Case file · Series 14, Episode 5 · Season 14, Episode 5
The Sleeper Under the Hill
A farmer's body at an ancient stone circle appears to confirm the worst suspicions about a local Druid group.
The 60-second case card
Should I watch this one?
Ritual imagery and an archaeological treasure hunt sit over a case whose strongest manipulation is thoroughly modern.
- Best for
- Stone circle · Druids · Buried treasure
- Mood
- Eccentric
- Team
- DCI John Barnaby with DS Ben Jones
- Spoiler guidance
- Read the premise freely; open the marked sections only after watching. Check the linked provider advisory for further viewing information.
Why it matters
Ritual imagery and an archaeological treasure hunt sit over a case whose strongest manipulation is thoroughly modern.
Farmer Alex Preston is found dead at the centre of Crowcall stone circle shortly before the spring equinox. He had planned to plough the meadow, bringing him into open conflict with the New Dawn Druids who regard the site as sacred.
When a member of the Druid group is also killed, Barnaby looks beyond the apparent religious feud. Maps pointing towards Anglo-Saxon treasure, a valuable painting and tensions within the police investigation redirect the case towards people who know how to turn belief into leverage.
Break the seal: reveal the finding
Who was the killer in The Sleeper Under the Hill? (spoiler)
The Druid conflict is exploited as camouflage. The maps, treasure and painting reveal a manipulator who has arranged both the crimes and the suspicions surrounding them.
Spoiler-safe viewing companion
Three questions to carry into the episode
Three spoiler-safe questions for your rewatch.
- Place
What does Midsomer Mow conceal?
- Theme
Which details could have more than one meaning?
- Teamwork
Watch DCI John Barnaby and DS Ben Jones: who notices what?
More episode detailsProduction, cast, deaths and filming information
Credits, context and checked facts
Production and cast
- TV series
- Series 14
- Episode number
- Episode 5
- Written by
- David Lawrence
- Directed by
- Nick Laughland
- Listed transmission date(s)
- 21 September 2011
- Reported filming period
- March–April 2011
- Detective
- DCI John Barnaby
- Partner
- DS Ben Jones
- Pathologist
- Dr Kate Wilding · Tamzin Malleson
- Principal setting
- Midsomer Mow
- Casebook tone
- Eccentric
Sources accompany the production credits and filming links.
Fictional settings and real filming places are listed separately. Filming links include 1 mapped area; 2 exact sites.
Credits and archive connections
- Writer credits5 episodes credited to David Lawrence
- Director credits9 episodes directed by Nick Laughland
- Release positionCase 86 of 144
- Story characterEccentric · Stone circle · Druids
- Location evidence2 exact screen-use matches
Tamzin Malleson makes her first appearance as Dr Kate Wilding, the pathologist who succeeds George Bullard.
The inquiry deliberately places Barnaby and Jones on opposing interpretations before the evidence brings them back together.
Sources for the production file
Published episode chronology and credits ↗Official ITV programme page ↗Filming-location reference index ↗Credits follow the linked chronology. Dates can differ between territories. Consult original credits for story, teleplay and adaptation wording. External synopses may contain spoilers.
Selected episode credits
The Sleeper Under the Hill cast
These selected cast entries link to their published profiles. They do not include every name shown in the end credits.
Fiona Dolman
Susan Brown
Claudia Harrison
Lee Ross
Colin Tarrant
Alan Williams
Noah Huntley
Robert Pugh
Justin Shevlin
Richard Leaf
The performers behind this case
Core cast
Follow the cast links for full actor and character guides.
Neil Dudgeon
John Barnaby · Detective Chief Inspector- Messiah
- Life of Riley
- The Mrs Bradley Mysteries
Jason Hughes
Ben Jones · Police Constable · Detective Sergeant · Inspector- This Life
- Marcella
- The Pact
Tamzin Malleson
Dr Kate Wilding · Police pathologist- Teachers
- Bodies
- Unforgotten
Image credits identify the licence used. No programme publicity stills are reproduced.
Forensic team
Dr Kate Wilding
- Credit
- Resident pathologist
- Played by
- Tamzin Malleson
Spoiler-controlled deaths
Deaths recorded in this case
3 people die in this case, according to the linked death record.
Break the seal: reveal the list of deaths
- Alex Preston
Murder · Blunt force
Performer check- Alex Preston: Justin Shevlin
- Leticia Clifford
Murder · Stabbing or impalement
Performer check- Leticia Clifford: Susan Brown
- Sgt. Trevor Gibson
Murder · Drowning
Performer check- Sgt. Trevor Gibson: Lee Ross
Break a second seal: reveal the verified killer
Who was the killer in The Sleeper Under the Hill? (spoiler)
Caradoc Singer · Sgt. Trevor GibsonSinger manipulated Gibson into killing Alex Preston and Leticia Clifford and staging both deaths to implicate the Druids while they concealed the Saxon treasure. Singer then killed Gibson when he tried to flee; Singer's instigation and Gibson's physical killings remain distinct.
Verified motive
Singer's compulsion to possess the Gorse Meadow Saxon treasure drove the scheme: Alex wanted to report the find lawfully and Leticia's investigation threatened its concealment. Singer used Gibson to remove them and frame the Druids, then killed Gibson when his accomplice tried to flee and could expose the collection and murders.
Verified important clue
Archive case 86 · checked 16 September 2026The hidden room containing Singer's art collectionThe different room visible in Singer's own recorded tour reveals a concealed gallery of valuable works and exposes his supposed poverty as a cover; the collection supplies the ownership obsession behind his pursuit of the Saxon treasure and his manipulation of Gibson, while the staged Awen brooch keeps their roles distinct.
Verified decisive clue
Archive case 86 · checked 17 September 2026The hidden room containing Singer's art collectionThe different room visible in Singer's recorded tour reveals a concealed gallery of valuable works and exposes his supposed poverty as a cover. The collection explains his obsession with the Saxon treasure and manipulation of Gibson, preserving Singer as instigator, Gibson as the first two murders' physical killer and Singer as Gibson's killer.
Verified death and discovery order
Archive case 86 · checked 16 September 2026- discoveryThe Saxon treasure is found
The Gorse Meadow find creates Singer's determination to possess the treasure and Alex Preston's intention to report it lawfully.
- deathAlex Preston is killed
Singer manipulates Sgt. Gibson into killing Alex before the farmer can report the find and disrupt its concealment.
- discoveryThe Druids are framed
Ritual staging at the stone circle directs suspicion towards the New Dawn group and away from the treasure scheme.
- deathLeticia Clifford is killed
Gibson kills Leticia under Singer's direction when her investigation threatens to expose the hidden collection.
- discoveryGibson tries to flee
The physical killer attempts to leave as the maps, painting and treasure begin to reveal Singer's manipulation.
- deathSinger kills Gibson
Singer removes his accomplice before he can expose the scheme, distinguishing Singer's instigation and final killing from Gibson's two murders.
Real place → fictional identity
Where was The Sleeper Under the Hill filmed?
Village house
Used as: A private house represents Caradoc Singer's home.
Representative photograph of the real filming location; the exact camera angle or building may differ.Village building
Used as: The building is dressed as Midsomer Mow Police Station.
Representative photograph of the real filming location; the exact camera angle or building may differ.Sources accompany the identified filming places.
Wider filming areas