Ring Out Your Dead

A very well-written script. Previous reviewers seem surprised that there is a competitive element to bell-ringing (though often the "competition" is with the past, as witness the plaques on the wall of the ringing chambers), and indeed that not all those who ring are members of the host church congregation.

As a former churchwarden it may be helpful to explain that many pearl of bells are of 8 or 10 bells. There would be very few churches who could muster a sufficiency of ringers from their own congregation, so it is quite normal to offer membership of the tower to bell-ringers from other parishes and to those who are not regular church-goers. There are of course some, such as the Chairman of the Parochial Church Council (not incidentally a deacon), Reggie, who would rather have no bells at all, but they are a in a minority.

The one thing that does not ring true is the idea that the bells could be sold simply by asking the bishop to agree. As a matter of church law, the sale of church bells and almost everything else in a church requires an order, called a faculty, from a church court. These are not lightly granted and in a case such as this the likelihood that the court would allow the sale of the bells is negligible. Reggie would probably have known this, but the others might not.

Many church clocks show the same time constantly. They are complex and expensive. There are very few clock-makers in England who are able to service the turret clocks in all the churches, town halls etc throughout the country, so delay is inevitable. They are also expensive to maintain, and the expense is not likely to sit high on the church's priority list if the roof is leaking. It used to be the custom to set the hands manually to 12 noon if the clock was not working, but that is seldom done these days.

Finally I was advised that if I was going into the church on a weekday to do something in the vestry, or somewhere else out of sight of the door, to lock the door behind me. At one time parish churches were commonly left open all day and all night. It is however a sad fact of our current times that if you do you soon find all the candlesticks missing, so the church insurers insist on keeping the church locked except during the times of services unless there is someone stationed in the church to watch the door.

A very good and accurate episode.

Bell-ringers are being murdered, and the question is, why? In this 2002 Midsomer Murders from season 5.

The church bell-ringers of Midsomer Wellow are preparing for a big bell-ringers' competition. As rehearsal begins, blood starts falling on the face of one of the ringers, Emma Tysoe (Lyndsey Marshal).

It turns out to be blood from the body of Greg (Dugald Bruce Lockhart), who was somewhat of a playboy. Well, there are a few people who could have wanted him dead, including his soon to be ex-wife.

But when there's another murder, and another - with a message near each, going back to the history of the church, it seems like someone is determined to knock off all those bell-ringers.

Interesting story tied to an old tale about the church itself which Barnaby and Troy attempt to untangle. As an amusing sideline, Troy finds himself in a flirtation with an older woman who is very up front about her sexuality, and had been a lover of the first victim.

Entertaining, with some good performances, particularly by Gemma Jones as Maisie Gooch, Graham Crowden, and Hugh Bonneville.

Love it! What a fantastic episode. Not the best episode of the show, but certainly an interesting and unique one. You can really tell the actors are giving it their absolute all. Certainly an interesting storyline, not too gruesome and gripping you at some points. I really enjoyed the character of Reggie Barton, played fabulously by the incredible Graham Crowden. Like I said the actors all did a sensational job, and the plot with the bell ringing really is a well thought one, and obviously a well scripted one. In all I enjoyed the episode, not too many faults or boring bits, even if there were any, they'd be well covered up by the good acting. Interesting ending, and all round pretty good episode.

Ring out your dead is without a shadow of a doubt worthy of the tag 'classic episode,' it's funny, it's well written, it has some huge, interesting characters, plus it ends in some style.

The sun story of the bell ringers is great, it's attention to detail like that, that made the earlier episodes so much better. After a dramatic opener, it's a mix of funny, dark and shocking. The music throughout is simply brilliant, melodic, and so in keeping.

Some fabulous characters, Fogden, Maisie, the glorious femme fatale, and of course the wing commander. Great acting too, loved Gemma Jones and Graham Crowden in particular.

A creepy, eerie Vive throughout, it's original, clever and witty. 9/10

This is your typical Midsomer Murders episode of the time, the early 2000s where we saw the best, it's totally changed now.

Very summery episode, stunning houses and gardens, great to see Hugh Bonneville and Gwen Taylor, brilliant performances.

The conclusion is extremely silly but it wouldn't be Midsomer Murders without this. The usual over the top characters but strangely, this episode presents some rather more down to earth ones as well. Strange that we don't see Dr Bullard in this one, he isn't called in for any of the deaths.

As usual, Joyce Barnaby getting involved and causing a nuisance, most entertaining.

This doesn't rank in the top 10 by any means but worth a watch.