Episode Thoughts by June Whitfield

Getting married in MIDSOMER MURDERS proved to be an enjoyable – if chilly – experience for June Whitfield.

“Peggy Alder is in a retirement home and she meets a chap called Charlie through her love of music. Her daughter Joan was a great musician before she died so that is what Peggy loves in him.

“They are a very good partnership – he is an eccentric character but she is just as bad. They probably have midnight games of scrabble, but they genuinely care for each other.

“We get married in a very cold old church out in the country. It was February and absolutely freezing especially when we had to take off jackets and coats. But I did manage to smuggle in a pashmina and I had legwarmers underneath my outfit!”

Peggy is still upset about the death of her famous daughter, especially when a murder in the village is connected to Joan’s most famous composition, Midsomer Rhapsody.

“I think the past all comes back to haunt her. She is quite reflective throughout it all. Although she lost Joan 20 years ago it still preys on her mind. She has another daughter but it’s as if she slightly resents the fact that the talented daughter died, and she is left with the other one.”

Adds June: “Peggy is quite a complicated character with a history and her mind wanders a bit. There’s quite a dark story going on.”

The role required June to sing.

“I have sung in my youth and I can vaguely keep in tune for a short time. I have to sing ‘We’ll Meet Again’ and Trevor Peacock as Charlie is accompanying me on the piano. We are all rather sad as someone has just died.

“But playing Peggy was tremendous fun and I had some very nice, smart clothes and some slightly comical moments. I’m a MIDSOMER MURDERS fan and I’ve seen all the films so it was great working with John Nettles and meeting them all. I rather enjoyed being grilled by Barnaby!”

June began her career in the 1940s and she has worked with Tony Hancock, Frankie Howerd, Benny Hill, Arthur Askey and Dick Emery, amongst others. Her credits include Terry and June, The Pallisers, Bless This House, That’s Show Business, The Best Things In Life, Cluedo, Absolutely Fabulous, Wyrd Sisters, Common As Muck, All Rise for Julian Clary, The Last of the Blonde Bombshells and Mirrorball.