Midsomer Murders viewers seriously distracted after spotting major change to fan-favourite – but did you notice?

MIDSOMER Murder fans have remarked on the astonishing change they noticed in one character after tuning in to season 23.

The transformation left viewers curious about how much time is passing in between each season.

Midsomer Murders has returned to screens for a new installmentCredit: Alamy

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Viewers pointed out that one of the characters has changed dramaticallyCredit: Alamy
As DCI John Barnaby (Neil Dudgeon) and his partner DS Jamie Winter (Nick Hendrix) prepared to take on a new investigation, people pointed out something strange about one of the characters back in the village.

Detective Barnaby’s daughter Betty was only a toddler in season 22.

However, she has now sprouted up and can be seen in a school uniform having her hair braided before class in one scene.

One viewer joked: “Betty must be the fastest-growing child in human history.”

Another pondered: “If ever I needed proof that there’s always such a gap between episodes of Midsomer Murders, it’s seeing how Barnaby’s daughter has gone from literal toddler to schoolgirl in a matter of no episodes at all.”

A third agreed: “I get the feeling a lot of time has passed (narratively) since the last Midsomer Murders. 5-10 years, in fact. Everyone looks much older including Betty!”

Fans of Midsomer Murders were delighted to see the second installment of the series back on screens after its release was delayed because of the Euros.

In the episode, ex-cop Damian Bennet (Gary Beadle) was found dead after being suspected of stealing cash from a robbery bust.

Bizarrely,  Barnaby and Winter end up solving the complex case – thanks to a sample of chicken poo.

One of the leading stars of the murder mystery recently called for ITV bosses to make a change to the show.

ITV slammed by viewers after slapping Midsomer Murders with a trigger warning
Neil Dudgeon said that the broadcaster is letting fans down by taking so long to screen each episode.

He added: “I think this is a shame. For an audience with any programme, they like to know when their show is going to be on, say, for the next four weeks. But they stopped doing this some time ago.”

Crime dramas on ITVX

Crime drama buffs have a wide selection of choices on ITVX – here is a selection of some of the programmes available to binge.

Professor T: Based on a Belgian TV series of the same name, former Death in Paradise lead Ben Miller plays the title character. Professor Jasper Tempest is a criminologist with OCD who helps the police solve crimes. The cast also includes Emma Naomi, Barney White and Andy Gathergood.
The Beast Must Die: This series follows a mother’s grief for her son, who was killed in an accident. Nicholas Blake’s novel of the same name has been adapted for the programme. Stars include Cush Jumbo, Jared Harris, Billy Howle and Geraldine James.
Red Eye: Starring Richard Armitage, Jing Lusi and Lesley Sharp star in this six-part thriller, which mostly takes place  during an all-night flight between London and Beijing. With dead bodies piling up and a mystery to unravel, the heroes must work fast to get to the truth.
The Twelve: This Australian drama originally aired as a miniseries in 2022, with the episodes dropping in the UK in February 2023. Four months later, the show was renewed for a second season. Jurassic Park star Sam Neill stars in the leading role of barrister Brett Colby.
Manhunt: Martin Clunes stars in this drama based on true murder investigations. Series one focused on the death of Amélie Delagrange, which took place in 2004, while the second depicted the search for serial rapist Delroy Grant.