Daniel Casey Opens Up on Taking Over John Nettles’ Iconic Role in Midsomer Murders Stage Show
Daniel Casey, best known for his role as DS Gavin Troy in Midsomer Murders, has admitted that stepping into John Nettles’ shoes is “daunting”.
The actor, who starred as Troy, Detective Chief Inspector Tom Barnaby’s first partner, during the show’s first six series, is now taking the lead in a stage adaptation of Caroline Graham’s The Killings at Badger’s Drift, the novel that inspired ITV’s hit drama.
Speaking on BBC Breakfast, Daniel confessed: “It’s quite daunting, it’s amazing, it’s wonderful.”
He reflected on his time working alongside John Nettles, who played Barnaby on screen from 1997 to 2011: “John’s such a lovely man, and it was such an important part of my early career and he said it himself, ‘I learnt at the feet of the master,’ and actually I did.
He was amazing and I stood next to him for seven years, so a lot of that has rubbed off I hope, and I’m really excited.”
While Daniel is taking on the legendary role, he emphasised that he wouldn’t stray far from the character fans know and love: “The lines are the lines and the character is the character, and Caroline Graham wrote a beautiful book and it gives you lots of character breakdown there and John used a lot of that. I’m not going to be deviating that far but it will be my voice, it will be me, and it will be my version.”
Reflecting on his own departure from Midsomer Murders in 2003, Daniel revealed it was “fairly easy” to leave.
He explained that he had joined the series at 24 and, six years later, was inspired by a rugby commentary: “The only risk in life is never to take a risk. It felt like he was talking to me.
I didn’t come into this job to do the same thing year on year, so I thought it was time to step off the cliff and see what else is out there, and I’ve had an amazing time.”
He added: “It’s been brilliant, I think you want a varied career.”
Looking ahead to the stage tour, Daniel described the experience as “really exciting” and “lovely to come back.”
He noted that the theatrical production offers something different from the television series: “But Midsomer has always had that theatricality, those characters have always been larger than life.
It’s very faithful to that original, and that theatricality you have in the television series lends itself beautifully to the stage.”
Fans of the classic British drama can expect a fresh but familiar take on Barnaby, with Daniel Casey bringing his own voice to one of the country’s most beloved detective roles.
