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Post by Nathan on Mar 23, 2021 15:00:12 GMT
Its hard to believe its been around as long as Frost or Heartbeat (18 years) I used to watch it because Nettles used to insist on driving a Rover 75 (he's a big fan of them). A friend of mine managed to buy one of Barnaby's cars a few years back.  I think my favourite of the earlier episodes was the one with the bizarre book club (Season 5?) where they all were really making a fortune on the stock market. Definitely the case now. 24 years and still running, and the main star left 10 years ago. Is it really as popular as it used to be? Like the soaps Midsomer Murders will probably never end and be kept alive. I am sure there are plenty books out there waiting to be adapted and freshen things up. |
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Post by CAEF on Mar 23, 2021 15:33:10 GMT
In those earlier shows Barnaby lived in or on the outskirts of Causton (the main town) and this helped keep a balance between rural and town life but moving him to one of the villages was a mistake IMO as this put him right in the middle of everything and it started to feel forced, almost like “oh look, here I am at the scene of yet another murder, wasn’t it handy I was in the area. In real life they rarely let cops investigate their friends and neighbours! Also in the early epsidoes, Barnaby had a different personality to the boring staid copper he was 2000-2011. He was more abrasive and even used mild aggression to suspects, and seemed a bit of a woman hater when he occasionally insulted them, and threatened to wipe the fake bruises off that lady if she did not do it herself. Many, many big name stars have been in MM, from James Bolam to Laila Rouass. Yet MM still has not signed up Stephanie Beacham, David Jason or John Cleese. Imagine if David Jason did MM, that would put the cherry on the cake for celeb guesties in the show. |
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Post by roverman on Mar 23, 2021 15:38:13 GMT
The fact none of those three have done MM kinda tells you it’s level of credibility....
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Post by CAEF on Mar 23, 2021 15:40:35 GMT
The fact none of those three have done MM kinda tells you it’s level of credibility.... How do you mean? Would they see it as beneath them? |
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Post by roverman on Mar 23, 2021 18:06:21 GMT
I think they would, given where ITV is placing itself these days.
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Post by CAEF on Mar 23, 2021 18:29:26 GMT
David Jason and the other two may have agreed to MM if it was in the first few years of the show. Now the show has taken a back seat with hiring big name stars and is hiring more unknown actors. John Nettles was a big name star and he was the star of the show for 14 years.
Barnaby and Frost have been overtaken by Vera as the oldest copper around. Vera must be about 70. Brenda Blethyn is 75.
I feel that after a few series, John Nettles lost his mojo and just phoned in his performances as Barnaby, I think he may have done it for the money and nothing else by about 2000.
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Post by Lotty27 on Mar 23, 2021 19:43:50 GMT
Gotta admit, I still enjoy it! It's relaxing, comfy telly which I'll probably continue to watch if they continue to make it. I don't take it seriously at all and I know what I'm getting. The death's are often imaginative and make me laugh - especially this weeks 'bees' episode  |
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Post by CAEF on Mar 25, 2021 13:15:41 GMT
I have some old Bergerac on DVD and in many ways Jim Bergerac is similar to Barnaby, quite laconic and softly spoken, but Jim was more of an action man as John Nettles was much younger in those days.
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Post by Nathan on Mar 25, 2021 18:59:24 GMT
Gotta admit, I still enjoy it! It's relaxing, comfy telly which I'll probably continue to watch if they continue to make it. I don't take it seriously at all and I know what I'm getting. The death's are often imaginative and make me laugh - especially this weeks 'bees' episode That's good. I guess it is better than what British television has to offer these days. Unfortunately I have only seen a couple of Neil's episodes, I stopped watching when Tom left ten years ago. |
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Post by CAEF on Mar 25, 2021 23:07:36 GMT
Jake Wood may get an MM role now he has left Easties.
Peter Dean would have been good in Midsomer Murders as an eccentric old man, and have a Pete Beale personality as well. He is still doing a bit of acting.
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Post by butterball on Oct 5, 2021 16:19:29 GMT
A new MM on at the weekend, saw it yesterday on Iplayer, not too bad although Neil Dudgeon is getting a bit old and clunky now.
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Post by CAEF on Oct 5, 2021 17:45:36 GMT
The first Barnaby was past retirement age by about 2000. Coppers usually retire at 55. He was almost that when the show begun. Character is the same age as the actor.
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Post by Nathan on Oct 20, 2021 20:27:03 GMT
Their ages are nothing compared to Vera or Frost.
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