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John Nettles, best known for his role as DCI Tom Barnaby in the popular ITV crime drama Midsomer Murders, may have left the show 15 years ago, but he remains a beloved figure in British television.

Now aged 81, the actor leads a peaceful life in Devon, while Midsomer Murders continues to captivate audiences after 25 years, with Neil Dudgeon succeeding him as DCI John Barnaby.

The former Bergerac star resides in a 15th-century house in the picturesque seaside county with his second wife, Cathy, a painter, according to Hello! magazine.

Having shifted his focus from acting, John now indulges his passion for history, reports

In 2009, prior to his departure from Midsomer Murders, he created a three-part documentary, The Channel Islands at War, exploring the Nazi occupation of Jersey and Guernsey during the Second World War.

He further delved into this subject in 2012 with his book, Jewels and Jackboots, followed by an edition of the diaries of Reverend Douglas Ord, who resided in Guernsey during the war.

Since leaving Midsomer Murders, John has kept a foot in the acting world, making a cameo appearance in the Channel 4 sitcom, Toast of London, and featuring in the 2016 short film Never Land, alongside Keeley Hawes.

His most recent role was playing Ray Penvenen in the BBC's Poldark. He's also presented and narrated various documentaries, including the BBC reality show, My Unique B&B, and the Channel 4 series, Devon and Cornwall.

While John was approached about a cameo role in the UKTV's reboot of Bergerac, which aired earlier this year, he turned down the offer.

"I'm not going to do it because I can't do it - I'm too old and I'd just get in the way," he candidly shared with the BBC last year. "But I mean it was very lovely to be reminded of that and it's a brave project."

Before the fresh take on Bergerac hit the screens, John met with leading actor Damien Molony, who steps into Jim Bergerac's shoes in the current version for a chat that spanned their shared filming experiences in Jersey.

Meanwhile, Midsomer Murders is now taking to the stage and John's former colleague from the ITV drama, Daniel Casey, known to audiences as Sergeant Troy, is set to embody Barnaby himself. Midsomer Murders: The Killings at Badger's Drift, premieres at Richmond Theatre come October.

John has voiced his support, saying, "How wonderful that the original tale of murder and intrigue in Midsomer will be solved by Daniel, in this new stage version of Badger's Drift.

"Daniel brought the young Troy to life so brilliantly in the original TV pilot of the book and I'm delighted that he gets to lead the investigation in this theatre adaption," the actor continued, adding: "He has a fabulous track record in his stage work - and had a marvellous DCI to teach him the detecting ropes, back in the day!"

Midsomer Murders is available to stream on ITVX