EXCLUSIVE: Midsomer Murders star Neil Dudgeon has paid tribute to his “fantastic” co-stars

Midsomer Murders actor Neil Dudgeon has paid tribute to his “absolute treasure” co-star as he discussed his return as DCI Barnaby in the popular ITV series. Filming for the forthcoming series of Midsomer Murders is currently in progress, with Neil reprising his role as DCI Barnaby alongside his sidekick Sergeant Jamie Winter (played by Nick Hendrix) and Dr Fleur Perkins (Annette Badland).

However, in an exclusive interview with Reach PLC, Neil revealed what it was like working with his cherished co-stars. When asked what it was like working with Nick and Annette “so closely”, Neil said, “It is great. Annette has played Fleur for years and years and is still there.

“Whenever we meet her, she’s saying, ‘Oh, you know, I’ve just come back from such and such, where I’ve been filming this, and I’m going to Manchester next week,” reports the Express.

“She’s in three or four days, and episodes in between, she’s going off doing all sorts of things, but she’s in great demand, because she’s such an absolute treasure.”

He continued, “And Nick is fantastic, and I feel very blessed. I’ve always felt very blessed because when I started, I had Jason Hughes, who was the Sergeant.

“And then when Jason left, I thought ‘Oh, it won’t be the same’, and then Gwilym Lee came along, and it changed him because Barnaby and Jason’s characters were more similar in age, they had a different kind of relationship, and me and Jason had a different kind of relationship, which was hilarious.”

Sharing an amusing behind-the-scenes anecdote, the DCI Barnaby star continued, “And we behaved terribly. I remember one day we were both so overcome with the hysterics that the director said to us, ‘You can’t carry on until you calm down…alright, both of you out’.

“And he sent us out of the location, and to the car park to calm down, which just made us worse.” Going on to heap praise on his co-stars, the actor added, “And then Gwilym came along, who was just wonderful and lovely and fantastic.

“And then when he left, I thought, ‘Oh no, I can’t be lucky a third time’. And then Nick came along, and he’s just fantastic. He’s great to work with, and I think we get along pretty well, and it’s so important, because for the five months or so that we’re filming, you meet up at seven o’clock in the morning, and you’re standing next to each other, working with each other until seven o’clock at night.

“You know, it’s like 12 hours a day, five days a week for five months. During that period, I’m seeing much more of him than I am of my own family. I think if you’re doing that with somebody you didn’t get on with, that would be really, really hard.”

Midsomer Murders is available to watch on ITVX.

The difference in injury time between Sunday’s FA Cup quarter-final involving West Ham United and Leeds, and Manchester City‘s 4-0 win over Liverpool a day earlier was stark.

While Craig Pawson added 11 minutes on at the London Stadium, allowing the hosts to come from 2-0 down in that period to force extra time and a penalty shootout, Michael Oliver did not add on a single second in the tie at Etihad Stadium.

Social media was awash with supporters asking how Oliver could just ignore the laws of the game and choose to play no added time.

After all, there were two goals and six stoppages for substitutions in a game that that was eventually settled 4-2 on penalties in Leeds‘ favour.

But it is far from unusual in cup games where a match is effectively over.

A couple of years ago Pierluigi Collina, Fifa’s head of referees, was talking about added time and when it might be acceptable to cut it short.

The Italian made a good point. He said in cup ties that have no likelihood whatsoever of the outcome changing, blowing up early can be OK.

But Collina also pointed out that should never be the case in a league game, because goal difference can always be crucial.

Zero added time is not seen very often in England, but Uefa referees are told they can end a match bang on time if there is nothing to be gained by playing on. Oliver is, of course, a Fifa and Uefa referee.

Take a look at a couple of Champions League games last month.

Chelsea‘s tie with Paris St-Germain and Barcelona against Newcastle both had no added time, with the English sides losing by aggregate scores of 8-2 and 8-3 respectively.

Once you look at the stoppages in the West Ham game, you can see the 11 minutes was justifiable.

Plus two substitutes, a couple of VAR checks and other delays.

So while it might have appeared excessive, it was explainable.

“When we are ever in the lead it feels like a crazy amount of time on it,” said Leeds boss Daniel Farke afterwards. “When we are chasing a game it feels like it is only three minutes.

“You have to deal with it and it is up to the officials to decide. I’m used to accepting the officials decisions and I try to not complain about it. It is what it is.”

Despite the SNP having lost the four election campaigns fought while Mr Swinney has been leader – for Westminster in 2001, Holyrood in 2003, the European Parliament in 2004 and the 2024 general election – the First Minister stressed that “obviously I want to go into this election with the objective of winning it”, adding that his party is “in a very strong position to do so”.

Statutory sick pay and parental rules changes are now in place

More than a million workers will get access to statutory sick pay for the first time thanks to new employment rights. New rules on sick pay and parental leave come into force today (April 6).

The TUC said 1.2 million workers – mostly low-paid women – are set to get access to statutory sick pay for the first time. While 8.4 million people will benefit from sick pay paid from the first day of illness.

Previously, workers who earned below a threshold of £125 a week were not eligible for statutory sick pay. The TUC said that before today’s changes, workers had been left with no choice but to go into work when they were ill.

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Tens of thousands of workers will also get access to day one paternity leave under measures in the Employment Rights Act. It means that as well as stronger sick pay, fathers and partners will now have a day-one right to paternity leave – and all parents will gain the day-one right to unpaid parental leave.

The TUC said this first tranche of rights being delivered through the act represented a “landmark day” for workers. Business Secretary Peter Kyle said: “Day-one rights mean exactly that: rights that are there for you from the moment you start a job, and from the moment you get sick.

“Whether you’re a low-paid employee who’s been forced to work while unwell, or a new parent who wants to be there for their family, these changes are for you. We’re delivering the most significant upgrade to workers’ rights in a generation.”

TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said: “After years of campaigning from unions and workers, the first individual rights from the Employment Rights Act are coming into force – and they will change lives up and down the country. Sick pay for all, paid from day one of illness is a huge step forward.

“For too long, low-paid workers – especially women – have missed out on any form of sick pay. Even those who were eligible for statutory sick pay had to wait four days before they could claim it.

“That left many with no choice but to go into work when ill – risking spreading and prolonging their illness. That’s why today’s changes are much needed.”

Abby Jitendra, principal policy adviser at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, said: “Good jobs give us security and stability. The new rights introduced today extend the security many of us in good jobs enjoy to millions of low-paid workers.

“Workers will no longer pay a penalty for being on a low income and falling sick, with sick pay for all workers from day one. New dads will also have a right to time off to look after their partner and bond with their newborn from their first day at work.

“The changes in the Employment Rights Act bring more workers closer to jobs that they can be proud of, where they truly get out what they put in.”

Petra Wilton, the Chartered Management Institute’s policy director, said: “Managers are not being given the tools they need to fully understand how the rules of the workplace are changing, some of them quite dramatically. This creates a real risk for both employers and employees and could lead to preventable workplace tensions.”

When last seen she was wearing light and dark blue bottoms, a black puffer coat and light coloured trainers

Police in the Newry area are currently searching for a 17-year-old who has been reported as missing.

Officers say Layla Rose Smith has not been seen since 15.30 on Saturday, April 4 2026. When last seen she was wearing light and dark blue bottoms, a black puffer coat and light coloured trainers.

Layla is approximately 5 foot 4 in height with brown shoulder length hair.

Issuing the missing person appeal on Sunday, a PSNI spokesperson said: “If anyone knows where Layla currently is or has any information to pass onto ourselves please contact us on 101 quoting the police reference CC1660 of 4/4/26.”

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

We are back after Saturday’s goalfest in the FA Cup quarter-finals and this afternoon West Ham take on Leeds United at the London Stadium. It is a draw which raises the question of whether both teams can put their Premier League predicament aside in the hope of a Wembley trip for their fans.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s side come into the match having drawn six of their last eight games in 90 minutes across all competitions. Despite this new-found consistency, a lacklustre performance in their last outing against Aston Villa cost them crucial ground in the relegation battle, with Nottingham Forest moving three points clear with their win at Spurs. At home, West Ham have not lost a game at in the last three months.

Posing as a tricky side to defeat in front of their home crowd, they strive to keep this cup run alive and reach their first FA Cup semi-final since they finished runners-up in 2006. Twenty years on, this competition has been something to savour for the London side this year, despite relegation hanging over them.

Has this relentless cup form reignited West Ham’s optimism and given the squad new belief heading into their final eight games of the season? With a two-week gap following the international break, there’s been plenty of time to park the relegation doubts and focus on today. Nuno has always excelled in the FA Cup reaching the semi-finals twice before with both Nottingham Forest and Wolverhampton Wanderers. You would expect him to utilise this experience in today’s fixture in hopes of continuing West Ham’s unlikely run through the competition.

Meanwhile, Leeds find themselves in a similar sticky situation. Despite having only lost twice in their last nine games, they still face a daunting run with the relegation zone just over their shoulder, four points clear of the drop. Leeds have drawn a blank in their last two games, but they will have 9,000 fans in the away end in east London.

In the Premier League against West Ham, Leeds proved to be the dominant side, victorious in their last encounter. A deeper FA Cup run would do wonders for their campaign and hopefully ease the ever mounting pressure in the league. History looms over them having lost their last three FA Cup quarter-finals, it will demand a mammoth effort to reach their first semi-final in the competition since 1986-87.

Kick-off is at 4.30pm, with line-ups on the way shortly.

The AA says up to one in five badges may be used by someone other than the holder

A record surge in Blue Badge ownership has sparked urgent calls from motoring experts for a nationwide crackdown on parking permit fraud.

New analysis of Department for Transport data reveals that one in 20 people in England now hold a permit, marking an all-time high of 3.07 million users. While these badges provide a vital lifeline for people with disabilities, the AA warns that as many as one in five permits may be used illegally by people who are not the authorised holders.

The sharp 8% increase in badge holders over the last year is largely driven by a 2019 policy change that expanded eligibility to include non-visible conditions such as dementia, Parkinson’s, and epilepsy.

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Consequently, more than two-fifths of badges issued in the most recent cycle were granted without a formal medical assessment.

Usage varies significantly across the country, with the North East recording the highest proportion of holders at 6.1%, while London maintains the lowest at 3.5%.

Permit holders enjoy significant benefits, including the ability to park for up to three hours on yellow lines and exemptions from the capital’s £18 daily congestion charge.

However, AA President Edmund King expressed deep concern over the rising levels of abuse, citing instances of counterfeit badges, the use of permits belonging to deceased relatives, and the resale of stolen badges.

He said: “The blue badge scheme is a mobility lifeline for millions of legitimate users and their families. Our concern is not the absolute number of badges issued but the estimates that up to one in five badges may be used by someone other than the holder or authorised user.”

Mr King added: “Fraud is an issue which can include family misuse, use after death, counterfeit badges and theft and resale of badges. We would welcome a crackdown on illegitimate use of badges to safeguard the deserving users.”

Local authorities have already begun escalating their enforcement efforts to combat these crimes.

Recent prosecutions in Croydon resulted in offenders paying nearly £6,000 in fines and costs, while councils in Oxfordshire and Gateshead have successfully convicted drivers for using permits belonging to others.

The Local Government Association has urged the public to report suspected misuse, noting that even though some disabilities are not immediately visible, the act of “lazy” or “fraudulent” parking is a criminal offense that deprives those with genuine needs of essential access.

Large plumes of black smoke could be seen billowing from a unit at the height of the fire on the estate in the Tyne Dock area of South Tyneside.

It is understood that the fire broke out at about 4.15pm today.

The fire on Mitre Place, South Shields. (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

Two engines were seen battling the fire on Mitre Place, South Shields.

In a post on X, the Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service advised residents to keep windows and doors locked and urged people to avoid the area, if possible, while they tackled the fire.

It is understood the fire is being brought under control, but fire personnel are expected to be at the scene for some time.

Trump’s comments over the weekend stand in contrast to several he made last week, including a televised address on 1 April, in which he suggested that the US had already created the conditions necessary for other countries to engage in the Strait. “Take it, protect it, use it for yourselves,” he told allies.

Taylor Little became so badly addicted to her smartphone that she felt she had lost many of her teenage years. “I was literally trapped by addiction at age 12 and lost my teenage years because of it,” she said. Her addiction was to social media, which led to suicide attempts and prolonged depression.

Molly Russell, at just 14, took her own life. Her parents blame the apps on her phone for exposing her to graphic and disturbing content that took control of her mindset.

These stories are not unique. Data from thousands of people shows that social media increases loneliness, depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts. Last week, a jury in California found that Meta and YouTube were liable for causing a teenager’s addiction to social media. The idea that social media causes harm is no longer in dispute.

The proposed response – in Australia, now proposed in the UK and elsewhere – is to ban social media for under-16s. It is an understandable impulse. But there are good reasons to think it won’t work – despite politicians claiming a successful start to the ban.

Teenagers have always found ways around rules. Getting an older sibling to buy alcohol is a time-honoured tradition. When it comes to social media, teenagers are more tech-savvy than the adults trying to restrict them, and evidence is emerging that many are working around the age verification systems put in place to enforce bans, such as by using VPNs (virtual private networks).

Rules will exist, but compliance will be patchy and hard to enforce. Those most determined to access social media may also be the most resourceful in getting around restrictions. This means that the teenagers most at risk may also be the least affected by a ban. Evidence from other areas shows that when certain activities are driven underground, they often become more harmful.

Not neutral tools

Even if the bans worked perfectly, they would address only part of the problem. It is difficult to disentangle the harms of social media from the devices that deliver it.

Smartphones are not neutral tools: they are engineered to hold attention through constant notifications, “frictionless” access to content, and rewards for regular interactions. Research links smartphone use – not just social media – to disrupted sleep, impaired attention and cognition, mental health problems, physical ailments such as chronic back pain and addiction.

Social media is one component of a broader “smartphone ecosystem”, and targeting one app while leaving the ecosystem intact is unlikely to solve much.

If social media is blocked, teenagers are not going to put their phones down. They will migrate to mobile games, group chats and endless web browsing – activities that rely on the same design features driving their social media use: notifications, streaks (features that track consecutive days of use and reward consistency), infinite scroll. The problem is not any single app but a pattern of behaviour that will find new outlets.

Nor is this only a problem for teenagers. Adults struggle with excessive smartphone use too. Heavy use is associated with poorer sleep, reduced attention and higher stress – and in some respects the adult consequences are more severe. Distracted driving, often fuelled by phone use, kills thousands of people every year.

This matters for teenagers because behaviour is learned by watching others. Children who see parents, teachers and other adults checking their phones absorb that as the norm. A policy that targets only young people does nothing to change the culture they are growing up inside.

And opting out is becoming harder for everyone. Primary school children are expected to use smartphones for homework – on apps that share more than a passing resemblance to addictive games. Online banking has become more difficult without one. Workplaces assume employees are reachable via multiple WhatsApp groups at all hours.

When opting out means opting out of modern life, restricting access to one category of app starts to look less like a solution and more like a gesture.

If the goal is to reduce harm, the focus needs to widen. The deeper issue is the central role smartphones now play in everyday life – for all of us, not just teenagers. That points towards different kinds of intervention: delaying smartphone adoption among younger children, encouraging simpler devices, redesigning compulsive features across all apps, and ensuring that essential services such as banking, education and travel stop assuming everyone is glued to a screen.

Banning social media for teenagers may feel like decisive action. But until the broader dependency is addressed, it will not deliver the change its advocates are hoping for.