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Midsomer Murders star John Nettles’ daughter’s real-life police role revealed 

Find out more about John’s daughter, Emma


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Emmy Griffiths
TV & Film Editor
On 3 August 2022
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John Nettles is perhaps best known for his role as TV detective Tom Barnaby in Midsomer Murders - but did you know that his daughter went on to work as the real deal in the police? Find out more about Emma here… 

MORE: Midsomer Murders star John Nettles' difficult upbringing after being adopted revealed

John’s only daughter, who he shares with his ex-wife Joyce, opened up about joining the police way back in 1999, telling the Sunday Mirror: "I suppose the wheel has come full circle. Dad pretended to work for the Jersey police for 11 years, and now I'm doing the same thing for real.

WATCH: Real-life detective breaks down favourite TV crime dramas

"When I rang him up and told him, he was absolutely speechless. He couldn't believe it. It took him a while to get over the shock, but I could tell he was over the moon about it. I may not be his little girl anymore, but I still love it when he's proud of me."

MORE: See how the cast of Midsomer Murders have changed throughout the years

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Speaking about their time in Jersey, where John played a detective in Bergerac, she continued: "Dad got to know a lot of policemen on Jersey when he was playing Bergerac. Every time I see him he says, `Give my regards to so- and-so'. But the people here have been very good. They haven't taken the mickey out of me because I'm Bergerac's daughter. They accept me for who I am."

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John's daughter is a police officer

She also opened up about how she worked on set alongside her dad, saying: "He'd take me on the set with him and find me little jobs, like being a `runner' going from caravan to caravan knocking on doors, getting the actors on set. I was even in Bergerac as an extra a few times. It was a question of `Don't blink or you'll miss me', but I got paid twenty-five quid…riches!"

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