Honestly, it’s kind of a miracle. Most TV shows start to feel like a chore by season five, yet here we are talking about Midsomer Murders Series 25. It is the television equivalent of a comfortable old cardigan that somehow has a bloodstain on the sleeve that nobody wants to talk about. You’d think a small English county would run out of people to kill after nearly three decades, but the body count in Midsomer remains impressively, almost hilariously, high.
Neil Dudgeon is still steering the ship. He’s been John Barnaby for over a decade now, which is wild when you realize he’s actually surpassed the original Barnaby, John Nettles, in terms of total episodes. People were skeptical when the "new guy" took over back in 2011. Now? He’s the fixture. Along with Nick Hendrix as DS Jamie Winter, the duo has found a rhythm that works because it doesn't try too hard. They aren't gritty. They aren't "prestige TV" detectives with dark backstories and drinking problems. They’re just guys in well-pressed suits trying to figure out why someone was impaled by a giant wheel of cheese or crushed by a rack of wine.
What is actually going on with Midsomer Murders Series 25?
If you're looking for a release date, you have to look at the weird way ITV distributes this show. It’s basically a jigsaw puzzle. They don't just drop a whole season at once like Netflix. Instead, we get these sporadic "specials" or mini-blocks. For Midsomer Murders Series 25, the production cycle kicked off with the usual quiet fanfare in the UK countryside.
The formula hasn't changed because it doesn't need to. Every episode is essentially a 90-minute movie. They’ve stuck to the four-episode-per-series format that has defined the modern era of the show. People often get confused because US audiences on Acorn TV or BritBox often see these episodes months—sometimes even a year—before they actually air on ITV in the UK. It’s a bizarre licensing quirk that makes tracking the "official" premiere of Series 25 feel like a detective job in itself.
Expect the usual suspects in the supporting cast. Fiona Dolman is back as Sarah Barnaby, and yes, Sykes the dog is long gone, but Paddy remains the loyal canine companion. The show’s DNA is built on these domestic bookends. You start with a brutal, creative murder in a village that looks like a postcard, you spend an hour watching Barnaby look mildly annoyed at eccentric locals, and you end with him having a glass of wine in his kitchen. It’s predictable. It’s soothing. It’s exactly what the audience wants.
The weird physics of Midsomer deaths
Let's be real: we don't watch this for the gritty realism. We watch it for the "creative" kills. Over the years, we’ve seen people killed by toxic frogs, liquid nicotine, and falling masonry at a fake funeral. Midsomer Murders Series 25 continues this tradition of theatrical homicide.
👉 See also: Is Heroes and Villains Legit? What You Need to Know Before Buying
The writers have a tough job. They have to find new ways to kill people in a way that feels "Midsomer." You can't just have a boring shooting. It has to be something tied to a local niche hobby. Think taxidermy, competitive bell-ringing, or high-stakes organic farming. The show leans into the "Cozy Mystery" subgenre but adds a splash of the macabre that borders on folk horror. That’s the secret sauce. It’s The Wicker Man but with better catering and more polite dialogue.
Why the ratings stay so high
Critics used to dump on this show. They called it stagnant. They called it "twee." But those critics missed the point. In a world where every other detective show is trying to be True Detective or some grim Scandinavian noir where it rains 24/7, Midsomer is sun-drenched and green. It offers a version of England that doesn't really exist—a land of thatched cottages and village fetes where the biggest problem (besides the serial killer) is who won the Best Jam competition.
Audiences globally—from Denmark to Australia—devour this. There is a specific comfort in knowing that no matter how weird the crime is, Barnaby will solve it by the time the credits roll. There’s no "to be continued." No cliffhangers that leave you frustrated for six months. It’s a complete meal.
Production secrets of the 25th series
Filming usually takes place in the Chilterns, specifically around Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. If you ever visit towns like Wallingford or Thame, you’ll feel like you’ve walked onto a crime scene, mostly because you have. For Series 25, the production team has doubled down on the visual aesthetic. High-definition cameras make those rolling hills look even greener, which provides a stark, almost surreal contrast to the dead body found in the hedgerow.
The guest stars remain a huge draw. Midsomer has always been a "who's who" of British character actors. Before they were famous, people like Henry Cavill, Olivia Colman, and Orlando Bloom did their time in Midsomer. Series 25 features the usual mix of West End veterans and up-and-coming talent. Seeing a legendary Shakespearean actor play a disgruntled bee-keeper is part of the fun.
✨ Don't miss: Jack Blocker American Idol Journey: What Most People Get Wrong
Addressing the "Stuck in the Past" rumors
Every few years, someone writes an article claiming the show is out of touch. They say it needs to modernize. The producers have actually listened to this, but in a very subtle way. Midsomer Murders Series 25 handles modern themes—social media, tech start-ups, environmental activism—but it filters them through the lens of a village green.
It’s a smart move. If the show became too "edgy," it would lose its core identity. It stays relevant by acknowledging the 21st century while firmly keeping one foot in a 1950s detective novel. It’s a tightrope walk. They managed to introduce more diversity into the cast over the last few years without making it feel like a corporate mandate; it just feels like the world finally caught up to the Midsomer borders.
Tracking the Series 25 episode list
While the exact titles sometimes shift during post-production, the themes for this cycle involve some classic tropes.
- The first episode typically involves a long-standing family feud that finally boils over during a public event.
- The second often pivots to a more "modern" setting, like a retreat or a boutique hotel, where the isolation creates a closed-room mystery.
- Episode three usually leans into the occult or local folklore—think ghosts or ancient curses that turn out to be very human greed.
- The finale usually goes big, often involving a historical tie-in to the village’s past.
It’s a rhythm that fans can set their watches to.
What most people get wrong about the show
A common misconception is that the show is "grandma TV." Sure, grandmas love it. But the demographics are shifting. There’s a younger generation of "ironic" viewers who have turned into genuine fans. They love the campiness. They love the "Midsomer Bingo" aspect—checking off things like "Barnaby sighs at a hobby," "Winter gets chased by an animal," or "The murderer's motive is incredibly petty."
🔗 Read more: Why American Beauty by the Grateful Dead is Still the Gold Standard of Americana
Another myth: that it's easy to write. Writing a 90-minute mystery that keeps people guessing but isn't so complex it becomes annoying is actually incredibly difficult. The writers have to plant clues in plain sight while distracting you with a subplot about a local choir or a dispute over a fence line. It's a craft.
How to watch Series 25 without the headache
If you are in the UK, keep your eyes on ITV1 and ITVX. The scheduling is notoriously erratic. They might show two episodes in January and the rest in the autumn. It’s maddening, but that’s the ITV way.
For those in the US, Acorn TV is usually your best bet. They tend to get the "World Premiere" rights for several episodes. If you're a die-hard fan, it's worth the subscription just to avoid the spoilers coming out of the British tabloids.
The future of the franchise
Is there a Series 26? Almost certainly. As long as the international sales remain strong, ITV has no reason to kill their golden goose. Neil Dudgeon has expressed in multiple interviews that he’s happy to keep going. He likes the routine. He likes the cast. He likes the fact that he gets to spend his summers in the nicest parts of England.
The show has become an institution. It’s like the BBC’s Casualty or Doctor Who—it’s just part of the cultural furniture now. Even if you don't watch every episode, you like knowing it's there.
Your Midsomer viewing plan
If you want to get the most out of Midsomer Murders Series 25, don't binge it. This isn't a show designed for a 6-hour marathon. It's designed for a Sunday night when you want the world to slow down.
- Check the local listings weekly. Because ITV doesn't follow a standard "fall season" schedule, the episodes often "pop up" with only a week's notice.
- Pay attention to the background. The production design often hides clues in the set dressing that the characters don't mention until the final ten minutes.
- Watch the older episodes for context. While the stories are standalone, the character development of the Barnaby family happens slowly over years. Seeing how Sarah and John’s relationship has evolved adds a layer of warmth to the procedural elements.
- Embrace the absurdity. If a murder seems impossible or the motive seems too small, remember that's the point. It’s a heightened reality.
The world of Midsomer is a strange, lethal, beautiful place. Series 25 is just another chapter in a book that seems to have no ending. Enjoy the scenery, ignore the logic gaps, and try not to get murdered by a falling church bell.