stage tickets, or simply waiting for Barnaby’s next exasperated eyebrow raise, one thing’s certain: in Midsomer, death never takes a holiday—and neither does the fun