Annette Badland is back in the role of feisty pathologist Fleur Perkins as Midsomer Murders returns to ITV for its 21st series. GEMMA DUNN finds out more
Fleur, they like that she can put the men in their place, and they relish her dry wit. I love that the creators have made me a bit feisty.
THERE’S one that centres on a Strictly Come Dancing-style ballroom competition.
While I don’t dance in the episode, it reminded me of how astounded I was when I first saw my parents do the foxtrot, as I had no idea they could even do it.
Prancing around the floor they went, and it was such a beautiful dance. I loved Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers so that is a dance I love watching.
I was born in the 1950s, so I am a bit more hippie and free-form, a little bit John Travolta.
TOM HARDY. Why not? I haven’t worked with him, but I would like to, and I would certainly like him on the slab. He is top of my list.
Most people are dead by the time I meet them, so we don’t get to play that much.
This year, in a few episodes, you see Fleur in action doing her autopsy work and I enjoy doing that despite the very long medical terminology.
BEING in something that fans continue to enjoy, the camaraderie on set and the generosity within the whole group.
I think that comes from the top (as) you have a great guy in Neil, and there is an enormous kindness on set, which is so important.
The world is getting tougher and Midsomer, for all its deaths, is a very kind place to live.
They have values about people and how they’re treated, there is a great deal of humanity on set.
Sometimes it can be more about product than anything else but Midsomer has heart.
Midsomer knows who it is and there is a strength in that and a lot of that comes from the fact it has always held good values and I guess the audience senses that. It has to be inherent in the programme.