Midsomer Murders will return this year, kicking off with a surprising Strictly Come Dancing crossover.
The 21st series of the crime drama starts on ITV later this month, and will star several Strictly finalists in a remarkable whodunit.
Read more: Strictly’s Oti Mabuse enjoys night out with former partners Kelvin Fletcher and Danny Mac
The first episode will focus on the murder of a professional dancer, and the suspects involved in the case will look awfully familiar to fans of the BBC dance show.
I’d be the worst contestant they’ve ever had!
They include season six winner Tom Chambers, series 14 finalist Danny Mac, season 11 runner-up Natalie Gumede, and season 16 finalist, Faye Tozer.
Danny’s character is named Anton Walsh – a nod to Strictly’s most popular pro dancer Anton du Beke perhaps?
Read more: Strictly’s Ashley Roberts breaks silence on The Masked Singer rumours
Former Casualty star Jaye Griffiths also stars, as does Corrie fave Nigel Havers.
Hang on a minute, this is sounding like THE best episode of Midsomer Murders EVER!
The hour-long visit to the fictional county of Midsomer, entitled The Point of Balance, will air on Wednesday (January 21) and sees the four Strictly stars dragged into a whodunit storyline as DCI John Barnaby and DS Jamie Winter investigate the mysterious death of the pro dancer.
Midsomer is buzzing at the Paramount Dance Extravaganza – but behind the sequins and smiles are deep running feuds and passions, and the desire to win outweigh just about anything.
The dead pro was not competing in Midsomer’s dance competition but should have been…
Neil Dudgeon, aka detective Barnaby, recently insisted he would never appear on Strictly himself because he’s a “terrible dancer”.
Appearing on This Morning, he said: “I might spoil it for everyone. I am really bad at being told what to do or taught to do anything.
“I’d be the worst contestant they’ve ever had!”
Neil, who replaced former lead actor John Nettles in 2011, has also reassured fans that Midsomer Murders is unlikely to end anytime soon.
He said: “I think the show can go on and on. The premise is, ‘something investigation-worthy happens somewhere rural and two policemen turn up to find out what’s gone on’. Around that, write any story you want.”
Are you excited to see Midsomer Murders crossover with Strictly? Leave us a comment on our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix and let us know what you think!