Top Telly: ITV's Midsomer Murders: Small Mercies

John Nettles and Jason Hughes are back on the trail of mystery and mayhem in “Small Mercies” episode of the top-rating ITV1 drama MIDSOMER MURDERS, from Bentley Productions.

When a man is killed in a model village and tied down like Gulliver in Lilliput, DCI Tom Barnaby (John Nettles) and DS Ben Jones (Jason Hughes) discover a community full of traditions, tourist attractions and tea rooms.

But behind the guide books and picture postcards, the residents of Little Worthy hide many secrets from one another. As Barnaby and Jones investigate, the killer strikes again amid the chaos of the annual fancy dress boat race. The sleepy hamlet of Little Worthy is shaken when a man’s body is found tied down in the model village, just like Gulliver in Lilliput. Sisters Harriet and Hilary Compton, who own the miniature village, are stunned, but caretaker Bob Moss seems more upset about the blood on his figurines from the violent stabbing.

Victim Richard Tanner was a man who didn’t want Little Worthy to move with the times. His sister Jackie reveals he recently jilted his lover, schoolteacher Rebecca Rix, and Barnaby finds her classroom is full of children’s paintings about Gulliver’s Travels.

The local hotel, Franklins, is run by Edward Palfrey and his simple girlfriend Bernice. Edward’s rebellious teenage daughter Christa is devastated at news of Tanner’s death.

Rebecca tells Barnaby and Jones that Edward suggested the school’s Gulliver theme. Meanwhile, Mike Johnson from the gift shop and Kate Dove from the tea room are having a secret affair. Mike begs Barnaby to let the annual fancy dress craft race along the river go ahead as planned.

Can the detectives persuade anyone to tell the truth about the villagers of Little Worthy?

“Small Mercies” features more top-name guest stars including David Ryall, Margaret Tyzack, Caroline Blakiston, Abigail Thaw and Jesse Birdsall.

Jane Wymark returns as Barnaby’s long-suffering wife Joyce, Barry Jackson is pathologist Dr Bullard and Kirsty Dillon plays DC Gail Stephens

MIDSOMER MURDERS attracts top viewing figures on ITV1 and is one of the UK’s best programming exports with sales to 230 territories from Afghanistan to Zambia.

A 13th series is already in production, as John Nettles prepares to hand over his responsibilities to a new detective.

Producer Brian True-May says: “We are delighted that MIDSOMER MURDERS has become part of British television history and that it continues to draw high audiences in the UK and around the world.

”In the 12 years that we’ve been going so far, Barnaby has solved more than 200 murders, we’ve hired 900 actors and nearly 21,000 extras, and we’ve used over three million feet of film!”

“Small Mercies” is written by Peter J Hammond and directed by Peter Smith. The executive producer of MIDSOMER MURDERS is Brian True-May and the series is made by Bentley Productions, part of the All3Media Group, for ITV1.

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Midsomer Murders: Small Mercies starring John Nettles

A man is found murdered in the middle of a model village

Starring John Nettles, Jason Hughes, David Ryall, Margaret Tyzack, Caroline Blakiston, and Jesse Birdsall.