Midsomer race-row producer to quit

Production company All3Media launched an internal investigation after the publication of Brian True-May’s comments that part of the show’s appeal was an absence of ethnic minorities.

A statement on its website said: “Brian True-May has been reinstated as the producer of Midsomer Murders.

“Brian apologises if his remarks gave unintended offence to any viewers.”

An ITV spokesman said: “We welcome the apology from Brian True-May and understand that he will step down from his role on Midsomer Murders at the end of the current production run.”

Mr True-May told the Radio Times that the ITV1 programmes – which have run for 14 series – “wouldn’t work” if there was any racial diversity in the village life.

He said: “We just don’t have ethnic minorities involved. Because it wouldn’t be the English village with them. It just wouldn’t work.”

Midsomer Murders, based on the books by Caroline Graham, was launched in 1997 and has featured 251 deaths, 222 of which were murders.

True-May has also banned swearing, violence and sex scenes from the show, which recently returned with new lead actor Neil Dudgeon replacing John Nettles.

The programme is broadcast to 231 territories around the world, but it has been found that ethnic minorities apparently avoid it.

A study in 2006 found that Midsomer Murders was “strikingly unpopular” with minorities.