love to see the celebrated American singer and actress land a cameo on the show.
He told TV Times: “Well if I could have anybody, I’d probably go for Liza Minnelli.
“I took my mum once to see her at the Royal Albert Hall in London and she was just sensational!
“She could play a fabulous musical diva who retired to a little village in Midsomer for a quiet life, little expecting that things are going to get terribly exciting with lots of murders!”
The long-running series returned to screens this week and includes a guest appearance from ‘Oppenheimer’ star Tom Conti, as Challis Court resident Sebastian Cabot.
Neil shared: “It’s a great episode, you’ve got this young couple who are a celebrity baking sensation and they’ve recently moved to Midsomer.
“But the traditional villagers don’t like it, which causes tension.
“On top of that, things that happened many years ago come back with plenty of repercussions.
‘Midsomer Murders’ launched in 1997 and when asked what he thinks is the recipe its success, Neil said: “It’s wonderful that people love it so much. I think it’s partly down to its longevity and all the eccentricities and the terrible murders!”
Midsomer Murders enthusiasts are abuzz with speculation that Jason Hughes might reprise his role as DS Ben Jones in the beloved ITV series. Jason, who became a staple of the show after joining in 2005, left fans stunned when he departed from the drama.
Despite his exit, viewers are hopeful for his return, especially amid concerns over Neil Dudgeon’s character, John Barnaby. A fan on a dedicated Facebook page sparked the conversation by asking: “How do you feel about Jason Hughes coming back to the new season?”
The response was swift and enthusiastic in the comments section, with one fan declaring: “Yes, he was the best detective.”
Others echoed the sentiment, urging: “Please come back.” and stating: “Come back the programme needs you.”, reports the Express.
Jason bid farewell to Midsomer Murders in 2013 but made a cameo in Series 19 in 2017, suggesting a potential comeback isn’t off the cards.
In an interview with the Daily Mail, the actor opened up about his reasons for leaving, citing the gruelling schedule: “I was completely burned out from getting up at 4.30am in Brighton to get the train to London and then on to wherever we were filming in Buckinghamshire, and then doing the journey back and getting home at 9pm.
“It was starting to affect my health and I was so tired I was no good to anybody, either at home or at work. That would go on for ten months, and when I had a break I’d get colds that went on for weeks.
“Then just as I was getting better I’d have to start the cycle all over again. My doctor told me I was suffering from exhaustion and the only answer was rest.”
