Ghosts of Christmas Past is a special episode of the popular ITV crime drama Midsomer Murders that was aired on Christmas Day of 2004.
This episode was filmed during season 7, but was broadcasted between the episodes of season 8.
Synopsis[]
With his parents-in-law visiting for the holidays, DCI Barnaby is almost relieved to be called out when Lydia Villiers claims she was pushed down the staircase. When she dies, the police have a possible murder case on their hands. The Villiers family has reunited for Christmas including a long lost brother, Ross, but there are many secrets in the house. One subject that is not talked about much is the suicide of one of the siblings, Ferdy, nine years previously. Several of the young adults in the house, children when their uncle took his life, have memories of the incident. When the police learn that Ferdie's fiancée also committed suicide soon after his death, they have a better understanding of who might be seeking revenge.
Plot, Part 1[]
Nine years ago, Ferdy Villiers went upstairs to a locked room. He pushed his puppy, Alfie, out the door. His sister, Jennifer Carter and aunt, Lydia Villiers, were outside putting lights on a huge fir tree. Ferdy took a shotgun out of a locker. He looked outside at Jennifer and Lydia. Aidian ran downstairs and saw the puppy whining outside the door. Inside the room, Ferdy blew his head off. Jennifer and Lydia heard the shot and rushed indoors. Blood seeped under the door.
Present day: Aidan Carter and his girlfriend, Emily Hide, drive through town on their way to Draycott Hall. They wave to Santa and elves. They pass the choir and band. They turn into the driveway of the hall. Alfie runs up and greets them.
At the police station, DCI Tom Barnaby tells DS Dan Scott to call him if there are any problems. Any problems at all. His in-laws are coming for Christmas. He also tells Scott not to overdo things. Things have a habit of happening at Christmas time.
At Draycott Hall Aidan pleads with his mother, Jennifer. "Oh come on mummy, please! When any of my friends go home with their girlfriends their parents always put them in the same room. I mean you know what the score is." Jennifer will not be swayed. When in her house, no bonking until you've tied the knot. Aunt Lydia moans in her sleep. Jennifer rudely tells Aunt Lydia to stop "this silliness now. I will not have your ruining Christmas." Aidan says to Emily, "Sorry about the sleeping arrangement." Emily replies, "It doesn't matter, really. Still it would have been nice. You'll just have to grab the opportunities as they arise." Aidan takes Alfie outside for a sneaky smoke. Aunt Lydia asks Emily if they have met before.
Kate Frears, her husband, Digby Frears. bored daughter, Phoebe Frears, and son Howard Frears are driving to Draycott Hall. In front of them is a man on a motorcycle. Digby honks at him. Kate says, "My god! I think it's my brother." At Draycott Hall, Jennifer greets Dominic Jones. He asks who is there? Jennifer says loudly enough to be heard, "Just Aiden with his latest. Why don't you go and introduce yourself? Her name is Emily. Apparently can't go a night without sеx. Apart from that she seems quite ordinary." Dominic introduces himself to Emily. "The first time in Draycott Hall is always a bit of an ordeal. They are all quite barmy." He asks Lydia if she has had anymore bad vibes lately.
Barnaby stands at the window looking for the in-laws. "No sign of them yet. Enjoy it while you may." Joyce says, "I heard that. You will try a little patience with him? He does not always know what he's saying." Barnaby says, "Not much, he doesn't." He sees the inlaws arrive, Muriel and Douglas. They brought the monopoly.
Kate runs over to greet Ross Villiers, the man on the motorbike. Jennifer runs outside to greet her sister and family and is surprised to see her brother. Jennifer says, "Oh Dominic, come and meet Ross. Our long lost brother." She introduces Dominic, "A good friend. And a very useful bridge partner." Jennifer walks Ross up to his room and hovers. Howard sneaks up the stairs to his Uncle Ferdy's studio. (Flashback to 4 year old Howard peeking in at Ferdy doing magic tricks along with a woman dressed in shiny attire. Carousel music playing.) Jennifer catches him and warns him off- It is out of bounds!!
Howard sees Emily and tries a card trick with her. She asks Howard what is out of bounds. Howard tells her late Uncle Ferdy's studio. Howard tells her no one talks about Ferdy since his suicide. It was a great disgrace for the family.
Ross speaks to Kate about the state of the house. It still has the same decorations from when their mother and father were alive. Ross thinks the house should be sold. Digby comes in and says that he and Kate could do with their share of the proceeds.
Aidan comes up behind Emily who is setting the table asking if there is time for a "quickie". Emily asks about Uncle Ferdy. Aidian looks stone-faced. He says Ferdy was a very weak and selfish man and leaves the room. Phoebe enters and says, "Feelings run a bit high this time of year. It all happened just before Christmas, nine years ago. You didn't know about it. Hit the red wine is my advice. Its the only way I get through it. That and thermal underwear." (Aidan flashes back to when Uncle Ferdy died.)
Plot, Part 2[]
At the Barnaby's they are playing monopoly. Joyce's father, Douglas, is being obnoxious to Barnaby. "Proceed directly to jail. Only kidding. You won second prize in a beauty contest. Collect £10." Dan Scott is celebrating the holidays with friends in a pub.
At Draycott Hall, Jennifer is giving a speech. "I know Mom and Dad would dearly love to see us all gathered here tonight. In the home they loved so much. That we love so much. So here is to a very, very happy and special Christmas. Happy Christmas everyone." Everyone opens the crackers. Digby asks if anyone's got a light for his cigar. He gives Aiden a meaningful look. Howard reads a riddle that was in his cracker, "How can you tell... How can you tell A heartless liar with blood on their hands." Kate says, "Yes Howard, that's not clever or funny." Emily says, "That's what's on the paper." Howard continues reading, "They'll each be dead by midnight Boxing Day." Aunt Lydia starts shaking and gets up and leaves the table saying, "No, no, no." Phoebe grabs the paper, "Let me see that." Jennifer runs after Lydia. She says, "It was just one of stupid Howard's practical jokes." Lydia locks her door. Howard denies making the riddle. Everyone criticizes him. Jennifer says, "I want that boy to apologize. Right now." Finally, Howard says, "Fine. I apologise."
Later everyone is at church. The Barnabys are there and so are the Villiers. They sing a hymn. Dominic sings really loudly.
DS Dan Scott comes outside after being in a pub and his friends beg him to come for a walk. Scott says, "I can't, I'm on duty. I'm really... really on call." The Villiers get in their cars and so do the Barnaby's. Dominic rides back to the hall with Lydia and gets out of the car before Lydia drives into her garage.
ATTEMPTED MURDER: Digby is snoring on the couch at Draycott Hall. Howard changes the TV channel and Jennifer changes it back to carols and tells Howard to go to bed. Dominic says Lydia is putting the car away. Dominic goes to get coffee. Jennifer sings along to the carols on TV. In the garage, Lydia pounds on the door to the house. She can't get it open. And the car engine is going. She starts gasping for air. Then sobs. Emily hears knocking in the hallway. Dominic hears it as well and goes down the hall to the garage door. Emily runs after him. Dominic gets the door open and Lydia falls into his arms. He turns off the car and tries to open the garage door. Lydia says it's not working. Emily goes to find the garage door opener. The door opens.
Later, Lydia tries to explain what happened to the family, "I switched off the ignition. And I did not knock the wardrobe over." Jennifer mockingly says, "Cars do not start on their own and wardrobes do not fall over by themselves." Lydia says, "That's what I'm saying. I'm not mad." Ross says, "We're not saying you are." Jennifer continues, "Its just when Dominic tried the inside door, it wasn't locked as you said it was. And when Emily tried the remote control the garage door opened without a problem. And you said it wasn't working. But I'm sure It was an accident. You must have stumbled and pulled the wardrobe over and then it hit your head. You were confused and your imagination ran wild. Probably because of Howards little practical joke earlier." Howard says, "I thought it'd be my fault." Jennifer continues to rant at Lydia and tells her she just had one of her little flutters. "We don't want it spoiling Christmas Do we? Now we'll all go to bed and then tomorrow we'll have a lovely Christmas day."
The clock chimes 2 am. Emily hears a noise. Something hits her window. She gets up to look. "Aiden? Is that you?" Then she hears the doorknob turn on her door. She starts screaming. The light is turned on by Jennifer who is wearing a Santa hat. Aiden is outside Emily's window on a ladder. He calls, "Emily? Are you alright?" Jennifer says, "That is a very good question." She goes to the window and tells Aiden, "Put the ladder back and go to your room." Jennifer gives Emily a filled stocking and says, "Sеx mad." on her way out the door to Digby and Dominic.
Scott is asleep in his room with the TV on. An alarm outside his window goes off and the dog barks. The neighbors has Christmas lights flashing.
MURDER 1: Lydia has a bad dream..."Okay I cant do it. No I cant. Do it for Ferdy's sake." She turns on the light and goes to a hidden door in her wall. Someone creeps around the house. Lydia hears scratching at the door. She says, "Alfie, is that you? Alright. Alright. You're not sleeping on my bed." She puts a notebook back on the shelf in the hidden room. She opens her door, but there is no sign of the dog. Someone pushes her down the stairs.
Plot, Part 3[]
At the Barnabys, Joyce and Tom are opening presents in bed. Joyce says, "Nice wrapping paper. Oh, lovely smellies. Thank you, Father Christmas." From another room, Cully says, "Don't mention it." Tom opens an electric carving knife. Joyce tells him "Its from Mum. Dad discovered them recently and thought you should have one. Its no reflection on your carving abilities." The phone rings. Barnaby says, "Hallo... " Scott says, "Sorry to disturb you sir. Hope you finished opening your stockings."
Scott tells Barnaby what has happened with the fall down the stairs and the riddle. Scott says Howard is now denying that he is responsible for the riddle. His aunt Jennifer doesn't believe him. The accident happened around five past two and Miss Villiers is in Causton General. Howard comes up to meet them. He says, "It had nothing whatsoever to do with me." He initially admitted to writing the riddle because everyone assumed he had done it. Howard says, "It was a bit like when the police use undue pressure on a suspect and he confesses just to get the coppers off his back. None of them would believe I hadn't done it, so... I admitted to it, to keep them happy." Barnaby asks, "Any idea how this riddle got into the cracker? A disgruntled employee at the cracker factory perhaps? Some kind of industrial terrorism? But then again it might be a result of a much more sinister motive. And.. I don't believe it was a fall. Pushed. Is more like it. There is a great deal of anger in this house. And pain. Don't ask me what its about. I know nothing of the details being consdered far too young and sensitive..." Howard leaves.
Barnaby and Scott speak to the others about the riddle. "With blood on their hands. Anyone here have any idea, who or what this refers to?' Jennifer says it's just one of Howard's practical jokes. Barnaby says have there been any recent deaths in the family? Howards says, "Uncle Ferdy." Jennifer tells him to shut up. Ross says, "Ferdy was our brother. That's Kate's, Jennifer's and my elder brother. He committed suicide nine years ago." Jennifer says, "He fell in love with a manipulative drսg addicted woman. They were engaged to be married, and then he found out just what a deceitful, thieving little gold digger she was. And it broke his heart. He simply couldn't cope with it. Ferdy was due to inherit a large fortune from our Uncle Bart. When he died it went to Ross, the next in the male line. She just went down for a glass of water and missed her footing. It was dark."
The detectives leave. Barnaby invites Scott over for dinner. One less turkey curry for the next fortnight..
Jennifer checks the turkey in the oven. She says Lydia wouldn't have wanted Christmas ruined because she took a tumble down the stairs. Kate walks out in disgust.
The Barnabys celebrate Christmas dinner. Joyce worries that her father swallowed a pound coin she put in his Christmas Pudding. In the dining room, Douglas plays with his new metal detector. Muriel says the pudding was too delicious. Douglas says it was a bit lumpy. Scott gets a call from the hospital. The detectives go to the hospital and Lydia insists that someone pushed her.
At Draycott Hall, Barnaby tells all that Lydia says she was pushed. Jennifer poo poo's this idea. Howard mentions the garage incident. Someone tried to gas Lydia. Phoebe walks out. Emily goes after her. Dominic shows the detectives where Lydia was locked in the garage.
Barnaby talks to Phoebe who tells him what happened when she was younger. "A couple months before Uncle Ferdy died. Mom had brought me and Howard down for the weekend. Ross was still working in the city then, before he went all peculiar." Flashback: Jennifer was trying to get Ferdy a respectable job. She made fun of his aspirations to be a magician. Ross laughs at Ferdy. When a woman arrived at the hall for the Magician's Assistant job Ferdy had advertised, Jennifer rudely sends her away. Before she leaves, the puppy, Alfie runs up and jumps on her and Ferdy follows. It was love at first sight. "Whirlwind romance, engaged, set the wedding date. And then he discovered that she was just out for what she could get. It broke him."
Barnaby asks to see Lydia's bedroom. Jennifer tells the detectives that Ferdy's fiancee, was caught red handed trying to sell an art deco statue. While looking in her room, Scott gets a call that Lydia has died.
Dominic and Emily show Barnaby and Scott the garage and explain what happened. Dominic got out of the car before she pulled in. He went into the house through the front door. Emily saw him. Lydia drove into the garage. Turned off the car and went in the house. Then she heard the car start up again and went out to investigate. She couldn't turn off the ignition because the door was blocked by a dresser. She couldn't get back into the house because someone locked the door.
Plot, Part 4[]
Barnaby interviews Jennifer. He asks who benefits from Lydia's will? Jennifer says, "I will. But I won't benefit much, she only had a few thousand." Jennifer also says Aidan is due to inherit a substantial amount of money on his 21st birthday if he continues to not smoke- £100,000- which will go to fixing up the house. Scott speaks to Kate. She says Aunt Lydia moved in after their parents died, as our guardian. Jennifer's always felt most strongly about the house so Ross and Kate said she could stay on, with Lydia.
Outside, Aidan is sneaking a smoke while walking the dog. Emily finds the key to Ferdy's studio and goes up to see what is there. Howard follows her. Jennifer is crying in her room downstairs and hears the footsteps above. The room is empty. Howard is furious. "They must have sold it. She just wiped away all evidence he ever even existed." Howard runs down the stairs and yells at Jennifer, "It was my birthright." Jennifer sees Emily and says, "You? Well I expected this from Howard, but really."
Downstairs, Ross says, "We weren't very sympathetic towards Ferdy. I felt that we should have helped him more through his depression, his breakdown. I never thought that he would actually...."Emily tells the detectives that she only met Lydia on Christmas Eve. "She was a bit weird, but y'know Weird,...wanting to know how my name was spelled and then writing it in her book.
Downstairs, Howard yells at everyone, "Not one single piece of equipment. Didn't you know you should encourage your children's interest?" Dominic says, "Howard, why don't you show me one of your card tricks?" Jennifer walks in and says, "For god-sake stop pestering everyone. Give me the cards. Give me the cards!" Dominic says, "I really don't mind. We all liked doing card tricks at his age."
Howard goes in to talk to Scott and shows him a card trick. Barnaby calls Dr. Bullard and asks if the suicide was faked and that in fact it was a murder? Bullard tells him there was no sign of a struggle. Bullard says, "You know the woman committed suicide? The fiancee. Claire.
Howard explains the card trick to Scott. "I slipped the cards into your pocket as we came from the drawing room. I sat here looking sad fiddling with the cards, and you felt sorry for me. You thought it would cheer me up. I forced you to pick the cards that I wanted. It's all to do with the power of suggestion. Its a big part of magic. Persuading people they've seen things that they haven't."
In the kitchen Digby is cleaning a gun. Barnaby asks, "You planning to doing some shooting? Don't you think it'd be a good idea to give it a miss?" Digby says, "There's a boxing day shoot every year. Its tradition." Barnaby says, "But the threat in the riddle did mention more than one person being dead by midnight boxing day. All those shotguns going off it's not exactly the safest place in the world for you to be. I suggest that this year you do not attend."
In Lydia's room the detectives search and find the hidden door in the wall. In the room are Lydia's diaries. The last entry, "They say the riddle was a practical joke. I wish it was. I just discovered my diary for the year of Ferdy's death is missing. Someone knows what happened. I knew such evil would never just fade away. I told..." The detectives box up the diaries.
Barnaby tells all, "I knew such evil would never just fade away. Got any idea what she meant by that?" Jennifer says, "None whatsoever. She was an extremely mixed up person, as you are aware. The detectives leave. Ross says, "Such evil? What did she mean by that? Are you going to explain it to us because we've all been wondering what happened for quite a long time now." Jennifer says, "And you think you can take the moral high ground now? (Aidan tells them to stop it and runs off) Is that what you think? After drifting around the world for nine years, because you were too weak and too pathetic to face what happened here. While you've been contemplating your navel, I have been looking after Lydia. Bringing up a child, trying to keep the family house together, and without a penny of the millions you inherited." Ross says, "If you feel so blameless then why aren't you going on the shoot tomorrow?" Jennifer says she is going on the shoot tomorrow.
The next day, Aidan tries to get Alfie to go for a walk. Alfie doesn't like the sound of guns. Aidan grabs him by the collar and drags him out.
At the Barnaby's house, Muriel and Douglas are digging holes in the yard using his new metal detector to look for treasure. Scott drives up and shows Barnaby a video found in Lydia's room. It is a video showing Emily and Aidan, who is smoking. Scott also tells Barnaby that Claire drove up to Pritchards wood. Put a hosepipe on the exhaust and gassed herself. Barnaby tells Joyce and Cully he has to leave. He overhears Douglas saying "Of course I didn't swallow it. It was a damned stupid thing to do- a pound coin. I shall tell Joyce, but I think I'll let her stew a bit first."
Barnaby and Scott go to a church to see Claire English's grave. There are old flowers on the grave. At Draycott Hall, Scott plays the video for Aidan and Emily. Aiden tells Barnaby his mom went to the shoot. Scott searches the house for everyone and Barnaby finds Dominic doing card tricks.
Plot, Part 5[]
MURDER 2: At the shoot, Jennifer says, "Where did you get these cartridges? I've just had a dud." She shoots and the gun backfires in her face. Digby runs over. Emily and Aidan run out the door. Barnaby and Scott drive off.
At the shooting site, Dr. Bullard says, "Classic shooting accident. The shooter puts a 20-bore cartridge in by mistake. 20-bore cartridge being smaller than a 12-bore doesn't lodge in the breach but slides a few inches down the barrel. Gun doesn't go off when the trigger's pulled The shooter breaks the gun. The unused cartridge doesn't eject. Put's a 12-bore on top of the cartridge which fits perfectly. And the next time he pulls the trigger...." Barnaby says, "Someone put that cartridge in her pocket deliberately."
Barnaby remembers what Howard said about the power of suggestion. Persuading people they've seen things they haven't. Dr. Bullard comes up and tells the detectives that he has details on who identified the body of Claire English. He gives them a paper.
At Draycott hall, the family discusses what happened. Aidan says, "She was provoked. My mother was provoked into going to the shoot. Someone put that cartridge in her pocket." Howard says, "Well, judging from the various modus operandi I think we can assume the motive was revenge. I wonder what your mother did to... We're all thinking it. Do you know what happened, Aiden? All those years ago?" Barnaby comes in and asks, "Where is Mr. Jones?" Barnaby finds another car door opener in Dominic's room. Barnaby says to Scott, "He left the second remote for me to find in his bedroom. There were two remotes. He was a magician. An illusionist. And a very good one too. My guess is that's how he knew Ferdy. I got a glimpse of his slight of hands skill a bit earlier. Just didn't occur to me, that he could kill Jennifer from half a mile away."
Emily says to the family in the drawing room that Dominic couldn't have done it. "He was their friend for heaven sake. Dominic helped get Lydia out of the garage." Howard says, "You think so? You are the one who heard Lydia calling for help. Did you see Dominic open the door between the corridor and the garage? In fact you could say Dominic rushed to get there first. So you can't be sure whether the door wasn't locked as Lydia claimed." Emily says, "But he couldn't have done that stuff in the garage. He came through the front door." Howard says, "Are you sure?"
Barnaby says, "A false memory created in Emily's mind, by Dominic's considerable powers of suggestion. A clever bit of manipulation. He knew she liked him. She wasn't expecting him to try to trick her. Was she? She was a guest at someone elses house. Wanted to make a good impression. She wouldn't want to contradict him. He was easy and confident. And he garnished it with a bit of factual details. What I think actually happened that night is this: Dominic was waiting outside the garage door. As Lydia pointed her remote, he was using his to close the door. And he nipped in under the door as it was closing and she was leaving. He turns the engine back on. And then pulls the cabinet over just to make it appear like it was maybe just an accident. A safety net in case someone found Lydia before the carbon monoxide had done its job. When the carbon monoxide didn't work. He waited until the middle of the night and somehow tricked Lydia into leaving her room and pushed her down the stairs. When it came to Jennifer, well all he had to do was drop the 20-bore cartridge into the pocket of her shooting jacket and hope for the worst."
Aidan says, "Pure evil has walked alongside us in this house. We're talking about a man who cold-bloodedly murdered the two people who invited him into their home. Into the warmth of their family." Howard finds a present under the Christmas Tree. Howard reads the tag, "To the Villiers family. Happy Christmas." Aidan grabs the book away from Howard. Ross asks for the book. "Its time we learned the truth." Ross reads the diary....
November 30th. Claire is full of surprises. The more I see of her, the more I like her. (Claire says, "Its nice to see one that's genuine.") Today we were in the drawing room and she was looking at a statuette on the mantelpiece. (Claire says, "This is a very valuable piece.") She very kindly offered to get it valued. She is going up to London next week, and said she'd pop in to the auctions. I explained that the others would not approve. So it was probably best not to mention it to anyone, not even to Ferdy.
December 2nd. I had a terrible row with Jennifer today. I can't believe what she is suggesting. (Jennifer says, "A criminal record. hеrοin and theft," Lydia argues, "But Jennifer, private detectives?" Jennifer says, " I think I was justified don't you? Somebody has got to look after Ferdy's interests, he's obviously not going to." Lydia says, "She'd been very kind to me. Offering to..." ) I had to tell her, she just wouldn't let it drop. (Jennifer says, "She is going to make him sell the house and move away. You know its true. Then you know what'll happen. Some decaying old peoples home. Is that how you want to end your days?" Lydia says, "I don't care. I can't do it." Jennifer says, "Yes you can. For Ferdy's sake." For Ferdy?)
December 6th. After Claire had left for London We called the police and said the statuette had gone missing. (Lydia says, "I want to report a theft. Lydia Villiers.") Apparently they put descriptions of stolen valuables on a list, which they faxed to dealers and auction houses. Claire said there was some mistake and that I had asked her to get it valued.They arrested her under suspicion of theft. But when she heard that I was the one who had reported the theft she apparently went very quiet. It was like she'd given up, they said.
Plot Denouement[]
Claire's maiden name was Jones. She was Dominic's sister. Dominic identified the body, but he also knew Ferdy because of their common interest in magic. He introduced Claire to Ferdy, when he put her up for the assistant's job. But why did Dominic wait nine years for revenge. Barnaby and Scott go off to look for Dominic at the church.
Inside the sanctuary, Dominic tells the police, 'Dear old Ferdy was so hopeless with women. My sister was hopeless with men. Or at least picking them. Hopeless with life in general, really. When they met. They found each other. And the future looked so bright for both of them. I didn't know what had happened until a couple of weeks ago. I suspected, but didn't have any proof. I got my break last summer. Lydia let slip that she kept a record of all her bridge games. It suddenly occurred to me that there might be a diary. It took me longer to find than it did you. But when I did It was quite an eye opener." Back at the Barnaby household, Barnaby tells Douglas that Joyce put two pound coins into his Christmas pudding. He has Douglas pull up his sweater and runs the metal detector over his stomach. It beeps (because Barnaby had reworked the settings). Barnaby says, "It looks like surgery there." He tells Joyce, "Don't tell him quite yet. Any chance for a minced pie, Joyce?" Joyce laughs. "In the oven. There's brandy butter and cream on the side."
Back at the Barnaby household, Barnaby tells Douglas that Joyce put two pound coins into his Christmas pudding. He has Douglas pull up his sweater and runs the metal detector over his stomach. It beeps (because Barnaby had reworked the settings). Barnaby says, "It looks like surgery there." He tells Joyce, "Don't tell him quite yet. Any chance for a minced pie, Joyce?" Joyce laughs. "In the oven. There's brandy butter and cream on the side."
Cast[]
- John Nettles as DCI Tom Barnaby
- John Hopkins as Sergeant Dan Scott
- Jane Wymark as Joyce Barnaby
- Laura Howard as Cully Barnaby
- Barry Jackson as Dr. George Bullard
- Haydn Gwynne as Jennifer Carter
- Margery Mason as Lydia Villiers
- Bruce Alexander as Dominic Jones
- Mel Martin as Kate Frears
- Philip Quast as Ross Villiers
- William Chubb as Digby Frears
- Alice Patten as Emily Hide
- Dominic Colenso as Aidan Carter
- Rory Copus as Howard Frears
- Lydia Leonard as Phoebe Frears
- Kevin Doyle as Ferdy Villiers
- Claire Carrie as Claire English
- Daphne Oxenford as Muriel
- John Burgess as Douglas
- Bryan Matheson as Vicar
- Harry Gostelow as Doctor
- Charles Millham as Detective
- Christopher Sutton as Aidan Aged 11
- Gemma Bourne as Phoebe Aged 12 (as Gemma Martin)
- Luke Foster as Howard Aged 4
- Tim Treloar as Drinker in Pub
- Laura Jeffree as Girl
- Zoe Verner as Drunk Girl (uncredited)
Galleries[]
Body Count[]
Prior to the Episode
Committed suicide by shooting himself with a shotgun 9 years ago.
Committed suicide by routing the car exhaust gas into the car and locked herself in, suffocating with the fumes. This happened 9 years ago, after hearing Ferdy killed himself.
In the Episode
Lured outside of her room by imitating Alfie's scratching on the door then pushed down the stairs and died later in hospital after failing to kill her by car exhaust gas in her garage prior.
Had a 20-bore cartridge put in her pocket, and at the shooting party she put the cartridge into a 12-bore shotgun which did not lodge but slid a few inches down the barrel. As she breaked the gun, the cartridge did not eject, then she put a 12-bore cartridge in and the next time she pulled the trigger, the 12-bore was fired into the unused cartridge, resulting in the shotgun exploding in her face and killing her.
Supporting Cast[]
Episode Images[]
Arrests[]
Dominic Jones for the murders of:
Notes[]
The following actors and actresses who appeared in this episode have also appeared in the following episodes:
- Tim Treloar - Birds of Prey, The Fisher King and Secrets and Spies
- Harry Gostelow - Birds of Prey
- Charles Millham - Hidden Depths and Last Year's Model
- Haydn Gwynne - Dark Secrets
- Kevin Doyle - The Oblong Murders
- Daphne Oxenford - Four Funerals and a Wedding and Blood Wedding
- John Burgess - Blood Wedding
- Bryan Matheson - The Axeman Cometh
Trivia[]
- This episode was filmed during series seven, but it was broadcast as part of series eight.
- Draycott House is actually Harpsden Court, Harpsden, Oxfordshire. This location is also used in The Debt of Lies.
- The film Scott falls asleep watching is Dead Of Night.
Trials and Tribulations of DS Dan Scott:
- Scott is alone on Christmas Eve, but gets invited to the Barnaby's for dinner and leftovers.
- Scott gets to enjoy card tricks by Howard and is mystified by them.
Video[]
Midsomer Murders Series 7 Episode 7 - Ghosts of Christmas Past Preview
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