The final leg of our 2024 Iconic British Classics Tour of England has us cautiously entering the quiet English country village of Dorchester-on-Thames, the home of a number of filming sequences of Midsomer Murders, where the body count is in excess of 200 over the years. As we left the coach in front of the White Hart Hotel, we immediately counted off so that we didn’t leave anyone behind over the next couple of hours.

Visiting various locations throughout the village, we were immediately able to recognize scenes from a number of Midsomer episodes including “Things That Go Bump in the Night”, “Dead in the Water”, “The House in the Woods”, “Four Funerals and a Wedding” and “Dance with the Dead”.

After hearing some behind the scenes filming insights from out brilliant guide, Graham, with stops along the way at The George Hotel, Dorchester Abbey, Fleur de Lys, the Midsomer Post Office and the Midsomer Newton Museum, we headed to the White Hart Hotel for a bit of lunch.

Taking a bit of chance into our own hands by having a bite without a food taster, we survived lunch and then headed to Warborough which has all the classic appearances of a typical Midsomer village with a cricket pavilion, village green, church and, of course, a country pub.

As you know, timing is everything in Midsomer and this didn’t disappont as we rounded the corner and were treated to a local cricket match where the locals did there ever-loving best to explain the ‘ins and outs’ of the game.

We saved the best of our Midsomer tour for last before heading back to Windsor as we couldn’t resist the opportunity for a pint at one of the most recognizable locations that has appeared in at least 6 episodes, The Six Bells pub. Seen in at least six episodes, the Six Bells has not only appeared under its own name but also as The Quill Inn, The Black Swan and The Luck in the World. Frequently, it was the home of DCI Barnaby and Sergeant Troy as they discussed their latest case.

Having survived our brief period of time in a small English village, our full group headed back to Windsor for a last night together with a very special guest joining us to put a cap on our 2024 tour.

Ian McNeice, best known as Bert Large, plumber and local Portwenn entrepreneurial businessman who tries and fails at numerous get rich quick schemes, joined us for dinner sharing once-in-a-lifetime stories from the 10 series of Doc Martin.

While I will also remember Ian as the alcoholic sous chef Gustave LaRoche on the brilliant British comedy series Chef starring Lenny Henry, Ian’s career has seen him portray Winston Churchill in four episodes of Doctor Who, Fulton Greenwall in Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls starring Jim Carrey, in addition to parts in the 2005 film adaptation of Douglas Adams’ The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, an episode of Midsomer Murders and Lewis.

As with most accomplished British actors and actresses, Ian’s career began on the theatre stage starting at the Taunton School in Somerset, followed by the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) and two years at the Salisbury Playhouse. The next few years were spent in theatre, including a four-year period with the Royal Shakespeare Company.

I couldn’t begin to say farewell to the UK without first saying a huge thank you to Ian, Jim, Andrew and everyone that accompanied us this year for the KERA/Transcendent Travel Iconic British Classics Tour of England. Before heading to Heathrow, I’m already looking forward next year! In the meantime, I know that I can watch Midsomer Murders in the comfort of my own home knowing I survived my brief time in one very important small English village…at least, this year. Cheers!