‘Lost’ Midsomer Murders episode with TV legend in cameo role will finally air on ITV after latest schedule shake-up
“LOST” Midsomer Murders episode with one of the show’s legends’ will finally air on ITV after a schedule shakeup.
The episode was originally removed from the schedule in January to make room for the channel’s famous interview with Prince Harry, in which he took aim at the royal family.
However, fans are in luck now, since the gritty ITV series will return on Sunday, May 28th at 8pm.
Lewis’ Kevin Whately, a TV icon, will appear in the programme, which was initially scheduled to premiere in January.
The episode titled “For Death Prepare” attracted Kevin because of it’s connection to the much-loved musical duo Gilbert and Sullivan.
He revealed: “I’m a fan of Gilbert and Sullivan, some of the music is sublime and of course the lyrics are hilarious – I played Captain Corcoran in HMS Pinafore years ago and that’s the reason I did this particular episode of Midsomer,” says the star.
“It seemed like great fun, all of us having a little sing. I’ve done a lot of musical theatre – I did Gypsy with Imelda Staunton a couple of years ago – music interests me much more than acting these days.
The 71-year-old actor and musician treads the boards in the episode as Jeremy Whittingdale, a member of amateur operatic group The Midsomer Mummers and an old friend of Sarah Barnaby’s.
Their production of The Pirates of Penzance is ruined when a body is discovered in the pirates’ treasure chest, and deep divisions within the company emerge…
Speaking about the role Kevin said: “Jeremy is a pillar of the community, a retired head teacher, and everyone respects him,” says Kevin, before adding ominously: “He is quite bitter about a split from his wife – he was obviously quite a controlling husband and father… He still wants control over the daughter who is the apple of his eye.”
He continued: “I was in a big amateur theatre group in Newcastle for years and I don’t remember any in-fighting at all. It is a well-known cliché that everyone in am-dram hates each other – I just love the idea of them all knifing each other over who gets a solo or has the best sword!”
Kevin’s guest role in a long-running crime series brought back memories of his days as Robbie Lewis in Inspector Morse and its spin-off Lewis – but not particularly fond ones.
“It was great working with Neil Dudgeon [DCI John Barnaby] and comparing notes – it can be quite a lonely job leading a detective series because everyone depends on you so heavily. It is damned hard work,” Kevin said.