Midsomer Rhapsody
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.