MLivepool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Cast: Neil Dudgeon, Gwilym Lee, Fiona Dolman, Tamzin Malleson, Dean Andrews, Rakie Ayola, Lucie Jones, Claudie Blakley, Clarke Peters, Therese Bradley, Daniel Brocklebank, Chris Cartwright, Anthony Farrelly, Sean Gilder, Stephen Hagan, John W. G, Harley, Michael Haydon, , Richard Banks, Rosalind March, Stuart St. Paul, Ricky Raipal, Mick Slaney, Anick Wiget.

Death always needs a great theme tune. It is the signifier to a very good film or television detective series that an oncoming loss of life by nefarious means is accompanied by a memorable song or instrumental piece. If The Omen had a soundtrack, that say for example, was light and pithy would it have made young Damien seem more brutal or somehow as cuddly as a panda with an overbearing affection disorder?

Like all the great detective programmes, Midsomer Murders’ theme tune is quite distinctive, it has that gravitas of the unworldly attached to it and yet in the episode The Ballad of Midsomer County, the theme tune became relegated as a memory aid and was replaced the gentleness of a Folk song which not only captured death but personified it as well and after the disillusionment of the previous encounter with D.I. John Barnaby’s team in which Magic was the great illusion, The Ballad of Midsomer County was a wonderful episode to return to form with.

Somebody somewhere must have counted just how many villages in the county of Midsomer have had something special about them, something unique that sets them apart from the rest of the county in which murder is appreciated. For the residents of Lower Crosby, its famous Folk Festival is the highlight of its year but now its founder wants to move it closer to London and for this betrayal, old grievances and long forgotten secrets are revealed.

The Ballad of Midsomer County will also be memorable for the growing inclusion of black actors and characters. It always seemed odd that this very popular programme seemed to sidestep the issue of how ethnically diverse a set of islands we are by never portraying differences that are so fairly obvious within its two hour time slot and in this particular episode, having the gracious talents of Rakie Ayola and Clarke Peters bringing a certain elegance to the screen was enlightening and defining.

With former X Factor contestant Lucie Jones also appearing as an aspiring Folk singer and niece to a former glorified Folk legend, the episode was certainly one of firsts and highly enjoyable for it.

Death doesn’t always come with a tune attached to it, murder though seems to relish having its own soundtrack.

Midsomer Murders continues next Wednesday.

Ian D. Hall