Midsomer madness

Brian True-May has been reinstated in his job as producer of the popular crime mystery series Midsomer Murders, set in rural England.

However, it now appears that Mr True-May and his politically 'correct' bosses, will be parting company at the end of the current series of the programme, one of All3Media's most successful productions.

In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act (Orwell).

The Mail Online report now follows.

New evidence Midsomer Murders' boss WAS pushed: He said he wanted control for 'decades' just days before exit

By Daily Mail Reporter

Last updated at 10:37 AM on 28th March 2011

Was he pushed? Midsomer Murders' producer Brian True-May quit after an interview he gave to the Radio Times sparked a race row

Midsomer Murders' executive-producer Brian True-May said he planned to remain at the helm of the hit ITV show for 'years to come' just days before he was suspended, it has been reported.

Mr True-May quit the show after sparking a race row by saying he did not use black and Asian people in the series because ‘it wouldn’t be an English village with them’.

True-May, who is the creator of the crime drama, was reinstated on the show last week but will step down at the end of the series.
He had previously maintained he had quit 'out of choice', but the latest reports would suggest he had no intention of leaving and may have been forced to go.

An article in the Daily Express gives details of an unpublished interview in which he claims he would remain at the prime time drama for 'decades'.

However it is unclear whether this interview was given before he told the Radio Times that Midsomer Murders was the 'last bastion of Englishness' and relied on an ‘English genteel eccentricity’.

He also said that if he had more minority cast members ‘we might be in Slough’ and suggested it would not work if there was racial diversity in the village.

True-May has since apologised through production company All3Media, who said that he was sorry if his remarks gave 'unintended offence'.

Primetime: The controversy has not affected ratings with six million viewers tuning in to catch the first episode of the new series
He said his comments had been misinterpreted and he was being victimised and being made to feel like a criminal.
He said: 'According to the press reports I am going to be investigated as if I was a criminal. There’s not a lot to investigate.’
When asked to respond to claims from viewers that the reaction to his comments was ‘hysterical’ – he said: ‘You said it, not me. But I agree.’
However the controversy has clearly not affected the show's ratings with a staggering six million loyal viewers tuning in last week to catch the first episode in a new series of the popular televison drama.

The comments below have been moderated in advance.

Ever thought why BBC don't show repeats of 'It Ain't Half Hot Mum'? Yes you guessed it the PC brigade once again. This was one of the best comedy series ever produced and the reason for the lack of repeats, they caste an Indian as an Indian, the trouble was bearer Rangi Ram, played by Michael Bates was white. This is total childish nonsense. What about Yule Brynner in the King and I, Marlon Brando as a Mexican in Viva Zapata, Charles Bronson as a native American in Chato's Land. What is wrong with all these PC meddlers, don't they want us to have fun?
- Maldwyn, Carmarthen, 28/3/2011 14:49

Yet more pandering to the PC brigade
- Keith, leamington spa, 28/3/2011 14:46

ALL 3 MEDIA should grow [a backbone] instead of hiding under their desks at High Holborn in London.They should back the man who has made them their money and reputation for so many years.It's obvious they've had a knee-jerk reaction to critisism or they just don't understand their own output.Sad really.
- collette, london, 28/3/2011 14:07

There was a black person on the bridge in the new episode. Leave Brian alone........Midsomer is fictional and in fiction you can do what you want. There are very very few people of non-white-britishness living in small villages so in fact he is not showing anything untrue. Lots of non-white-British folk watch this programme and the majority have no problem with it. There are only a very small number of darker skinned people working in the town I live in but they live elsewhere. Even our little 24/7 corner shops are staffed by British people and the postman is Welsh. According to the 2001 census the population of my town was 33,837. Slightly larger than the average village and still no foreigners................
- Jas, Yorkshire, 28/3/2011 14:04

Well, there is a surprise, he was pushed! He should be reinstated and all this PC rubbish put on the back burner. I am utterly sick of it. IT'S A TV PROGRAMME! IT'S FICTION. IT'S ENTERTAINMENT! If you don't like it SWITCH OFF!!!!!!!!!!!
- Sue, Devon, uk, 28/3/2011 13:44