The Killings at Badger's Drift is the pilot episode of the popular ITV crime drama Midsomer Murders and was originally broadcast on 23rd March 1997.
Background
The episode was adapted from the novel of the same name by author Caroline Graham and was screenplayed by Anthony Horowitz, who was also well-known for adapting dramas such as Foyle's War and Agatha Christie's Poirot. It was directed by Jeremy Silberston. It is the first appearance of Detective Chief Inspector Tom Barnaby and Detective Sergeant Gavin Troy, played by John Nettles and Daniel Casey respectively.
Synopsis
When elderly Emily Simpson stepped out for a walk one sunny afternoon in the forest she never expected to see what she did. Something emerges through the trees, something she was never meant to see and that means she must be silenced. DCI Barnaby and DS Troy arrive in the village of Badger's Drift to discover an array of eccentric characters all with their own sinister intentions. And does the murder have anything to do with a shooting at the local manor that happened one year ago? Nothing is quite what is seems and both Barnaby and Troy look into the case.
Plot
When gentle spinster Emily Simpson is murdered in her own home at the seemingly tranquil village of Badger's Drift, it attracts the attention of DCI Tom Barnaby and DS Gavin Troy of Causton CID when her friend Lucy Bellringer (Rosalie Crutchley) is unconcvinced that Miss Simpson died of natural causes. Suspects include Iris and Dennis Rainbird (Elizabeth Spriggs and Richard Cant), the Lessitor family which includes Trevor, the local GP ((Bill Wallis), wife Barbara (Diana Hardcastle), and daughter Judith (Jessica Stevenson). Others include Henry Trace (Julian Glover), who is the landowner and is engaged to younger Katherine Lacey (Emily Mortimer); his estate manager is David Whitely (Christopher Villiers) and not forgetting Katherine's artist brother Michael (Jonathan Firth) and Phyllis Cadell (Selina Cadell). Barnaby also learns of the shooting of Henry's first wife Bella two years ago.
Cast
- John Nettles as DCI Tom Barnaby
- Daniel Casey as DS Gavin Troy
- Jane Wymark as Joyce Barnaby
- Laura Howard as Cully Barnaby
- Barry Jackson as Dr. George Bullard
- Renée Asherson as Emily Simpson (as Renee Asherson)
- Rosalie Crutchley as Lucy Bellringer
- Jonathan Firth as Michael Lacey
- Emily Mortimer as Katherine Lacey
- Julian Glover as Henry Trace
- Selina Cadell as Phyllis Cadell
- Christopher Villiers as David Whitely
- Richard Cant as Dennis Rainbird
- Elizabeth Spriggs as Iris Rainbird
- Bill Wallis as Dr. Trevor Lessiter
- Diana Hardcastle as Barbara Lessiter
- Jessica Hynes as Judith Lessiter (as Jessica Stevenson)
- Barbara Young as Anne Quine
- Avril Elgar as Mary Sharpe
- Cory Pulman as Terry Bazely
- Peter Jordan as Counseller 1
- Marlene Sidaway as Counseller 2
- Jonathan Oliver as Counseller 3
- Simon Godwin as Giovanni
- Neil Conrich as Duty Police Officer
- Paul Putner as Policeman
- Nigel Asbridge as Vicar
Notes
- Elizabeth Spriggs and Richard Cant later portrayed Iris Rainbird's sister, Ursula Gooding and nephew Alistair Gooding respectively in the second episode of Series Nine entitled Dead Letters.
- Christopher Villiers was the first actor to originate a recurring character in the series, his character David Whitely later appeared in the Series Two episode entitled Death's Shadow.
The following actors and actresses have appeared in subsequent episodes:
- Selina Caddell;
- Richard Cant;
- Marlene Sidaway;
- Christopher Villiers.
Galleries
Body Count
Shotgun to the chest
Broken neck after being struck from behind
Stabbed in neck with butcher's knife
Stabbed multiple times with butcher's knife
Committed suicide while in police custody
shotgun - part of murder/suicide pact with brother Michael
Self inflicted shotgun after shooting sister Katherine
Supporting Cast
Episodes images
