Midsomer Murders' 6 biggest cameos as Holly Willoughby joins drama - from Oscar winners to Bond stars
Holly Willoughby says starring in Midsomer Murders is a 'dream come true'
INSTAGRAM/HOLLY WILLOUGHBY/ITV
Midsomer Murders has kept viewers guessing about its mind-bending and gripping storylines for well over two decades now.
And since its inception in 1997, former leading star John Nettles and new frontman Neil Dudgeon have welcomed many famous faces to the drama.
The latest newcomer comes in the form of This Morning presenter Holly Willoughby, an experience she's branded a "dream come true".
She said of her upcoming stint: "This truly was a dream come true… Thank you to the whole team at Midsomer Murders for making me so welcome and really looking after me… I loved every second."
But while Willoughby is the most recent star to step foot in Midsomer, she follows a long line of A-list names who've already set the bar high.
GB News has put together a shortlist of six other instantly recognisable faces fans may have forgotten plied their trade in the picturesque county before.
It's been 23 years since Orlando Bloom made his cameo in the series
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Orlando Bloom
At the turn of the millennium, Lord of the Rings and Pirates of the Caribbean star Orlando Bloom enjoyed a brief stint in the ITV drama.
In the 2000 episode Judgement Day, Bloom, who would've been in his early 20s at the time, took on the role of Peter Drinkwater.
Since departing, Bloom has gone on to star in some of Hollywood's biggest features, including this year's Gran Turismo, and the Amazon Prime series Carnival Row.
Olivia Colman
Before she was setting Hollywood's awards circuit alight, Olivia Colman enjoyed a brief stint in the fictional county.
Back in 2009, Colman took on the role of Bernice in the episode Small Mercies.
She's since gone on to bag an Oscar for her role in The Favourite while other notable credits include playing Queen Elizabeth II in Netflix's The Crown, and an Oscar-nominated stint in The Father.
Olivia Colman made a cameo in Midsomer Murders
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Henry Cavill
Prior to taking on the role of Superman, actor Henry Cavill was a young heartthrob who went by the name of Simon Mayfield.
His one and only appearance in Midsomer Murders came back in the 2003 episode, The Green Man.
Besides playing the world-famous superhero that is Superman, Cavill's CV also boasts roles in Netflix's The Witcher, Enola Holmes and The Man From UNCLE.
Ruth Jones
Instantly recognisable as the woman who brought Nessa to life in the BBC's Gavin Stacey, actor Ruth Jones previously popped up in Midsomer.
She took on the role of Rachael Rose in the drama's 2004 instalment, Bad Tidings.
Besides Gavin and Stacey, Jones also wrote and starred in the comedy-drama Stella and appeared opposite her fellow writer and friend James Corden in Fat Friends.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Former Bond star Colin Salmon once appeared in the ITV drama
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Tom Ellis
Former Miranda heartthrob Tom Ellis was turning heads in Midsomer Murders for a brief period before he starred in the BBC sitcom.
Ellis took on the part of Lee Smeeton back in 2005, appearing in the episode titled Midsomer Rhapsody.
In recent years, he's best known for playing the titular role in Netflix's global hit Lucifer.
Colin Salmon
James Bond fans will instantly recognise Colin Salmon for his role in not one but three 007 blockbusters.
However, eagle-eyed Midsomer Murders fans may know him better for his turn as Gerrard King in The Witches of Angel's Rise.
Salmon appeared opposite Pierce Brosnan's Bond in the films Tomorrow Never Dies, The World Is Not Enough, and Die Another Day.
More recently, he landed a recurring role in BBC soap EastEnders.
Other notable mentions who've made brief cameos include Les Dennis, Joanna Page, Hugh Bonneville, Nigel Havers, Bill Bailey, Jim Carver, Emily Mortimer, Ralf Little, and Sally Phillips among others.