Ashley Denton is a character appearing in the episode Send in the Clowns of the ITV crime drama Midsomer Murders.
Throughout his life, Ashley Denton represented the community of Swynton County in many ways as he was the head and chair of the planning community for the Swynton Magna Parish Council, owned the Denton's Pub & Grill restaurant named after him, had a membership with the Swynton Gun Club, and was one of the supporting sponsors for Ferabbee's Circus. Though unbeknownst to its ringmaster, Denton wanted to pull out of funding and teamed up with his brother to drive the circus out of town as Ashley acquired a section of the bordering the land estate it was built in; where he would've protected the hedgerows and endangered birdlife there, along with gaining access to the roads and services that he needed. While not confirmed, its implied that he may have been an environmentalist as during some dialogue between John Barnaby and Mostyn Cartwright, he questioned the humaneness of the abattoir's "gas chamber" and that he served organic steak in his restaurant.
Ashley and his restaurant are mentioned early on in dialogue and an advertisement respectively, though we are properly introduced to him during the Barnaby's nighttime dinner when the blackout happens. The next morning, an emergency meeting is held in the Church House, regarding the clown sighting, where Denton is swarmed by several angry complaints; including Curtis and Mostyn Cartwright, who was ironically the one dressed up as the clown, and chews him out for funding the circus. Ashley responds back by bringing up an alleged affair of "animal husbandry." On the day of the circus' second performance, Denton was signing some important paperwork, though decides to check in on the circus to discuss a charity foundation that he and Joe were setting up. Its not clear when exactly this happened, though before the clown act, Mostyn brags to Ashley his plan to burn the circus down and despite both working for Curtis, Denton gets enraged and tries to remove the paraffin rag he left underneath the bleachers. Though once the gunshot that killed Terry Bellini is heard, Ashley runs for his life and leaves it there. When Les Morrison is no longer suspected of being the murderer, Barnaby requests a list of every registered rifle owner in the area and when it finally comes up, Ashley Denton is on the list. Jamie Winter goes to the gun club to him Denton during the middle of target practice, who explains that he only uses it for such and that the guns never leave the club. Though he falls under their suspicions again when CCTV footage of the tent prior to the shooting shows a man standing near the bleachers where the rag was found; sporting a jacket with the "Swinton Gun Club" insignia on it. They show the enhanced images to Denton, who is quick to admit that it was him and explained that he was only there to meet Joe and ran for his life, though because he was working for Curtis, did not mention that it was Mostyn who planted the paraffin. Later that evening, Ashley has a jovial time with guests in his pub when a brick comes flying through his window. Written in "red ink," the attached note reads "WHOSE SIDE R U ON? TIME TO CHOOSE." He looks forward to see the clown menacingly waving at him; pointing out the irony of him working for the farmer that wants the land back while still providing money to the circus that's stopping him.
When the circus is temporarily allowed to resume running shows again, faced with the tough decision of picking sides, Denton approaches Joe and tells him that he is not thrilled with the "small crowds;" on assumption that he was promised a "sell-out," and tries to pull out of funding due to the massive PR damage his show is causing to his business. Joe tries to manipulate him into staying as the sponsor by making him participate for the first act so it will build confidence in attendance again and that it will make for good publicity. Ashley reluctantly agrees to the offer, but warns Joe that from here on out, he's on his own after tonight. After a quick shout-out to Ashley and the Denton Trust charity foundation he founded; standing ovation and all, the show begins with the "magic box" trick and for a while, nobody steps up to participate and Joe approaches forward to do it. Though harkening back on what he said, Ashley announces that he will be the one to volunteer for tonight and that all donations made will match the total. After being locked inside the box, Raoul Delgado, who was having an affair with his waitress Freya Ferabbee, inserts three swords, one by one, into Ashley; leaving him unscathed as he nervously laughs and swings his feet. Though like what happened to Terry, things take a dark turn when the fourth and final sword is sealed as it emits a much painful reaction from Ashley than anticipated. Much to Joe and the audience's horror, blood is running from underneath the box and Mr. Denton passes away. This was completely accidental as the sword was intentionally sharpened on a whetstone by Daniella Bellini so she could kill Joe as revenge for her sister. He is taken away in a body bag once the police arrives to the scene, though his body is thoroughly examined much later by Fleur Perkins, who diagnoses his death as exsanguination when the blade sliced through his abdominal aorta; due to the locking mechanism being locked to prevent retraction.