Buckinghamshire is trying to boost its tourism numbers by launching a new campaign based on Midsomer Murders – despite the show being set in Oxfordshire. Bosses are hoping its connections with the popular murder mystery programme - watched by millions of fans worldwide - could lead to a spike in visitors. The three new Midsomer Murder tours are hoped to attract post-lockdown staycation visitors. The Coach in Marlow Lucy Dowson, of Visit Buckinghamshire, said: Our businesses have had a torrid time so when it s safe to do so we want to encourage people to explore. Lots of people will have watched Midsomer Murders in the past year and there is an appetite for locals to get out and for people to come from further afield when it s safe.
BBC News
By Katy Lewis and Laurence Cawley
BBC News, East
image captionJohn Nettles played Detective Chief Inspector Tom Barnaby for the first 13 series
With the UK s tourism and hospitality sectors ravaged by the coronavirus pandemic, the county of Buckinghamshire has turned to an unlikely source of hope: its connections with a popular murder mystery programme. Why?
First aired in 1997, ITV s Midsomer Murders is watched by millions of fans and syndicated worldwide.
Although the heart of the fictional crime drama is set in south Oxfordshire, a significant portion of the filming takes place in neighbouring Buckinghamshire.
The county s tourism body hopes its three Midsomer Murder tours might be just the ticket for those seeking a little post-lockdown excursion.