Midsomer Murders' future finally revealed after exit fears for fan favourite

Midsomer Murdersfans are finally getting an update about the popular ITV detective drama series. It has been confirmed that the ITV show will be back on our screens soon after it was recommissioned for a new series.

The ITV detective drama is very popular among fans but there has been little update about the future of the show. The previous series was interrupted by various schedule changes during its four feature length episode run.

It has now been confirmed that a 26th series will air on our screens soon and will star Neil Dudgeon as DCI Barnaby and Nick Hendrix as his sidekick DS Winter. Annette Badland will return as pathologist Dr Fleur Perkins and Fiona Dolman is back as Barnaby’s wife Sarah.

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ITV’s Drama Commissioner Huw Kennair Jones said: "We’re thrilled to be returning to Midsomer with Barnaby and Winter. Series 26 promises to deliver four brilliant brand new cases for the legion of Midsomer Murders fans to enjoy."

Executive producer Michele Buck added: "We are so pleased to be able to bring viewers more tales from the fascinating world of Midsomer Murders with this series 26 commission."

There had been real fears there was an exit on the cards for Neil - who replaced the original Detective Chief Inspector Barnaby, played by John Nettles - as well as his co-star Annette.

"It's brilliant to play an older woman who's got a very interesting private life and who is very good at her job and can send the blokes up and intrigue them and things. It's terrific, you know, and there should be more - and they exist in real life - characters like that, really," she said previously about holding the role of Fleur on the ITV show.

Neil also admitted he feared being "cancelled" after his first series in the role. He said: "If they'd cancelled me after one series, that would have been embarrassing! It gets easier, but I try to keep it fresh. Even if I've gone through the script 50 times, I'll look at it again and have another thought. It's still extremely pleasant and I'm extremely grateful."

Last year, fans were left puzzled when the detective drama - which usually sits in the Sunday evening slot on ITV1 - was switched out in favour of ITV's big thriller drama series Red Eye, starring Richard Armitage after one episode.

The rest of the detective drama series was eventually broadcasted on ITV.

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