John Nettles is known and loved for his portrayal of DCI Tom Barnaby in Midsomer Murders, but after 14 years, the ITV star handed the reins to Neil Dudgeon. In the years that have passed, John, 80, has since retired from acting, and when he's not working as a historian, the father-of-one can be found at his idyllic country home in Devon.
© ShutterstockJohn's idyllic country home
John and his wife of 29 years, painter Catheryn Sealey, moved to their property – a 15th-century longhouse complete with a modern extension – in 2010. Together, the couple share three rescue dogs, three rescue horses and two donkeys.
Speaking to The Telegraph in May 2024, John explained that horses have become a particular passion of his. "I sometimes think God made horses on the Monday when everything was fresh. They are the most beautiful creatures," he said.
In a surprising twist of fate, it was actually one of the family donkeys that led to John and Cathryn's move to Devon. "Hector's a delightful little fellow, a rescue donkey from Galway. We'd put him in the garden of our rather posh house near Stratford, but he made a lot of noise and our neighbours, quite rightly, weren't happy," the actor revealed to Great British Life.
© ShutterstockJoking that Hector "could stand on Drake's Island and do service as a foghorn," John noted that his decision to officially retire also impacted his decision to move. "I couldn't help but respond to the people round about here - and they're so talented too," he said of his neighbours in the village of Holsworthy.
John has truly embraced country life in Devon and as a keen environmentalist, he's also worked tirelessly to protect it. In 2021, the Midsomer Murders alum made headlines after he spearheaded a campaign to prevent the construction of one of the UK's biggest solar farms.
The actor may have been unsuccessful, but his efforts were no doubt appreciated by the residents on whose behalf he spoke. Adding to his prominent role in the local community, John is also the President of the South West Academy of Fine and Applied Arts and in March 2024 was on hand to open a special exhibition at the Thelma Hulbert Gallery.
While John's daughter, Emma Martins, no longer lives with her father, she regularly pays visits to her father and step-mum in Devon. John shares Emma with his first wife, Joyce Nettles, with whom he was married for 13 years. Now that Emma has welcomed two children of her own, John has become a doting grandfather.
John Nettles: 5 top facts
© Photo: ITV1. Adopted at birth
John Nettles was adopted at birth in 1943 by carpenter Eric and his wife, Elsie. His biological mother was an Irish nurse who came to work in the UK during World War II, and his father remains unidentified.
2. Career change
After leaving Midsomer Murders in 2009, John focused on his work as a historian. He produced a three-part documentary called The Channel Islands At War about the Nazi occupation of Jersey and Guernsey during World War II. In 2012, he published a book called Jewels and Jackboots on the same topic.
3. 80s heartthrob
At the peak of Begerac's popularity, John became a reluctant heartthrob. News Of The World once ran a headline titled ''All The Girls Want To Grasp Nettles'' and he allegedly received numerous fan letters.
4. Father-daughter bond
John has one daughter, Emma Martin, with his first wife, Joyce Middleton whom he divorced in 1979. He still has a close bond with his daughter, who lives in Jersey (where Bergerac was filmed) with her husband and two children.
5. Royal Shakespeare Company
After Bergerac ended in 1991, John did five seasons with the Royal Shakespeare Company performing, The Winter's Tale, The Merry Wives of Windsor, and Julius Caesar.
John's retirement from acting
John opened up about his decision to step away from acting during an interview with The Moorlander in 2021. "Theatre’s a young man’s game and realistically I retired in my late 60s," explained the actor. "Besides, I never want to see a camera ever again. I really do think there comes a time when you should say 'Yep, I’ve done that, been there'."
He continued: "I'm not going to go on merely because I've got a certain reputation or whatever. I've seen actors fall over themselves doing parts they shouldn't, which they started doing when they were in their 20s or whatever, they shouldn't go on doing it, it becomes ridiculous, ludicrous and painful to watch. A bit like watching your grandad dancing!"
