The Noble Art (13 Oct. 2010)

Kindly magistrate Gerald Farquharson throws a party in Midsomer Morchard to celebrate local boy John Kinsella winning the world middle-weight title. Guests include local solicitor Giles ... See full summary »

Director:

Richard Holthouse

Writers:

Barry Purchese (screenplay), Caroline Graham (characters)

Stars:

John Nettles, Jason Hughes, Jane Wymark

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
John Nettles	...	DCI Tom Barnaby
Jason Hughes	...	DS Ben Jones
Jane Wymark	...	Joyce Barnaby
Barry Jackson	...	Dr. Bullard
Kirsty Dillon	...	DC Gail Stephens
Kevin McNally	...	Gerald Farquaharson (as Kevin R McNally)
Matthew Douglas	...	Sebastian Farquaharson
Daniela Denby-Ashe	...	Camilla Farquaharson
Michelle Fairley	...	Iris Holman
Ken Bones	...	Giles Braithwaite
Glen Murphy	...	Frank Bishop
Camille Coduri	...	Grace Bishop
Phil Daniels	...	Teddy Molloy
Tony Barton	...	Ronnie Milsom
Deirdre Mullins	...	Libby Morris

Storyline

Kindly magistrate Gerald Farquharson throws a party in Midsomer Morchard to celebrate local boy John Kinsella winning the world middle-weight title. Guests include local solicitor Giles Braithwaite, his nosy secretary Iris and Grace, tarty wife of Kinsella's abrasive manager Frank Bishop. Gerald, the Bishops - separately - and Sebastian, who is not Gerald's son but the product of his late wife's affair, all want to see Giles urgently but he is murdered and his office ransacked. Sebastian's wife Camilla is pregnant but Sebastian is not the father. In fact he is gay and had had an affair with Giles, for which Iris is blackmailing him. At a reconstruction of a Victorian prize fight in Gerald's gardens, Bishop is also murdered, having sacked John's trainer and Grace's lover Teddy, who, with Grace, was planning to take over John's management behind Frank's back. Iris is the third and last victim of a killer who has gambled rather too much on the outcome of the noble art.

---

Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

---

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 October 2010 (UK)

Filming Locations:

Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bentley Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min 95 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

16:9 HD

Did You Know?

Goofs

During a scene between Tom Barnaby (John Nettles) and Joyce Barnaby (Jane Wymark), Joyce refers to her screen husband by his real name rather than his character's name.

---

Quotes

[Jones is hammering the knocker on a door]
DCI Tom Barnaby: I think you should apply more force.
DS Ben Jones: I'm knocking as hard as I can, sir.
DCI Tom Barnaby: Kick the door down.
DS Ben Jones: Oh!

User Reviews

Unremarkable

When John Kinsella, a talented local boxer, wins the world title fight in New York, not everyone is happy about it. Then Giles Braithwaite, solicitor to the boxer's manager, is found murdered. He has been struck and suffocated, then propped up in his office chair.

Secrets soon begin to come out of the woodwork as more victims fall foul of the killer...

This episode, by Barry Purchese, is totally unremarkable. Its enjoyable enough, but unlike Master Class last week, everything here is very easy to solve, even before there's been a murder (which doesn't take place until nearly half way through).

The deaths themselves are bloodless and unmemorable, the killer turns out to be the most blatantly obvious one and it just fizzles out after very little suspense...

It was alright, and much better than the absolutely awful Made-to-Measure and Blood on the Saddle, but overall it was completely forgettable.

Must try harder.