Guest stars · series by series
Midsomer Murders Guest Stars: Famous Faces by Episode
Familiar faces often appeared in Midsomer before audiences knew them from later screen roles. Browse these guest parts in broadcast order.
Midsomer Murders guest stars by episode
Recorded appearances by the famous guest actors featured on this page. This is a selected list, not the full cast of every episode.
| Episode | Series | Famous guest | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Killings at Badger's DriftSeries 1, Episode 1 | 1 | Jessica Hynes | Judith Lessiter |
| The Killings at Badger's DriftSeries 1, Episode 1 | 1 | Julian Glover | Henry Trace |
| Death in DisguiseSeries 1, Episode 5 | 1 | Stephen Moyer | Christopher Wainwright |
| Dead Man's ElevenSeries 2, Episode 3 | 2 | Imelda Staunton | Christine Cooper |
| Judgement DaySeries 3, Episode 3 | 3 | Tobias Menzies | Jack Dorset |
| Judgement DaySeries 3, Episode 3 | 3 | Orlando Bloom | Peter Drinkwater |
| The Green ManSeries 7, Episode 1 | 7 | Henry Cavill | Simon Mayfield |
| Bad TidingsSeries 7, Episode 2 | 7 | Ruth Jones | Rachael Rose |
| Midsomer RhapsodySeries 8, Episode 8 | 8 | Tom Ellis | Lee Smeeton |
| Dead LettersSeries 9, Episode 2 | 9 | Simon Callow | Dr. Wellow |
| Death in ChorusSeries 9, Episode 5 | 9 | Peter Capaldi | Laurence Barker |
| Small MerciesSeries 12, Episode 5 | 12 | Olivia Colman | Bernice |
| The Sword of GuillaumeSeries 13, Episode 1 | 13 | Mark Gatiss | Rev. Giles Shawcross |
| Fit for MurderSeries 13, Episode 8 | 13 | Lesley Manville | Phoebe Archbold |
| Murder by MagicSeries 17, Episode 2 | 17 | Amanda Burton | Carole Latimer |
| Saints and SinnersSeries 18, Episode 5 | 18 | Julia Sawalha | Penny Henderson |
| The Village That Rose from the DeadSeries 19, Episode 1 | 19 | Sally Phillips | Lucy Keswick |
| Crime and PunishmentSeries 19, Episode 2 | 19 | Neil Morrissey | Mitch McAllister |
| Red in Tooth & ClawSeries 19, Episode 4 | 19 | Steve Pemberton | Timothy Benson |
| The Curse of the NinthSeries 19, Episode 6 | 19 | Simon Callow | Vernon De Harthog |
| Drawing DeadSeries 20, Episode 3 | 20 | Jemma Redgrave | Dr. Juno Starling |
| Send in the ClownsSeries 20, Episode 6 | 20 | Jason Watkins | Joe Ferabbee |
| The Point of BalanceSeries 21, Episode 1 | 21 | Nigel Havers | Andrew Wilder |
| The Wolf Hunter of Little WorthySeries 22, Episode 1 | 22 | Maimie McCoy | Rowan Yarrow |
| The Wolf Hunter of Little WorthySeries 22, Episode 1 | 22 | Mark Williams | Pat Everett |
Search guest actors
Search 55 performer biographies by actor, role, episode or detective era. Each result opens the actor’s page, where their other recorded parts and episode credits are linked.
55 notable appearances shown
Amanda Burton
Silent Witness · The Commander · Waterloo Road
- Played
- Carole Latimer
- Case
- Murder by Magic
Anna Maxwell Martin
Bleak House · Motherland · Line of Duty
- Played
- Arabella Heywood
- Case
- Murder on St Malley's Day
Anne Reid
Coronation Street · Last Tango in Halifax
- Played
- Sarah Proudie
- Case
- A Tale of Two Hamlets
Bill Bailey
Black Books · Strictly Come Dancing
- Played
- Darwin Chipping
- Case
- Drawing Dead
David Bradley
Harry Potter · Game of Thrones
- Played
- Tom
- Case
- The Green Man
Edward Fox
The Day of the Jackal · A Bridge Too Far
- Played
- William Bingham
- Case
- Dark Secrets
Elizabeth Spriggs
Sense and Sensibility · Harry Potter
- Played
- Iris Rainbird
- Case
- The Killings at Badger's Drift
Emily Mortimer
The Newsroom · Mary Poppins Returns
- Played
- Katherine Lacey
- Case
- The Killings at Badger's Drift
Geraldine James
The Jewel in the Crown · Anne with an E
- Played
- Miranda Bedford
- Case
- Fit for Murder
Harriet Walter
Succession · Downton Abbey · Killing Eve
- Played
- Margaret Winstanley
- Case
- Orchis Fatalis
Hayley Mills
Pollyanna · The Parent Trap
- Played
- Lizzy Thornfield
- Case
- Wild Harvest
Henry Cavill
Man of Steel · The Witcher
- Played
- Simon Mayfield
- Case
- The Green Man
Honeysuckle Weeks
Foyle's War · The Five
- Played
- Fleur Bridges
- Case
- Blood Will Out
Honor Blackman
The Avengers · Goldfinger
- Played
- Isobel Hewitt
- Case
- A Talent for Life
Hugh Bonneville
Downton Abbey · Paddington
- Played
- Hugh Barton
- Case
- Ring Out Your Dead
Imelda Staunton
Vera Drake · The Crown
- Played
- Christine Cooper
- Case
- Dead Man's Eleven
Jason Watkins
The Lost Honour of Christopher Jefferies · W1A
- Played
- Joe Ferabbee
- Case
- Send in the Clowns
Jemma Redgrave
Doctor Who · Bramwell · Holby City
- Played
- Dr. Juno Starling
- Case
- Drawing Dead
Jenny Agutter
The Railway Children · Call the Midwife
- Played
- Lady Isobel Chettham
- Case
- The Creeper
Jessica Hynes
Spaced · Twenty Twelve · W1A
- Played
- Judith Lessiter
- Case
- The Killings at Badger's Drift
Jim Carter
Downton Abbey · Shakespeare in Love
- Played
- Nathan Green
- Case
- The Fisher King
John Sessions
Whose Line Is It Anyway? · Stella Street
- Played
- Barrett Filby
- Case
- Painted in Blood
Julia Sawalha
Absolutely Fabulous · Press Gang · Chicken Run
- Played
- Penny Henderson
- Case
- Saints and Sinners
Julian Glover
The Empire Strikes Back · Indiana Jones
- Played
- Henry Trace
- Case
- The Killings at Badger's Drift
June Whitfield
Terry and June · Absolutely Fabulous
- Played
- Peggy Alder
- Case
- Midsomer Rhapsody
Les Dennis
Family Fortunes · Coronation Street
- Played
- Brendan Pearce
- Case
- The Christmas Haunting
Lesley Manville
Phantom Thread · Mum · Sherwood
- Played
- Phoebe Archbold
- Case
- Fit for Murder
Maimie McCoy
The Musketeers · Van der Valk
- Played
- Rowan Yarrow
- Case
- The Wolf Hunter of Little Worthy
Mark Gatiss
Sherlock · Doctor Who · The League of Gentlemen
- Played
- Rev. Giles Shawcross
- Case
- The Sword of Guillaume
Mark Williams
Father Brown · Harry Potter · The Fast Show
- Played
- Pat Everett
- Case
- The Wolf Hunter of Little Worthy
Martine McCutcheon
EastEnders · Love Actually
- Played
- Debbie Moffett
- Case
- Schooled in Murder
Maureen Lipman
The Pianist · Coronation Street
- Played
- Margaret "Mags" Dormer
- Case
- Written in the Stars
Neil Morrissey
Men Behaving Badly · Bob the Builder
- Played
- Mitch McAllister
- Case
- Crime and Punishment
Nigel Havers
Chariots of Fire · The Charmer
- Played
- Andrew Wilder
- Case
- The Point of Balance
Olivia Colman
The Favourite · Broadchurch
- Played
- Bernice
- Case
- Small Mercies
Orlando Bloom
The Lord of the Rings · Pirates of the Caribbean
- Played
- Peter Drinkwater
- Case
- Judgement Day
Pam Ferris
Matilda · Call the Midwife · Rosemary & Thyme
- Played
- Liz Tomlin
- Case
- Echoes of the Dead
Peter Capaldi
Doctor Who · The Thick of It
- Played
- Laurence Barker
- Case
- Death in Chorus
Peter Davison
Doctor Who · All Creatures Great and Small
- Played
- Nicky Frazer
- Case
- Secrets and Spies
Prunella Scales
Fawlty Towers · A Question of Attribution
- Played
- Eleanor Bunsall
- Case
- Beyond the Grave
Richard Briers
The Good Life · Ever Decreasing Circles
- Played
- Reverend Stephen Wentworth
- Case
- Death's Shadow
Rik Mayall
The Young Ones · Bottom
- Played
- David Roper
- Case
- The Creeper
Robert Hardy
All Creatures Great and Small · Harry Potter
- Played
- Robert Cavendish
- Case
- Dead Man's Eleven
Ronni Ancona
The Big Impression · comedy and television drama
- Played
- Kitty Pottinger
- Case
- Fit for Murder
Ruth Jones
Gavin & Stacey · Stella
- Played
- Rachael Rose
- Case
- Bad Tidings
Sally Phillips
Smack the Pony · Bridget Jones · Miranda
- Played
- Lucy Keswick
- Case
- The Village That Rose from the Dead
Samantha Bond
GoldenEye · Downton Abbey
- Played
- Suzanna Chambers
- Case
- Destroying Angel
Shaun Dingwall
Doctor Who · The Long Firm
- Played
- Carter Smith
- Case
- Fit for Murder
Simon Callow
Four Weddings and a Funeral · Amadeus
- Played
- Dr. Wellow
- Case
- Dead Letters
Stephen Moyer
True Blood · The Gifted
- Played
- Christopher Wainwright
- Case
- Death in Disguise
Steve Pemberton
Inside No. 9 · The League of Gentlemen
- Played
- Timothy Benson
- Case
- Red in Tooth & Claw
Tamzin Outhwaite
EastEnders · New Tricks · Hotel Babylon
- Played
- Samantha Adler
- Case
- The Lions of Causton
Tim McInnerny
Blackadder · Notting Hill
- Played
- Hugh Dalgleish
- Case
- The Sword of Guillaume
Tobias Menzies
The Crown · Outlander · Game of Thrones
- Played
- Jack Dorset
- Case
- Judgement Day
Tom Ellis
Lucifer · Miranda
- Played
- Lee Smeeton
- Case
- Midsomer Rhapsody
Cast and episode sources
Follow each actor’s page for the cast sources attached to their appearance.
Guest appearances
Tom Barnaby’s earlier cases · Series 1–7
Jessica Hynes
Judith Lessiter in The Killings at Badger's Drift (Series 1, 1997).
Best known for: Spaced · Twenty Twelve · W1A.
Wikipedia profile ↗Julian Glover
Henry Trace in The Killings at Badger's Drift (Series 1, 1997).
Best known for: The Empire Strikes Back · Indiana Jones.
Wikipedia profile ↗Stephen Moyer
Christopher Wainwright in Death in Disguise (Series 1, 1998).
Best known for: True Blood · The Gifted.
Wikipedia profile ↗Orlando Bloom
Peter Drinkwater in Judgement Day (Series 3, 2000).
Best known for: The Lord of the Rings · Pirates of the Caribbean.
Wikipedia profile ↗Imelda Staunton
Christine Cooper in Dead Man's Eleven (Series 2, 1999).
Best known for: Vera Drake · The Crown.
Wikipedia profile ↗Tobias Menzies
Jack Dorset in Judgement Day (Series 3, 2000).
Best known for: The Crown · Outlander · Game of Thrones.
Wikipedia profile ↗Henry Cavill
Simon Mayfield in The Green Man (Series 7, 2003).
Best known for: Man of Steel · The Witcher.
Wikipedia profile ↗Ruth Jones
Rachael Rose in Bad Tidings (Series 7, 2004).
Best known for: Gavin & Stacey · Stella.
Wikipedia profile ↗Guest appearances
The later Tom Barnaby years · Series 8–13
Tom Ellis
Lee Smeeton in Midsomer Rhapsody (Series 8, 2005).
Best known for: Lucifer · Miranda.
Wikipedia profile ↗Peter Capaldi
Laurence Barker in Death in Chorus (Series 9, 2006).
Best known for: Doctor Who · The Thick of It.
Wikipedia profile ↗Olivia Colman
Bernice in Small Mercies (Series 12, 2009).
Best known for: The Favourite · Broadchurch.
Wikipedia profile ↗Simon Callow
Dr. Wellow in Dead Letters (Series 9, 2006).
Best known for: Four Weddings and a Funeral · Amadeus.
Wikipedia profile ↗Mark Gatiss
Rev. Giles Shawcross in The Sword of Guillaume (Series 13, 2010).
Best known for: Sherlock · Doctor Who · The League of Gentlemen.
Wikipedia profile ↗Lesley Manville
Phoebe Archbold in Fit for Murder (Series 13, 2011).
Best known for: Phantom Thread · Mum · Sherwood.
Wikipedia profile ↗Guest appearances
The early John Barnaby years · Series 14–18
Amanda Burton
Carole Latimer in Murder by Magic (Series 17, 2015).
Best known for: Silent Witness · The Commander · Waterloo Road.
Wikipedia profile ↗Julia Sawalha
Penny Henderson in Saints and Sinners (Series 18, 2016).
Best known for: Absolutely Fabulous · Press Gang · Chicken Run.
Wikipedia profile ↗Guest appearances
Recent John Barnaby cases · Series 19–25
Sally Phillips
Lucy Keswick in The Village That Rose from the Dead (Series 19, 2016).
Best known for: Smack the Pony · Bridget Jones · Miranda.
Wikipedia profile ↗Neil Morrissey
Mitch McAllister in Crime and Punishment (Series 19, 2017).
Best known for: Men Behaving Badly · Bob the Builder.
Wikipedia profile ↗Steve Pemberton
Timothy Benson in Red in Tooth & Claw (Series 19, 2017).
Best known for: Inside No. 9 · The League of Gentlemen.
Wikipedia profile ↗Jemma Redgrave
Dr. Juno Starling in Drawing Dead (Series 20, 2019).
Best known for: Doctor Who · Bramwell · Holby City.
Wikipedia profile ↗Jason Watkins
Joe Ferabbee in Send in the Clowns (Series 20, 2020).
Best known for: The Lost Honour of Christopher Jefferies · W1A.
Wikipedia profile ↗Mark Williams
Pat Everett in The Wolf Hunter of Little Worthy (Series 22, 2021).
Best known for: Father Brown · Harry Potter · The Fast Show.
Wikipedia profile ↗Nigel Havers
Andrew Wilder in The Point of Balance (Series 21, 2020).
Best known for: Chariots of Fire · The Charmer.
Wikipedia profile ↗Maimie McCoy
Rowan Yarrow in The Wolf Hunter of Little Worthy (Series 22, 2021).
Best known for: The Musketeers · Van der Valk.
Wikipedia profile ↗