RSC actor Gwilym Lee to joing Midsomer Murders cast

John Nettles in ITV's 'Midsomer Murders' (ITV)

Shakespearean star Gwilym Lee is joining the cast of Midsomer Murders.

The actor, a regular with the National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company, will play DS Charlie Nelson in the ITV show following the departure of Jason Hughes' DS Jones.

He said: "I am delighted to be joining such a popular and long running series as Midsomer Murders. I have always watched it and can't wait to start work on it now, as a regular character. It's a bit of a dream come true and I am even looking forward to the various stunts that lie ahead of me - I know Barnaby doesn't like jumping into freezing lakes."

Neil Dudgeon, who plays DCI John Barnaby, said: "It will be good to bring a new character into the series - and keep Barnaby on his toes."

Filming on the 16th series starts this month and will be broadcast later this year.

So far, the death toll in the show stands at 291 with 268 murders including someone being electrocuted by a faulty microphone, another killed by a poisonous frog and someone crushed to death by shelves of blue cheese.

PA