Do you feel the same way? You watch Midsomer Murders and suddenly think: I know that face – but where from? What many fans don’t realise is just how many actors in Midsomer Murders are actually related in real life – siblings, parents and children, even couples.
Here we go.
Note: This table is still a work in progress (last updated 1 November 2025) and certainly not complete, but it’s growing bit by bit. If you know of any other real-life relatives or family connections among the actors, please share them with me. I also plan to add photos of the different actors (where siblings, parents or partners appear), but before that I’ll need to check with the production company whether this is allowed – I don’t want to overstep my bounds.
Janine Duvitski and Paul Bentall are the parents of Ruby Bentall.
-> Janine Duvitski played both ‘Deirdre Tibbs’ in S01E02: Death of a Hollow Man, and ‘Hattie Bainbridge’ in S22E06: The Witches of Angel’s Rise
-> Paul Bentall played hotel owner ‘Edward Palfrey’ in S12E05: Small Mercies
-> Ruby Bentall played waitress ‘Stella Starling’ in S20E03: Drawing Dead
Lin Blakley is the mother of Claudie Blakley
-> Lin Blakley played Barnaby’s acquaintance (and in this episode, sports partner) ‘Janet Painter’ in S12E01: The Dogleg Murders
-> Claudie Blakeley played hotel owner ‘Claire Asher’ in S17E04: The Ballad of Midsomer County
Philip Bond was the father of Samantha Bond.
-> Philip Bond played doctor ‘Dr. Wyatt’ in S10E08: Death in a Chocolade Box
-> Samantha Bond played several roles:
(1) ‘Suzanna Chambers’ in S04E02: Destroying Angels
(2) ‘Arabella Hammond’ in: S11E01: Shot at Dawn
(3) ‘Kate Cameron’ in S14E01: Death in the Slow Lane
Gwyneth Stron is married to Jesse Birdsall.
-> Gwyneth Strong played ‘Katie Soper’ in S13E01: The Made-to-Measure Murders
-> Jesse Birdsall played both pool man ‘Harry Painter’ in S05E01: Market for Murder, and Gift Shop Owner ‘Mike Johnson’ in S12E05: Small Mercies
Richard Briers was the father of Lucy Briers.
-> Richard Briers played Reverend ‘Stephen Wentworth’ in S02E01: Death’s Shadow
-> Lucy Briers played teacher ‘Jessica Wingate’ in S14E01: Death in the Slow Lane
Jonathan Coy is the father of Jolyon Coy.
-> Jonathan Coy played ‘Kenneth Gooders’ in S04E02: Destroying Angel
-> Jolyon Coy played ‘Fabian Monkford’ in S18E04: A Dying Art
Nick Hendrix is the husband of Jessica Ellerby
-> Nick Hendrix is playing ‘DS Jamie Winter’ since series 19
-> Jessica Ellerby played journalist ‘Caitlin Dawson’ in S22E04: The Scarecrow Murders
Sinéad Cusack is the sister of Niamh Cusack.
-> Sinéad Cusack played former horror movie actress ‘Stella Harris’ in S15E04: Death and the Divas
-> Niamh Cusack played ‘Penny Galsworthy’ in S11E06: Days of Misrule
Peter Egan is the father of Rebecca Egan.
-> Peter Egan played both businessman ‘Norman Swanscombe’ in S13E07: Not in My Backyard, and ‘Grady Palmerston’ in S20E02: Death of the Small Coppers
-> Rebecca Egan played estate agent ‘Harriet Davis’ in S09E01: The House in the Woods
Joanna David is the wife of Edward Fox. Edward Fox and James Fox are brothers. Jack Fox is James Fox’ son.
-> Joanna David played both ‘Amy Lyddiard’ in S01E01 Written in Blood, and ‘Mother Julian’ in S14E07: A Sacred Trust
-> Edward Fox played reclusive ‘William Bingham’ in S14E02: Dark Secrets
-> James Fox played pianist ‘Sir Michael Fielding’ in S13E05: Master Class
-> Jack Fox played beekeeper ‘Jude Deddington’ in S21E03: The Sting of Death
Julian Glover and Isla Blair are the parents of Jamie Glover.
-> Julian Glover played landowner ‘Henry Trace’ in der pilot episode: The Killings at Badger‘s Drift
-> Isla Blair played psychological profiler ‘Dr. Jane Moore’ in S06E02: Death and Dreams
-> Jamie Glover played antique dealer ‘Jamie Cramner’ in S09E08: Last Year‘s Model
Annette Crosbie is the mother of Selena Griffiths
-> Annette Crosbie played ‘Amelia Plummer’ in S08E07: Sauce for the Goose
-> Selena Griffiths played ‘Elspeth Rice’ in S17E04: A Vintage Murder
Phyllida Law is the mother of Emma Thompson.
-> Phyllida Law played both ’Felicity Dinsdale’ in S02E04: Blood Will Out, and ’Mary Bingham’ in S14E02: Dark Secrets
-> Sophie Thompson played ’April Gooding’ in S09E02: Dead Letters
Gordon Gostelow and Vivian Pickles were/are the parents of Harry Gostelow.
Vivian Pickles is also Carolyn Pickles’ aunt. Carolyn Pickles and Harry Gostelow are cousins.
-> Gordon Gostelow played ‘Reginald Williams’ in S02E01: Death‘s Shadow
-> Vivian Pickles played his sister-in-law ‘Agnes Sampson’ in S02E01: Death‘s Shadow
-> Harry Gostelow played both ‘Dr. Robertshaw’ in S06E05: Birds of Prey, and an unnamed doctor in 07×07: The Ghosts of Christmas Past
-> Carolyn Pickles played both ‘Sister Lovelace’ in S03E02: Blue Herrings, and ‘Wendy Minchin’ in S13E01: The Made-to-Measure Murders
Caroline Harker is the sister of Susannah Harker. Caroline Harker is the wife of Anthony Calf.
-> Caroline Harker played ‘Tamzin Proctor’ in S05E02: A Market For Murder
-> Susannah Harker played art school owner ‘Matilda Simms’ in S12E02: The Black Book
-> Anthony Calf played both ‘Stephen Cavendish’ in S02E03: Dead Man’s Eleven, and ‘Julian Lennard’ in S19E01: The Village That Rose from the Dead
James Bolan is the husband of Susan Jameson
-> James Bolan played soon-to-be-retired Superintendent ‘Ron Pringle’ in S03E01: Death of a Stranger
-> Susan Jameson played former international cricketer ‘Germaine Troughton’ in S19E03: Last Man Out
Miles Anderson is the father of Joe Anderson.
-> Miles Anderson played both billionaire and entrepreneur ‘Guy Gamelin’ in S01E04: Death in Disguise, and music producer ‘Lance Woodrow’ in S09E08: Last Year’s Model
-> Joe Anderson played ‘Max Ransom’ in S08E05: Second Sight
James Hazeldine was the father of Sam Hazeldine.
-> James Hazeldine played business man ‘Leo Bantock’ in S06E01: A Talent for Life
-> Sam Hazeldine played band manager and Cully Barnaby’s boyfriend/husband ‘Simon Dixon’ in four episodes: S10E04: The Axeman’s Cometh, S10E05: Dust and Dreams, 10E08: Death in a Chocolate Box, S11E02: Blood Wedding
Freddie Jones is the father of Toby Jones.
-> Freddie Jones played pub regular ‘Benbow’ in S07E05: The Maid in Splendour
-> Toby Jones played pathologist ‘Dan Peterson’ in four episodes: S02E02: Strangler’s Wood, S02E03: Dead Man’s Eleven, S03E01: Death of a Stranger, S03E03: Judgement Day
Gemma Jones is the sister of Nicholas Jones.
-> Gemma Jones played parish archivist ‘Maisie Gooch’ in S05E04: Ring Your Dead Out
-> Nicholas Jones played both ‘Reverend Moreland’ in S13E01: The Made-to-Measure Murders, and Antique Dealer ‘Ernest Bradley’ in S16E05: The Killing at Copenhagen
Kate Maberly is the sister of Polly Maberly.
-> Kate Maberly played postwoman ‘Holly Reid’ in S04E05: Dark Autumn
-> Polly Maberly played ‘Julie Stockard’ in S04E01: Who Killed Cock Robin?
Lizzy McInnerny is the sister of Tim McInnerny.
-> Lizzy McInnerny played both writer ‘Caroline Plummer’ in S08E07: Sauce For the Goose, and ‘Alberta Tooms’ in S22E02: The Stitcher Society
-> Tim McInnerny played property developers ‘Hugh Dalgleish’ in S13E02: The Sword of Guillaume
Trevor Peacock is the father of Harry Peacock.
-> Trevor Peacock played soon-to-be-married ‘Charlie Speight’ in S08E08: Midsomer Rhapsody
-> Harry Peacock played ‘Patrick Bradley’ in S11E03: Left for Dead
Angela Thorne and Peter Penry-Jones were the parents of Laurence Penry-Jones.
-> Angela Thorne played ‘Lady Lavinia Chetwood’ in S05E01: Market for a Murder
-> Peter Penry-Jones played ‘Peter Rhodes, Marquis of Ross’ in S04E03: The Electric Vendetta
-> Laurence Penry-Jones played the ‘younger Peter Rhodes’ in the flashback sequence in S04E03: The Electric Vendetta
Sarah Woodward is the sister of Tim Woodward.
-> Sarah Woodward played ‘Ursula Shirewell’ in S24E01: The Devil’s Work
-> Tim Woodward played tunnel construction entrepreneur ‘Timothy Webster’ in S07E01: The Green Man
Jane Wymark is the sister of Tristam Wymark.
-> Jane Wymark played ‘Joyce Barnaby’ in the pilot episode and the first 13 series. (Need I say more?!)
-> Tristam Wymark played ‘Gordon Pope’ in S13E05: Master Class
Ronald Pickup was the father of Rachel Pickup.
-> Ronald Pickup played both landowner ‘Rupert Smythe-Webster’ in S06E04: A Tale of Two Hamlets, and seller of magical items ‘Ernest Balliol’ in S11E05: The Magician’s Nephew
-> Rachel Pickup played ‘witch’ ‘Isolde Balliol’ in S11E05: The Magician’s Nephew
Barbara Young was the mother of Cory Pulman and Liza Pulman who are sisters.
-> Barbara Young played both ‘Anne Quine’ in the pilot episode: The Killings at Badger’s Drift, and ‘Gwen Trevelyan in S09E08: Last Year’s Model
-> Cory Pulman played Samaritans volunteer ‘Terry Bazely’ in the pilot episode: The Killings at Badger’s Drift
-> Liza Pulman played an unnamed crooner at the 50’s dance festival in S10E01: Dance with the Dead
John Shrapnel is the father of Lex Shrapnel.
-> John Shrapnel played both psychologist and book author ‘Max Jennings’ in S01E01: Written in Blood, and businessman ‘Leo Clarke’ in S09E07: Death in Chorus
-> Lex Shrapnel played stunt pilot ‘Gavin Hopkirk’ in S16E04: The Flying Club
Clive Swift was the uncle of Julia Swift.
-> Clive Swift played ‘Felix Hope’, a member of the Bleakridge Watch, in S19E02 Crime and Punishment
-> Julia Swift played an employee (or the owner?) of Cosy Kitchen Tea Rooms ‘Angie Blunstone’ in S05E04: Ring Out Your Dead
David Troughton is the father of Sam Troughton.
-> David Troughton played both drama teacher ‘Brian Clapper’ in S01E01: Written in Blood, and gardener ‘Miles King’ in S10E02: The Animal Within
-> Sam Troughton played day labourer ‘Henry Marsh’ in S19E02: Crime and Punishment
Christopher Villiers is the brother of Jay Villiers.
-> Christopher Villiers played estate manager of Tye House, ‘David Whitely’, in two episodes: the pilot episode: The Killings at Badger‘s Drift and in S02E01: Death’s Shadow
-> Jay Villiers played film director ‘Nick Cheney’ in S10E07: They Seek Him Here
Perdita Weeks is the sister of Honeysuckel Weeks.
-> Perdita Weeks played ‘Hannah Moore’ in S06E02: Death and Dreams
-> Honeysuckle Weeks played ‘Fleur Bridges’, daughter of the landowner, in S02E04: Blood Will Out
Prunella Scales and Timothy West were the parents of Samuel West.
-> Prunella Scales played Ms. ‘dead is an unword’ ‘Eleanor Bunsall’ in S03E04: Beyond the Grave
-> Timothy West played ‘Marcus Devere’ in S03E03: Judgement Day
-> Samuel West played museum director and book author ‘Jeremy Thacker’ in S10E02: The Animal Within, and ‘James Oswald’ in S19E05: Death by Persuasion
Jeffry Wickham was the father of Saskia Wickham.
-> Jeffry Wickham played an unnamed judge in S05E02: A Worm in the Bud
-> Saskia Wickham played ‘Anne Woodrow’ in S09E08: Last Year’s Model
🤓 Read more about Midsomer Murders & History
The Chronology of Midsomer County by Year or by Episodes • Deep Dives into Midsomer & History • History of Midsomer Murders Film Locations
I would like to point out that this is an unofficial fan site. I am not connected to Bentley Productions, ITV or the actors.
