Death by Cheddar... and other cosy kills

Midsomer Murders' irresistible blend of British eccentricity, village life and ludicrous acts of homicide has made it the UK's biggest drama export. Now, in a killer move, the show is going on its first stage tour

- James Rampton

AMERICAN fans of Midsomer Murders need never worry about missing a single episode. In the States, there is an entire TV channel dedicated to broadcasting ITV's widely loved detective series 24 hours a day.

No doubt the show's legions of ardent devotees feel as if they are permanently floating in a glorious Midsomer Night's Dream.

The US is just one of 200 territories around the world where the long-running show featuring gentle, ever-so-polite killings against the backdrop of a picture-perfect English village is hugely popular.

Midsomer Murders tops the ratings in many places, including Germany, Scandinavia and the Baltics. It is no surprise to learn that it is the UK's biggest drama export.

Worldwide audiences can't get enough of these well-mannered murder mysteries, which are invariably solved by the dogged Detective Chief Inspector John Barnaby (Neil Dudgeon).

Aficionados all over the globe are passionate about the irresistible combination of idyllic English countryside, idiosyncratic characters, delicious campness and bloodless, often ludicrous murders.

Located in the fictional English county of Midsomer, the drama has proved a winner in so many countries because it hit upon the concept of "cosy crime" before that was even a thing.

To underline its popularity, a stage adaptation of the first ever TV episode, The Killings at Badger's Drift, is on a nationwide tour.

In a neat touch, the play stars Daniel Casey as Detective Chief Inspector Barnaby. The actor previously played Barnaby's assistant, Sergeant Troy, in the TV version.

The poster for the play features a broken teacup decorated with a picture of a murder victim and a sponge cake dripping blood in a ravishing English country garden. This is the ideal emblem for the series, which serves up a little light murder amongst the cricket, croquet and cream teas.