Surprise casting as Inspector Barnaby: Midsomer Murders goes on tour!

Former Sgt Troy actor Daniel Casey is cast as Inspector Barnaby for The Killings at Badger’s Drive stage production.

You may not have known this, but Midsomer Murders is moving to the stage. While the TV show continues, a new production is planning to take Inspector Barnaby on a new adaptation. Specifically, the first TV episode, which is also the first novel of Caroline Graham’s Inspector Barnaby series, The Killings at Badger’s Drift.

A great book and a great TV adaptation, it was — unsurprisingly — voted the favourite Midsomer Murders episode.

At this point, I should say I’m a huge Midsomer Murders fan, and I’m particularly keen on the John Nettles era, in which he starred as Tom Barnaby, with Daniel Casey as his sidekick, Sgt Gavin Troy. Interestingly, Nettles doesn’t match the appearance of Barnaby as described in the novels, although his success, Neil Dudgeon, does.

The Killings at Badger’s Drift on stage

The new stage production is in rehearsals now, and is set to launch in the autumn. It’s adapted for stage and directed by Guy Unsworth, but for the stage, there is a new Inspector Barnaby…

Daniel Casey is Inspector Barnaby!

Be honest, you did not see that coming! He’s certainly an actor who has developed considerably over the years. Based on his varied TV appearances, I think he is going to be excellent in this touring stage production.

Says Casey: “It has brought back some wonderful memories of such a happy time in my career playing Sgt Troy and the fantastic time I had working with the amazing John Nettles and to be stepping into his shoes as Barnaby is both a little daunting and incredibly exciting.”

Nettles, who starred in the show from 1997 until 2010, has stated: “How wonderful that the original tale of murder and intrigue in Midsomer will be solved by Daniel, in this new stage version of Badger’s Drift.

“Daniel brought the young Troy to life so brilliantly in the original TV pilot of the book and I’m delighted that he gets to lead the investigation in this theatre adaption.”

And, interestingly, Daniel Casey is closer to Caroline Graham’s description of Tom Barnaby than John Nettles.!

So, this is a stage show, but it’s also a tour, kicking off this year, continuing into 2026, and while full tour dates can be found at midsomeronstage.com, more are likely to be added.

(Personally, I’m eyeing up the Sheffield dates…)