Midsomer Murders fans 'work out' return of 'best detective' after heartbreaking exit

Midsomer Murders fans are in a frenzy of excitement over the possibility that Jason Hughes might make a comeback as DS Ben Jones. The actor has been sorely missed by viewers since he left, despite his crucial role in the series after joining back in 2005.

His exit had a significant impact, but now, with some uncertainty swirling around Neil Dudgeon's character, DCI John Barnaby, enthusiasts are holding out hope for Jason's return.

The buzz began when someone posed the question on a fan Facebook page: "How do you feel about Jason Hughes coming back to the new season?"

The query was met with an eager flood of replies; one supporter expressed their enthusiasm by saying: "Yes, he was the best detective."

In the online discussions, more voices chimed in with pleas of "Please come back," and affirmations like "Come back the programme needs you.," as reported by the Express.

Jason elaborated on his decision to depart the show to the Daily Mail, blaming the relentless filming schedule for his departure: "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.

"My health was beginning to suffer, and the relentless exhaustion meant I was no good to anyone not at home and definitely not on set. After ten months of this routine, any breaks I took were marred by colds that dragged on forever.

"Just as I'd start feeling a bit better, it would be time to dive back into it all again. It got so bad that my doctor diagnosed me with exhaustion and ordered me to rest."

Jason Hughes waved goodbye to Midsomer Murders in 2013, but after popping up in Series 19 in 2017, fans are buzzing about the possibility of his return.

Neil Dudgeon is still at the helm of Midsomer Murders and while he has no current plans to leave, Betway's latest odds have sparked speculation on who might step into DCI John Barnaby's shoes. Vera's Kenny Doughty leads the pack with odds of 4/1, followed by Death in Paradise's Ralf Little at 5/1.

The betting doesn't stop there, with Daniel Casey at 6/1, Samuel Barnett at 10/1, Nicholas Lyndhurst at 20/1, and Martin Clunes, known for Doc Martin, also at 20/1.

Chad Yeomans from Betway shared insights with the Newcastle Chronicle, saying: "We make the ex-Vera star Kenny Doughty the favourite at 4/1 to replace Neil Dudgeon should he ever stand down as DCI John Barnaby."

Adding to the excitement, he remarked: "Rounding out the top three in the betting market is Daniel Casey at 6/1, who our traders think could be in line to make a return to Causton as the main character! Or could the legendary John Nettles at 80/1, who recently turned down a cameo role in a proposed remake of Bergerac, be tempted to play the famous detective chief inspector one more time?"