Why John Nettles quit Midsomer Murders after 14 years as DCI Tom Barnaby

Midsomer Murders fanatics might be accustomed to Neil Dudgeon fronting the drama but it was performer John Nettles who originally breathed life into the series as DCI Tom Barnaby.

For 14 years, Nettles portrayed Causton's local detective DCI Tom Barnaby, with Detective Sergeant Gavin Troy (Daniel Casey) alongside him during the initial six series.

The ITV sensation experienced a major transformation when Tom chose to retire and embark on an "indefinite holiday" with his spouse Joyce (Jane Wymark), passing his responsibilities to his cousin John Barnaby (Neil Dudgeon).

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Nettles had previously told The Telegraph that he believed it would be sensible to depart whilst viewers were still eager for more, rather than continue with the programme.

He revealed: "I never thought when we were filming the pilot The Killings at Badger's Drift in 1996 that I would go on to film so many episodes.

"It has been a joy to be involved in such a long-running series with so many good actors and great storylines. It's the end of an era for me.

"I suddenly realised that I'm going to be the oldest detective in the business now that David Jason has thrown off the mantle. But it was a very difficult decision to make."

Nettles added: "I'll have been doing Midsomer Murders for 14 years by the time Barnaby leaves.

"I've formed familial ties with the people involved in the show and they will be hard to break.

"It's always wise to leave people wanting more, rather than be booed off the stage because you bored them."

After leaving Midsomer Murders, Nettles went on to star in Toast of London alongside The IT Crowd's Matt Berry, as well as BBC's Poldark as Ray Penvenen.

His last TV appearance was in Poldark in 2017, after which the 81 year old decided to retire from acting.

Now, Nettles enjoys a peaceful life in Devon with his wife Cathy Sealey, spending his time as an amateur historian.

In 2009, he made a three-part documentary called The Channel Islands at War, focusing on the Nazi occupation of Jersey and Guernsey during World War II.

Three years later, he released a book on the same subject titled Jewels and Jackboots, based on the diary entries of Reverend Douglas Ord who lived in Guernsey during the war.

Midsomer Murders is available to watch on ITVX.