Midsomer Murders, the popular ITV series, celebrates 25 years this year. There have been 22 series and 128 episodes since Midsomer Murders began in 1997, and a new series is currently in production. It is quite simply one of the bestselling TV series ever to emanate from the UK, and it is estimated that a billion people globally have seen it in over 200 countries.
Thame is one of the most filmed locations in the fictional Midsomer County. To celebrate 25 years of Midsomer Murders and Thame’s role as a major filming Midsomer location, Thame Museum are holding an exhibition devoted to the history of Midsomer Murders, highlighting filming locations in Thame and surrounding area, and providing insights into the story behind the show. Entry to the exhibition is free.
Amongst the topics covered will be - the history of Midsomer Murders and how it began in 1997; the books on which it is based; the main actors who have appeared in 128 episodes to date; some of the bizarre ways in which people have been murdered and the weapons used.
There will be displays of images depicting different scenes used in the series, including some of the 23 Thame venues used as filming locations, as well as locations in nearby villages. There will also be an introduction to the theremin, the weird electronic instrument that is heard in the Midsomer theme tune, with an opportunity to have a go at playing a theremin yourself.
Thame is the only Midsomer location to hold regular walking tours of the town, taking in the main filming locations. These tours are conducted by Thame Midsomer Tours every Wednesday from April to October. During the exhibition, there will be Saturday tours as well as Wednesday tours. The guides who conduct them are all volunteers and two thirds of the proceeds from ticket sales goes to worthy causes including Thame Museum.
Neil Dudgeon, who has been playing Detective Chief Inspector Barnaby since 2011,made thiscomment while on location filming Series 23, "What a wonderful idea to celebrate 25 years of Midsomer Murders in one of our favourite and most oft-used locations in Thame. It is such an honour to work on a show that is so beloved by so many around the world and that has now reached its Silver Jubilee! Thank you to the organisers and volunteers who are making the exhibition possible and to everyone who has supported and enjoyed the show for so long!”
Visitors to the exhibition will be able to take selfies next to a replica of the Causton Town Hall sign and there are opportunities to purchase exclusive commemorative merchandise including mugs, tea towels, t-shirts and signed copies of a book about Midsomer written by Tony Long, one of the Midsomer guides.
This is an exhibition which is bound to intrigue and fascinate diehard fans in Midsomer County, in the UK more generally, and across the world, as well as anyone with an interest in the history of Thame and surrounding area.
Thame Museum are grateful for the support of Bentley Productions, the producers of Midsomer Murders, in staging this exhibition. Without their generous assistance, this commemorative exhibition would not have been possible.
