The Christmas Haunting is the first episode of the sixteenth series of the popular ITV crime drama Midsomer Murders and first aired 24th December 2013.
Synopsis[]
DCI Barnaby and DS Nelson investigate the fatal stabbing of a man with an antique sword during a ghost-hunting party at a ‘haunted’ manor house. Is blacksmith’s daughter Rose Wilton seeking revenge from the beyond the grave, or can Barnaby and Nelson find a more earthly motive behind the murder and trap the killer?
Plot[]
December 23..First Fright Night.. Around 3 am in Morton Shallows, a group goes on a ghost hunt at the Manor House. Pippa Fergus-Johnson leads the group of ghost hunters and Dev Kardek has electronic equipment to test temperature levels. Local furniture maker and serial philanderer, Conor Bridgeman grabs singing teacher Felicity Hearn and leads her upstairs to make out. Pippa directs the ghost hunters to spread out and look for orbs, cold spots and knockings. And if they are lucky the ghost of the Blacksmith's daughter will appear. Dev reports the temperature has plummeted. Upstairs, Felicity runs away when a doorknob turns. Conor asks who is it. Someone wearing night vision goggles stabs him with a sword. He falls and the toys in the room start playing.
At the Barnaby house, DCI John Barnaby and wife Sarah Barnaby joke about her pregnancy. Sarah is decorating a Christmas tree. DI Ben Jones has moved to Brighton and Barnaby has a new Detective Sergeant, Charlie Nelson.
Barnaby drives to Morton Shallows, "Most Haunted Village in England 2003." It is a dark, bleak town with tacky Christmas decor. A swing in a rundown playground squeaks as it swings in the wind. Barnaby greets his new DS Nelson. He reports that victim, Conor Bridgeman, a bespoke furniture maker, was run through with a sword twice. He was at Fright Night- a paranormal investigation having to do with the ghost of a blacksmith's daughter. Barnaby asks Nelson not to call him Gov.
Inside the Manor House, Tabby Fergus-Johnson adds alcohol to her tea from a flask. Her husband, Simon Fergus-Johnson opens window shutters, but the room is still dark and dismal. Valerie Fergus-Johnson serves tea and biscuits. The participants in the ghost hunt hover around the room. Brendan Pearce, a local historian, tells Barnaby and Nelson that "Little Rose Wilton" did it. "Her father was ill so Rose carried a Yule Log to the Manor House as a seasonal offering. She was thrown out on Christmas Eve 127 years ago. The poor wretch got caught in a snowstorm and crawled to her tragic death. This is her revenge." Nelson says, "That's that then. Open and shut case."
Pathologist, Kate Wilding tells the detectives Conor died around 3 am. The sword came from a display on a wall in another room. Kate asks Barnaby if he's missing Jones. He says, "Not in the slightest." Kate shows Barnaby a flyer that was in Conor's pocket- "Stop the Fright Nights. Do not meddle with forces beyond your control or vengeance will strike."
Downstairs, Valerie offers tea to people. Dev asks Pippa if she heard anything last night. Simon tells Barnaby and Nelson that the Fright Night was a program put on by Pippa and Dev to reclaim the village's title as most haunted village. They go outside where there is a light dusting of snow on the ground. It is dark and gloomy outside.
Barnaby goes to talk to Mel Bridgeman. She asks if Conor was with a woman. Barnaby, indiscreetly, tells Mel that Conor was with Felicity Hearn, who was Mel's singing teacher. Mel says the business is doing well. Ross Clymer owes them money. Simon approached Conor about refurbishing the Manor House and turning it into a hotel. Simon has no money. Conor offered to buy the Manor House. Negotiations were ongoing and increasingly fractious.
Nelson interviews Felicity. She met Conor at a recital. She hasn't lived in the village long. She says she didn't know Conor was coming to Fright Night. She told him she was coming and he just turned up.
At the Blacksmith Arms pub, Barnaby goes to talk to Ross Clymer. He is hosting a paranormal event that evening. He says his pub is the old forge. The Wilton family lived there. People staying there have reported hearing voices and footsteps. They have been doing paranormal events for years. They are the original ghost location as opposed to the Manor House. The Manor House plans to open a rival business. Simon shouldn't even be there. The place should have gone to Valerie. She was a saint to their old man. Ross says half the husbands in the village had issues with Conor Bridgeman.
Mel walks out of her shop and sees her brother Ollie Tabori. Mel tells him that Conor is dead and tells him to stay away from her.
At the police station, Nelson is listening to tapes from the house. There is a voice, "You're all going to die, you're all going to die." Someone is faking phenomena. Barnaby has Nelson list suspects: 1. Mel Bridgeman, 2. Ross Clymer, 3. Simon Fergus-Johnson. Barnaby tells Nelson to check Tabby's phone records.
Barnaby goes to speak to Valerie Fergus-Johnson. She says she doesn't miss the Manor House. Valerie says her father had a stroke when she was 13. She took care of him until he died. She's never had a holiday or gone out of Midsomer. Her brother, Simon, and his wife were off traveling the world, living the high life. Simon inherited the Manor House outright. Valerie was never interested in Conor. He was a ladies man and she wasn't his type. The swords at the house were late Victorian, maybe made by the actual blacksmith who features in the ghost story.
Simon and Tabby argue in the kitchen of their house. Simon wants to know where Tabby was last night. She says she went for a drive. Pippa jumps up and says, "I am here, you know." She leaves and goes up to Dev's room. He has papers on the wall and video cameras of various sites. Dev is busily typing but minimizes his document when Pippa comes in the room. He says things should be alright for tonight. He is more concerned about the caves on Christmas Eve- Streaming a live event. Pippa is upset about her parents. Dev says, "Yours are barking." Dev leaves to deal with Uni stuff.
On the Main Street of the town, Brendan is outside ringing a bell and collecting money for charity. A Santa drives by on a flatbed truck complete with reindeer and music playing from a loud speaker. Valerie comes up to Brendan and puts coins in his pail. Valerie suggests that the committee use the money for the playground. Brendan rudely says to her, "What do you care- you haven't got any children." Ollie Tabori watches from a shop door.
Dev taps on the window of the pub. Ross Clymer tells him the pub is shut. Kate Wilding invites Nelson for a drink later. He looks like he could use one.
Brendan arrives back at the tea room with money he's collected that day. His wife Liberty is putting a rack of postcards outside the shop. Brendan is excited about the notoriety Conor's murder will bring the village. Brendan says, "Every cloud, Libs, Every cloud! No such thing as bad publicity." Lib points out brochures delivered to the shop. They can't afford them. They don't get enough customers. Brendan goes to a back room and locks the door.
Ollie Tabori knocks on Valerie's door. She is shocked to see him.
Felicity is teaching a student when Mel comes over to see her. The student leaves and Mel comes in. Felicity looks nervous. She tells Mel she's sorry. Mel says she knew she could never trust Conor. But Felicity! Mel knew Conor was a flirt but could Felicity not have resisted? Felicity starts to cry.
Ollie and Valerie talk. Ollie is world weary. He says Valerie hasn't changed a bit. They stare at each other. Ollie asks Valerie if she wants to go where they used to.
At the Manor House, Tabby is on the phone with Ross Clymer. She ignores Pippa. Simon looks at her phone. He says, "How low can you sink." Simon says he thought that now they were back she could do without all that. Tabby tells him to be a man, get angry, throw things. He quietly gives her the phone back.
Barnaby goes into the tea shop. Libs is on the phone with the bank. Barnaby buys a book about the haunted village.
Tabby goes to the pub and tells Ross he shouldn't call her. People will get suspicious. Ross wants to talk about "it."
Libs tells Barnaby that Brendan has been involved with the village since their daughter, Debbie, left 4 years ago. Brendan was devastated that she left. She was heartbroken due to Conor Bridgeman. She'd fallen for his "charm and so-called charisma." Brendan is taking a group for a ghost walk to the caves.
Barnaby and Nelson go to the caves where Brendan is giving the tour. Brendan does the tour to promote the village. Barnaby asks if Brendan wanted to get back at Conor for breaking his daughter's heart. Brendan says Conor can rot in hell.
Barnaby tells Nelson he's going on the evening's ghost tour. Nelson shows Barnaby a brochure from the Bridgeman furniture studio compared to the flyer "Stop the Fright Nights"- printed by the same person. Nelson and Barnaby go over to talk to Mel. She says the paranormal isn't meant to be investigated. The tone of the flyer is threatening. She says, "Something bad was meant to happen." Nelson gets a call about Ross Clymer's phone records. He rang Tabby last night.
Barnaby and Nelson go to interview Simon. He is outside burning documents. He says Conor made him an insulting offer for the Manor House. Simon told him to "shove his offer where the sun don't shine." Nelson says they are there to speak to his wife. She says, "We're not exactly joined at the hip." Simon says, "We're not joined anywhere." Nelson asks how well Tabby knows Ross. He rang her over a dozen times. Tabby says they had sex ages ago. She was bored. Ross had a good time and wanted more. Tabby denies having sex with Conor. He liked women younger than her.
Barnaby goes home and greets his wife and asks "How's Bump?" referring to Sarah's growing belly. Sarah asks about Nelson, but Barnaby says nothing.
At the pub, Ross is planning the ghost vigil with Pippa. Ollie Tabori walks in. Ross asks what he wants. Ollie is not welcome. Ross tells him to leave. Ollie says all he wants is a pint. Ross says Nelson, police sergeant, can help kick Ollie out of the pub. Ollie leaves.
Barnaby watches video of the Manor House from last night. Sarah knits a baby bootie.
Second Fright Night. People come in the pub for the ghost vigil. Ross welcomes all. Breakfast is on the house in the morning, assuming they all make it. Pippa tells all to turn off mobile phones. Pippa says it is all about listening. They spread around the building, spaced apart and wait. Nelson asks what they are waiting for. Pippa says, audible manifestations. This is where Rose Wilton lived. Footsteps and crying have been heard. Pippa goes and sits on the stairs. Felicity goes in a room. Everyone turns off the lights.
Barnaby watches video while Sarah reads a book about pregnancy. She asks questions about Nelson. Sarah goes to bed and later comes back downstairs because the baby is kicking. Barnaby continues watching video. On the video, Barnaby sees a jeep drive away from the Manor House with no headlights. It is Tabby. Ross Clymer is walking toward the Manor House. Barnaby heads out to the Blacksmith Arms.
December 24... Nelson hears the voice saying, "You're all going to die." He grabs Felicity who has a recording playing "You're all going to die." Barnaby arrives. Felicity says she was trying to help. Pippa is very angry. Ross isn't with the group so Barnaby goes to look for him. He is on the floor in the kitchen freezer.
Kate says Ross was killed with a single blow from a blacksmith's hammer. He was hit on the head and pushed into the freezer. Nelson guesses this was done to go along with the ghost story. Nelson is upset that he was there in the pub when Ross was killed.
Nelson gave Felicity Hearn a stern warning. He tells Barnaby that everyone was spread out in the pub. He did see a faint red glow at one point. And then it disappeared. And Ollie Tabori was in the pub and was kicked out. He's a major in the marines. Nelson wonders if the red glow he saw was given off by night vision goggles.
Brendan arrives back at the tea shop. He notices the large number of christmas cards on the counter. Libs tells him they are threats for legal action. She says, "I don't think we can carry on." Brendan says, "Of course we can, Liberty." She says, "It's Christmas but we have no money for food." Brendan says, "There'll be a last minute rush." Libs screams at him and leaves the shop. He goes in the office and locks the door.
Nelson interviews Simon and Tabby. He tells them Ross Clymer was murdered. Simon tells him they had a row. About Ross. Tabby says, "You didn't finally go and do something did you?" Simon says he went nowhere near the pub.
Valerie opens her door and finds a bouquet of roses on the doorstep.
Dev has his headphones on while typing his PhD paper. Pippa comes in and tries to see what he is writing. So Dev kisses her to distract her.
Barnaby goes to talk to Valerie and she is on the swing at the playground. Barnaby tells her Ross Clymer was killed last night and he needs to talk to Ollie. Valerie asks why everyone always points the finger at Ollie. Ollie got expelled for messing with the brakes on a school van. The teacher drove it into a ditch. No one got hurt. But Ollie took the rap for it. Only it wasn't him. It was Conor and Ross. It was their word against his. Valerie says Ollie might be at Mel's. She's Ollie's sister.
Barnaby and Nelson go to talk to Mel. She says she and Ollie don't speak. Ollie and Conor never got on. Ollie hated the fact that Mel started seeing Conor.
At night, Ollie and Valerie are on the merry-go-round talking. Ollie has decorated it with blue lights. Nelson receives a message that Ollie Tabori suffers from PTSD and went AWOL three days ago. They think he might be dangerous. Barnaby and Nelson go to find Ollie on the merry-go-round. Ollie tells the detectives he is sick, but not a murderer. Barnaby says both victims were people he knew from school. And they were killed using night vision goggles. Nelson asks if Ollie wants to get back at Conor and Ross. Ollie says leaving the village was the best thing that ever happened to him. He came back to find peace, normality and Valerie.
Pippa carries a Christmas tree to the Manor House. She gets out decorations. Tabby is sleeping with an empty glass.
Nelson tells Barnaby that Dev Karnak went to see Conor a few days before he died. Mel thinks it might have to do with the Christmas Appeal Committee. Brendan is the last one standing. They go to the tea shop to talk to Brendan. He's not there. Libs says he didn't come home last night. Nelson kicks in the office door. Empty Christmas pails are on the floor. Libs says, "Where's the money?"
Pippa is in the dark Manor House sitting on the stairs. Valerie comes in. Pippa says she misses Valerie and granddad. Valerie says she misses Pippa too. Pippa wants her to move back in. Valerie says she can't. Ollie Tabori's back and they are making plans. She may get to see the world.
Nelson tells Libs that the bank said Brendan cashed in the money from the Appeal Fund and changed it into the largest denominations. Brendan comes in the shop and shows Libs his tropical shirt. He says he won some money. When he sees the police, he runs toward the door, but Nelson catches him. Libs says "How could you." Brendan says it's all for Libs. He stole all the money for Liberty. The other committee members are dead so he thought he could get away with it. He wanted to take Liberty to see their daughter.
Nelson gets a call from Uni. They say he isn't doing a PhD in paranormal studies. Nelson goes to Dev's room to see his computer. Nelson opens up Dev's paper, which is titled "Gullibility, Irrationality and the Inability to Confront Reality: A test case Psychological Study." Pippa is furious and throws all his papers around. Dev says, "You can't seriously think all that paranormal stuff is anything but a fantasy?" Dev tells Nelson he interviewed Conor and Ross. They were skeptics too.
Barnaby shows up at Valerie's home. He wants to know if she resented Conor and Ross, whose lies drove Ollie away. Barnaby asks how she could be sure Ollie hadn't done the murders. Valeries says, "Love is not Love which alters when it alteration finds. I've had 24 years to think about him. I had complete faith in him then and I do now." She says she would do "whatever it takes to keep Ollie here."
Barnaby and Nelson go to Barnaby's house. Sarah says she is glad to meet him. The detectives watch the video again. Ross was at the Manor House on the phone. Then the jeep with Tabby arrives back at the house and Ross and Tabby are kissing. They go to confront Tabby about her lie. She was with him during the first Fright Night. Tabby says Ross wanted her to go away with him. Tabby would have been happy if Simon sold the house. Pippa was talking about the Fright Night at her granddad's funeral. Pippa was always closer to Valerie. But Valerie has her own life now. She has Ollie.
Third Fright Night. The detectives ask Dev where Pippa is. She has already gone to the caves. Ollie walks in while Pippa is typing in a computer. Then she cuts off the live feed. Ollie asks if she is streaming live and Pippa tells him that she isn't streaming. She just told Valerie that to get Ollie at the Caves. She puts on her night vision goggles and turns off the lights. Pippa goes after Ollie in the dark with a sword. Nelson shows up and turns on the lights. Barnaby tells her killing Ollie won't solve anything. Pippa says she just wants a family. She killed Conor because he wanted to buy the Manor House. She killed Ross because he was trying to take her Mom away. She wants to kill Ollie because he is going to take Valerie away. Nelson tackles her and Ollie grabs the sword. He thrusts the sword at Pippa, but Barnaby talks him down.
Kate invites Nelson to stay in her box room instead of the hotel. Then he can spend Christmas with her and her sherry soaked Nan. Barnaby opens the card from Jones. He suggests that if they want to call the baby Ben, that's fine by him.
December 25...Christmas evening in the village- Debbie comes in the tea shop. Brendan and Libs hug her. Valerie and Ollie kiss at the playground. Kate and Nelson show up a the Barnaby's. John Barnaby has on a lovely reindeer sweater. It's snowing.
Cast[]
- Neil Dudgeon as DCI John Barnaby
- Gwilym Lee as DS Charlie Nelson
- Fiona Dolman as Sarah Barnaby
- Tamzin Malleson as Kate Wilding
- Mark Heap as Simon Fergus-Johnson
- Nadia Cameron-Blakey as Tabby Fergus-Johnson
- Hannah Tointon as Pippa Fergus-Johnson
- Emily Joyce as Valerie Fergus-Johnson
- James Murray as Ollie Tabori
- Les Dennis as Brendan Pearce
- Elizabeth Berrington as Libs Pearce
- Unknown as Debbie Pearce
- Susie Trayling as Mel Bridgeman
- Jonah Russell as Conor Bridgeman
- Perdita Avery as Felicity Hearn
- Nikesh Patel as Dev Kardek
- Paul Blair as Ross Clymer
- Abigail Clarke as Sophie - Singing School Girl (uncredited)
- Pamela Betsy Cooper as Christmas Shopper (uncredited)
- Chris Cowlin as CID Officer (uncredited)
- Anthony Farrelly as Criminal Investigation Department Officer (uncredited)
- Chris Wilson as Police Officer (uncredited)
Galleries[]
Body Count[]
Prior to the Episode
Got caught in a snowstorm and froze to death near the Devil's Dungeon 127 years ago.
Died from a stroke which was triggered 1 year after his wife died.
In the Episode
During a paranormal investigation a door was slowly opened and as he approached it was stabbed in the costal cartilage and then in the heart with an antique sword which was allegedly made by the blacksmith himself.
During a paranormal investigation the door to his walk-in freezer was left open and as he approached it was killed by a blow to the head with a blacksmith's hammer. Then he fell or was pushed inside and the door was closed to echo the ghost story.
Supporting Cast[]
Episode Images[]
Videos[]
Notes[]
- First appearance of DS Charlie Nelson.
- Long Crendon Manor featured here also is featured as Inkpen Manor in Garden of Death, as the Spiritualist Church in Things that go Bump in the Night, Gary Cooper's house in the Axeman Cometh and as the Fergus Johnson House in The Christmas Haunting.
The following actors and actresses who appeared in this episode have also appeared in the following episodes
- Emily Joyce - A Worm in the Bud
- Nadia Cameron-Blakey - Master Class
- Pamela Betsy Cooper - Schooled in Murder, The Killings of Copenhagen, The Dagger Club, Murder by Magic and Breaking the Chain
External Links[]
- The Christmas Haunting at Wikipedia