The Worst Episodes of Midsomer Murders

#1 Worst Episode
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5.9/10(1006 votes)
#1 - Dressed to Kill
S23:E411/10/2024
The residents of the village of Elverton-Cum-Latterly gather for the annual domino tournament. This year, the tournament has interim competition from a drag queen event to benefit charity. This creates friction - and soon one of the domino players is found dead. But who was behind it? It's up to Barnaby to find the answer.
Directors:Paul Gibson, Leon Lopez
Writer:Maria Ward
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Directors:Paul Gibson, Leon Lopez
Writer:Maria Ward
6.3/10(1086 votes)
#2 - Blood on the Saddle
S13:E39/8/2010
Ford Florey is a town with a Wild West Society and many grudges. During a Wild West show at the local fayre, the witch on the 'Dunk the Witch' stall is well and truly dunked. Laughter turns to horror when she doesn't get up and the water in the tank starts to turn red. Barnaby and Jones need to be quick on the draw to track down the murderer.
Director:Richard Holthouse
Writer:David Harsent
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Director:Richard Holthouse
Writer:David Harsent
6.4/10(971 votes)
#3 - The Night of the Stag
S14:E610/12/2011
A tax inspector goes missing as he tries to track down the maker of an illicit, potent cider popular among the residents of Midsomer Abbas. Barnaby and Jones have a murder investigation on their hands when the man's body is found floating in a vat at the village's spring fair, where the duo are sampling the local brew
Director:Simon Langton
Writer:Nicholas Martin
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Director:Simon Langton
Writer:Nicholas Martin
6.5/10(677 votes)
#4 - The Witches of Angel's Rise
S22:E68/27/2023
Each year, the village of Angel's Rise hosts the Psychic Fayre. Founded by the Saint-Stephens family in memory of their late daughter, the event attracts mediums, psychics, and followers of the occult. When a body is found surrounded by ritual symbols on the eve of the festival, Barnaby must step into the spiritual world to find the killer.
Director:Gill Wilkinson
Writer:Maria Ward
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Director:Gill Wilkinson
Writer:Maria Ward
6.6/10(959 votes)
#5 - The Wolf Hunter of Little Worthy
S22:E14/4/2021
After a local photographer wins an urban myth competition with his creation of The Wolf Hunter, it unexpectedly gains a cult following.
Director:Matt Carter
Writer:Chris Murray
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Director:Matt Carter
Writer:Chris Murray
6.7/10(848 votes)
#6 - Breaking the Chain
S18:E31/27/2016
An international cycling competition goes through the village of Burwood Mantle and after the race leader is murdered, DCI Barnaby and DS Nelson find themselves involved in a competitive world of blackmail, bribery and bloodshed where winning matters at any cost.
Director:Rob Evans
Writer:Chris Murray
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Director:Rob Evans
Writer:Chris Murray

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The 20 BEST Episodes of Midsomer Murders

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6.9/10(757 votes)
#7 - The Blacktrees Prophecy
S23:E14/14/2024
When a doomsdayer is found murdered in his bombproof shelter, a dark conspiracy is revealed - how far people will go to escape the end of the world?
Director:Roberto Bangura
Writer:Jeff Povey
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Director:Roberto Bangura
Writer:Jeff Povey
6.9/10(629 votes)
#8 - A Grain of Truth
S23:E37/23/2024
Tom and Chrissie Larkton are baking superstars. They run a bakery from an old water mill, but rumor has it that they are looking to expand, and that is not popular in the area. Is that why someone is apparently trying to poison Chrissie?
Director:Paul Gibson
Writer:Julia Gilbert
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Director:Paul Gibson
Writer:Julia Gilbert
7.0/10(1118 votes)
#9 - Bantling Boy
S8:E51/16/2005
DCI Tom Barnaby and Sgt Dan Scott investigate the murders of a horse-racing syndicate.
Director:Sarah Hellings
Writer:Steve Trafford
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Director:Sarah Hellings
Writer:Steve Trafford
7.0/10(946 votes)
#10 - The Magician's Nephew
S11:E56/14/2008
Jean Wildacre dies suspiciously during a performance as assistant to local magician Aloysius Wilmington, and Barnaby & Jones are called in. They have to investigate the relationships of Midsomer's Magic Circle, a group of old friends whose activities spun off a new cult, and led to long-running animosities. Soon they are looking for colorful South American poison-dart frogs, as the death count rises
Director:Richard Holthouse
Writer:Michael Russell
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Director:Richard Holthouse
Writer:Michael Russell
7.0/10(861 votes)
#11 - Written in the Stars
S15:E39/25/2012
As darkness covers Midsomer Stanton during a total eclipse of the sun, amateur astronomer Jeremy Harper is killed by blow to the head with a meteorite. Barnaby and Jones are called in to investigate, and the duo discover that intrigue, sexual tension and academic rivalry are rife among the local stargazing community. Murder mystery, guest starring Maureen Lipman and Kenny Ireland, with Neil Dudgeon and Jason Hughes
Director:Renny Rye
Writer:Steve Trafford
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Director:Renny Rye
Writer:Steve Trafford
7.0/10(730 votes)
#12 - Send in the Clowns
S20:E611/7/2019
Things take a gruesome turn when Ferabbees Circus comes to town, bringing with it a chain of sinister clown sightings, threatening notes and deathly dangerous circus acts. Barnaby will have to face up to his fears in order to solve the case.
Director:Nicholas Laughland
Writer:Julia Gilbert
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Director:Nicholas Laughland
Writer:Julia Gilbert
7.1/10(1189 votes)
#13 - Who Killed Cock Robin?
S4:E49/9/2001
Dr Burgess, on his way home from a party at the glamorous Francesca Ward's riding school, knocks a stranger down in the road at Newton Magna, and the stranger mysteriously vanishes. Barnaby identifies the missing man as Sean O'Connell, a disgraced Irish vet, then he recognizes the village's new squire as Melvyn Stockard, a retired villain. A body found in a well proves to be the father of the man Stockard's daughter is about to marry... everyone knows he was against the marriage, but is Stockard a killer, and where does the missing Irishman fit in?
Director:David Tucker
Writer:Jeremy Paul
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Director:David Tucker
Writer:Jeremy Paul
7.1/10(872 votes)
#14 - Death by Persuasion
S19:E55/13/2018
A young journalist, seemingly interested in the village's healthcare drone delivery program, is murdered when she slips away from a Jane Austen event dressed in period attire. Barnaby has to look back in time to find answers.
Director:Alex Pillai
Writer:Chris Murray
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Director:Alex Pillai
Writer:Chris Murray
7.1/10(852 votes)
#15 - The Point of Balance
S21:E11/21/2020
When a former ballroom-dance champion is found dead with tulle stuffed in her mouth after the opening gala of the Paramount Dance Extravaganza, Barnaby and Winter go toe-to-toe with rival dancers, jealous partners, and suspicious corporate sponsors. Meanwhile, Barnaby contends with a visit from his estranged father.
Director:Audrey Cooke
Writer:Unknown
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Director:Audrey Cooke
Writer:Unknown
7.1/10(756 votes)
#16 - The Sting of Death
S21:E32/11/2020
Barnaby and Winter are called to the stately home of a master beekeeper after he is injured attempting to apprehend a thief. The village of Granville Norton is abuzz with news of the missing bees, and suspicions fly when one of the locals is stung to death.
Director:Matt Carter
Writer:Julia Gilbert
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Director:Matt Carter
Writer:Julia Gilbert
7.1/10(577 votes)
#17 - Book of the Dead
S24:E212/30/2025
Barnaby must crack the clues to find the killer of a writer who sparked a nationwide treasure hunt.
Director:Gill Wilkinson
Writer:Jeff Povey
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Director:Gill Wilkinson
Writer:Jeff Povey
7.2/10(1299 votes)
#18 - Electric Vendetta
S4:E39/2/2001
A man's naked body is found in a crop circle, then another dead man electrocuted at the wheel of his vehicle, and then yet another dead man in another crop circle. Barnaby is not impressed by rumours of extra-terrestrial killings, and is sure he is dealing with a human murderer. Before he can solve the mystery, he has to fathom a forty-year-old rivalry in love, the vengeance of the loser, and the defences of the winner.
Director:Peter Smith
Writer:Terry Hodgkinson
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Director:Peter Smith
Writer:Terry Hodgkinson
7.2/10(1174 votes)
#19 - The Straw Woman
S7:E62/29/2004
When a traditional festival is revived at Midsomer Parva, it goes disastrously wrong, with the curate (or assistant priest) being burnt alive inside a straw effigy of a woman. Local property owner Alan Clifford holds a party at the Manor House, and it seems he has secrets... And then, just after finding a pig's head on the altar of the parish church, the dead curate's gay lover, the Reverend Jim Hale, dies too, seemingly of 'spontaneous combustion' - that is, he bursts into flames without any normal explanation. Barnaby refuses to believe in rumours of witchcraft and is vindicated when it proves that Hale's clothes had been sprinkled with phosphorus. Then, with Barnaby hot on the killer's trail, Liz Francis is knocked out with a candlestick and becomes the third villager to be burnt alive.
Director:Sarah Hellings
Writer:Jeff Dodds
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Director:Sarah Hellings
Writer:Jeff Dodds
7.2/10(1063 votes)
#20 - Four Funerals and a Wedding
S9:E59/24/2006
Barnaby's mother-in-law comes to visit, and insists on being taken to the village of Broughton, which has seen a war between the sexes for decades. During this year's traditional fair, elderly women's campaigner Mildred Danvers is murdered. And then the misogynist vicar, the Rev Anthony Gant, is murdered during a bizarre traditional event that forms part of the proceedings. Is this an evening of the score, or is another long-standing feud responsible?
Director:Sarah Hellings
Writer:Elizabeth-Anne Wheal
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Director:Sarah Hellings
Writer:Elizabeth-Anne Wheal
7.2/10(933 votes)
#21 - The Noble Art
S13:E610/13/2010
Local boxer John Kinsella's successful world title bid stirs up hidden passions among the residents of Midsomer Morchard. As plans to stage a celebratory re-enactment of a Victorian prizefight shape up, jealousy, betrayal and blackmail take a ringside seat, while two suspicious deaths suggest Barnaby has let friendship cloud his judgement. Detective drama, guest starring Phil Daniels (formerly EastEnders' Kevin Wicks)
Director:Richard Holthouse
Writer:Barry Purchese
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Director:Richard Holthouse
Writer:Barry Purchese
7.2/10(899 votes)
#22 - Days of Misrule
S11:E67/5/2008
It is Christmas and DCI Barnaby deals with an explosion and some killings near a freight company, at the same time as trying to deal with his acting CS who has very strong beliefs about teamwork.
Director:Renny Rye
Writer:Elizabeth-Anne Wheal
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Director:Renny Rye
Writer:Elizabeth-Anne Wheal
7.2/10(862 votes)
#23 - The Sleeper Under the Hill
S14:E59/21/2011
When the body of a farmer is found in the middle of a stone circle in Midsomer Mow, suspicion points at local druids. The murdered man had planned to plough Gorse Meadow, making Crowcall Circle inaccessible to the group led by high priests Ezra and Leticia. Barnaby and Jones are joined in their investigation by new pathologist Kate Wilding. The body left on the bloodstone is her first assignment, but Kate doesn’t shock easily.
Director:Nicholas Laughland
Writer:David Harsent
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Director:Nicholas Laughland
Writer:David Harsent
7.2/10(857 votes)
#24 - The Incident at Cooper Hill
S18:E21/13/2016
Forest ranger Felicity Ford is blinded by mysterious lights while driving at night in the village of Cooper Hill and the next morning her car is found abandoned at the roadside, followed closely by the discovery of her body. Visiting UFO spotters in the village are convinced aliens are responsible, but as Barnaby and Nelson try to get to the truth, they unearth suspicions, betrayals and long-buried secrets along the way.
Director:Renny Rye
Writer:Paul Logue
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Director:Renny Rye
Writer:Paul Logue
7.2/10(827 votes)
#25 - The Lions of Causton
S20:E48/26/2019
Barnaby gets to relive his former sporting glory when a death at the local Rugby Club sends Barnaby and Winter into a muddle of rucks, grudges, romance… and artisanal chocolates?
Director:Matt Carter
Writer:Nicholas Hicks-Beach
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Director:Matt Carter
Writer:Nicholas Hicks-Beach