Midsomer Murders turns 25 in 2022 and to celebrate a quarter century of DCI Barnaby unraveling the murderous deeds of rural folk, Pitkin are launching a guide that pinpoints the most popular locations used for filming the series.

The first episode, The Killing at Badger’s Drift, was an immediate ratings success in 1997 when John Nettles returned to television as DCI Tom Barnaby after ten years of playing Sergeant Jim Bergerac. Nettles went on to star in 81 episodes of Midsomer Murders before retiring in 2010 and handing over to his cousin John Barnaby. The series is sold around the world, and in Europe is known as ‘Barnaby’, so it needed a DCI Barnaby at the helm. Actor Neil Dudgeon, who actually appeared as an amorous gardener in Series 4 ‘Garden of the Dead’, took the part.

The location guide highlights some of the familiar pubs, churches, villages and countryside that can be visited. The Lions at Bledlow has been five different pubs in its Midsomer lifetime, while The Crown in Sydenham can claim at least three. Villages clustered around the Oxfordshire/Buckinghamshire border - Turville, Hambledon, Fingest, Haddenham and Long Crendon are favourite backdrops.

While many of the grand country houses are private residences, a few, such as Mapledurham and Greycourt, are administered by the National Trust. Plus there are many ancient churches to admire, quite often the scene of grisly goings on in the vestry. Ask Mark Gatiss about the Sword of Guillaume!

With all 128 episodes available on BritBox fans of the show can watch old episodes with the Midsomer Murders Location Guide in hand and spot exactly where Inspector Barnaby brings the sometimes unlikely villains to book.