ITV Vera star favourite to take over Neil Dudgeon's Midsomer Murders role following exit

Actor Dudgeon, 63, has starred as DCI John Barnaby in Midsomer Murders since 2010 and replaced John Nettles in the lead role the following year.

Fans have been speculating for some time the actor might decide to leave the drama soon after so many years as the long-running show's protagonist.

Betting company Betway has placed Vera star Kenny Doughty, who starred as DS Aiden Healy from 2015 until his exit in 2023, as the favourite to take over from Dudgeon if he does decide to exit Midsomer Murders.

The company has tipped the actor as the most likely to step into the role with odds of 4/1, while Death in Paradise star Ralf Little is close behind with 5/1 odds.

Others in the running include Daniel Casey with odds of 6/1, Samuel Barnett at 10/1, and both Nicholas Lyndhurst and Martin Clunes with 20/1 odds, reports Chronicle Live.

Betway spokesperson Chad Yeomans said: "We make the ex-Vera star Kenny Doughty the favourite at 4/1 to replace Neil Dudgeon should he ever stand down as DCI John Barnaby.

"Next in the betting comes Death in Paradise star Ralf Little at 5/1, who was hugely popular in his role as DI Neville Parker before his surprise departure from the show earlier this year," the publication states.

Yeomans added: "Rounding out the top three in the betting market is Daniel Casey at 6/1, who our traders think could be in line to make a return to Causton as the main character!

"Or could the legendary John Nettles at 80/1, who recently turned down a cameo role in a proposed remake of Bergerac, be tempted to play the famous detective chief inspector one more time?"

Doughty made his exit from the crime detective show last year and is already set to star in the upcoming Channel 5 drama, The Au Pair.

The actor featured as Vera Stanhope's sidekick Healy in the Northumberland-based series, with the role being his most recent gig.

Taking to his Instagram account back in June, the actor shared a cast announcement from ITV Studios for Channel 5's The Au Pair.

He continued by sharing a teasy synopsis for the drama which also confirmed several big names in the world of TV drama would be joining him on the show.

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It read: "Secrets are revealed when a family decides to hire extra help... Sir @davidsuchet (Poirot), Sally Bretton (Beyond Paradise), @kennydoughty (Vera), and @ludmillamakowski (Lupin), joins brand new drama, ‘Au Pair.

"This new compelling drama will be coming to @channel5_tv." (sic)

Deadline reports that Suchet's character George is a diabetic father who moves next door to his daughter Zoe Dalton (played by Sally Bretton).

The publication goes on to describe: "Zoe seems to have it all, including successful husband Chris (Kenny Doughty), but when she hires an au pair, Sandrine (Makowski), the beguiling young French woman triggers an unsettling shift in the household as instincts and suspicions arise, hinting at hidden agendas."