Midsomer Murders detective opens up on 'easy' decision to leave ITV series

Midsomer Murders favourite Daniel Casey has lifted the lid on his choice to depart the ITV drama.

Daniel and John Nettles starred together on the programme from its launch in 1996 until Daniel's exit in 2003.

In a fresh chat on BBC Breakfast, Daniel reflected on his departure, confessing it wasn't a tough choice.

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Presenter Sarah Campbell grilled Daniel about leaving Midsomer Murders and whether it proved a "difficult decision".

"It was fairly easy, actually," the actor revealed before continuing, "I started when I was 24, and left when I was 30. Funnily enough, I was thinking about it, and I was watching a rugby match, and there was commentary," reports the Express.

"It was last-minute, and it was South Africa versus New Zealand, and New Zealand were three points behind, and they had a penalty, and I said, 'Oh, you should have kicked the goal'. They said, 'No, they kicked to the corner'."

He went on, "And I said, 'Well, that's a risk'. And the commentator said, 'Oh, the only risk in life is never to take a risk'.

"It felt like he was talking to me, and I thought I didn't come into this job to do the same thing year on year on year. So I thought, it's a nice time to just step off the cliff and see what else is out there."

The performer, who initially portrayed DS Gavin Troy opposite John Nettles' Detective Tom Barnaby in the beloved ITV series, is preparing to take on DCI Tom Barnaby in a fresh theatrical adaptation of the programme.

When discussing his comeback, Daniel grinned: "It's really exciting, really exciting. It's lovely to come back. I never thought that I would revisit this amazing, weird, wonderful, strange, old world again, but, but yeah, it's lovely to be embarking on a tour and bringing it to the stage.

"It's the original episode, The Killings of Badgers Drift. It's very faithful to that original, and that kind of the actuality that you have in the television series. It lends itself beautifully to the stage."

BBC host Jon Kay then quizzed the actor about his "big promotion" and taking on the role previously occupied by John Nettles.

"It's quite daunting, actually," Daniel confessed. "It's amazing. It's really wonderful.

"John is such a lovely man, and it was such an important part of my early career, and he said it himself. He said, 'I learned at the feet of the master,' and actually, I did.

"He was incredible, and I stood beside him for what, seven years, so a lot of that has influenced me, I hope."

BBC Breakfast broadcasts daily at 6am on BBC One.