As millions of fans know, the county of Midsomer is the murder capital of Britain.
It’s a fact not lost on the cast and scriptwriters. Sergeant Scott once asked DCI Barnaby: “Is the body count always this high around here? To which he replied: “It's been remarked upon.”
So here is itv.com's guide to the best ever episodes… and the most hair-raising slayings. The first one is the favourite of producer Brian True-May. It’s truly vintage.
Hidden Depths - series eight
Egotistical lawyer Otto Benham (Oliver Ford Davies) is drugged, trussed and made into a human target in the middle of his croquet lawn, then fired on with bottles of his favourite vintage wine from a replica Roman catapult.
Death's Shadow - series two
The Barnabys are planning to renew their marriage vows at St Michael’s church, run by genial vicar Stephen Wentworth (Richard Briers). But as the great day approaches, a local property developer is beheaded with an ornamental Indian sword.
The Electric Vendetta - series four
A man’s body is found in a corn circle near Midsomer Parva with burns to the hands, puncture marks on the lower back and a tuft of hair shaved from the back of the head – classic signs of an alien abduction. Or is it?
Orchis Fatalis - series eight
Retired classics teacher and unlikely sexual siren Madeline Villiers (Marty Cruickshank) smuggles a rare and valuable orchid into Midsomer Malham. But she gets her comeuppance when she is forced to drink hemlock.
Sauce for the Goose - series eight
Food wars in Midsomer end in a painful death when a visitor to Plummer’s famous piquant sauce factory is crushed against towers of relish bottles and dumped naked into a 200-degree steriliser.
The Fisher King - series seven
Womanising landowner Gareth Heldman (Henry Ian Cusick) is killed by a violent blow from a Celtic spear, as villagers prepare to celebrate the solstice at the ancient mound of Midsomer Barrow.
Dark Autumn - series four
Adulterous postman Dave Cutler (Rupert Walz) is brutally scythed down with a billhook belonging to a local woodcutter as he delivers the post. His reputation in Goodman’s Land is no secret and any of the menfolk could be out for revenge.
A Tale of Two Hamlets - series six
Film star and ladies' man Larry Smith (Charlie Beall) pays tribute to Upper Warden’s famous author, Ellis Bell, at the opening of a "Satanic Experience" in his honour, but he is blown up in an unexplained explosion as he retraces the mystery writer’s steps.
Judgment Day - series three
Joyce is chosen to judge a "perfect village" competition, but things are far from perfect in the village of Midsomer Mallow when womanising tearaway Peter Drinkwater (Orlando Bloom) is stabbed to death with a pitchfork.
