Neil Dudgeon (born 2 January 1961) is an English actor who, since 2010, has played DCI John Barnaby in the ITV drama series Midsomer Murders. He replaced John Nettles in the lead role in 2011. Credited role in 1989 film Red King White Knight

Neil Dudgeon
Born (1961-01-02) 2 January 1961 (age 63)
Doncaster, England
EducationIntake Secondary Modern School
Alma materUniversity of Bristol
OccupationActor
Years active1987–present
Known forMidsomer Murders
SpouseMary Peate
Children2

Early life and education

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Dudgeon is the son of James C Dudgeon and June M Weeks. He has an older sister, Lynne W Dudgeon. He was born in Doncaster in 1961, where he was raised. At that time, it was a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, but is now in South Yorkshire. He attended Intake Secondary Modern school in Doncaster, among other schools. He acted in several school plays, (including Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead), then went on to study drama at the University of Bristol (1979–82).[1]

Career

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Dudgeon made his first screen appearance in 1987. The following year, he appeared as a Second World War pilot in Piece of Cake, alongside Tim Woodward, Jeremy Northam and Nathaniel Parker.[1]

As well as occasional appearances in series such as Casualty, London's Burning and Lovejoy, he appeared in 1994 as Detective Constable Costello, a one-episode subordinate to Detective Inspector William Edward "Jack" Frost (played by David Jason), in the TV series A Touch of Frost, in 1998-99 as George the Chauffeur in The Mrs Bradley Mysteries (alongside Dame Diana Rigg), in Inspector Morse (episode "The Way Through the Woods"), Between The Lines, Common As Muck (in 1994 & 1997), Out of the Blue, Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Silk Stocking, The Street and four series of Messiah with Ken Stott.[1]

He also appeared in the romantic comedy film Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, playing the taxi driver who takes the title character to meet Mark Darcy (played by Colin Firth) towards the end of the film.[1]

In 2007, Dudgeon appeared in the eponymous role of self-made millionaire Roman Pretty in the BBC2 sitcom Roman's Empire. From 2009 to 2011, he played a main character in BBC's Life of Riley. The same month the final season of Life of Riley aired, Dudgeon played the role of one time Football League secretary Alan Hardaker in the TV drama United, which centered on the events of the 1958 Munich air disaster involving Manchester United.[2]

In 2010, Dudgeon appeared in an episode of the ITV crime drama Midsomer Murders called "The Sword of Guillaume". He was introduced in the episode as the cousin of Detective Chief Inspector Tom Barnaby, played by John Nettles, who retired from the role. Dudgeon, also cast as a senior detective, took over as the lead character in Midsomer Murders after the last episodes featuring John Nettles were screened in 2011. Dudgeon's character name is DCI John Barnaby, which has been suggested may be a vehicle for continued sales to territories where the show is known as "Inspector Barnaby".[3] Dudgeon had first appeared in Midsomer Murders in the opening episode of the fourth series ("Garden of Death"), playing a secondary character.[1]

In 2012, Dudgeon starred as Norman Birkett on BBC Radio 4's Afternoon Play series in four plays written by Caroline and David Stafford, based on Birkett's cases.[1]

Personal life

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Dudgeon is married to BBC Radio producer Mary Peate. They have two children.[1]

Filmography

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Film

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Year 1989 Title Red King White Knight Role Russian Defector Vlasek Notes
1987 Prick Up Your Ears Policeman
1990 Fools of Fortune Sergeant Rudkin
1996 Different for Girls Neil Payne
2000 It Was an Accident Holdsworth
2004 Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason Taxi Driver
2007 Son of Rambow Joshua

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1987–1990 Screenplay Crowson / Brink 2 episodes
1987 London's Burning Gary Woods 1 episode
1988 Piece of Cake 'Moggy' Cattermole 6 episodes
1989 Saracen Jimmy 1 episode
Red King, White Knight Vlasek TV movie
1990 Alive from Off Center Brink 1 episode
1991 Lovejoy DS Graham Bentley 1 episode
Casualty Mick 1 episode
The Bill Stanley Houseman 1 episode
1992 Resnick: Lonely Hearts William Doria 2 episodes
Between the Lines D.S. Alan Hanson 1 episode
1993 Sharpe's Eagle Gibbons TV movie
Resnick: Rough Treatment William Doria TV movie
1994 A Touch of Frost DC Costello 1 episode
Screen Two Priest 1 episode
Fatherland Sex Crimes Cop TV movie
1994–1997 Common As Muck Ken Andrews 12 episodes
1995 The All New Alexei Sayle Show Himself 3 episodes
Inspector Morse David Michaels 1 episode
1995–1996 Out of the Blue D.C. Marty Brazil 12 episodes
1997 Breakout Dr. Neil McFarlane TV movie
The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling Puppeteer's Assistant 1 episode
1998–2000 The Mrs Bradley Mysteries George Moody 5 episodes
The Canterbury Tales The Miller 2 episodes
2000 Midsomer Murders Daniel Bolt Episode: "Garden of Death"
2001–2005 Messiah Duncan Warren 2 episodes
2002 Murder in Mind Edward Buttimore 1 episode
2004 Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Silk Stocking Lestrade TV movie
2005 Rose and Maloney Alan Richmond 1 episode
2006 The Lavender List Joe Haines TV movie
The Street Brian Peterson 4 episodes
Sorted Harry Goodwin 6 episodes
2007 Coming Up Doctor 1 episode
Roman's Empire Roman Pretty 4 episodes
Coming Down the Mountain John Philips TV movie
Most Evil Narrator 3 episodes
2008 Silent Witness Det-Supt. Paul Barker / Det Supt Paul Barker 2 episodes
Survivors Sean 1 episode
2009 Kingdom Terry 1 episode
2009–2011 Life of Riley Jim Riley 20 episodes
2010 The Nativity Joachim 3 episodes
2011 United Alan Hardaker TV movie
2010– Midsomer Murders DCI John Barnaby Series 13 (guest)
Series 14–22 (regular role)
2012 The Charles Dickens Show Lord Shaftesbury 1 episode
2013 Playhouse Presents Jim 1 episode

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Spotlight On: Neil Dudgeon". Acorn. Archived from the original on 11 January 2014.
  2. ^ United at IMDb
  3. ^ Simpson, Oli (9 February 2010). "Dudgeon confirmed for 'Midsomer Murders'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 10 February 2010.
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