How was Englishness represented in Midsomer Murders?

(N.B. I had this ready for the day it was due but I thougt we were handing it in not blogging it as I thought it was part of a test).

Midsomer Murders has recently been reprimanded for its lack of ethnical diversity in its cast resulting in the suspension of one of the main producers. This has drawn to light how obvious the ways are that the show tries to show Englishness.
Camera:
For our clip of Midsomer Murders we chose the very first part of the first episode and series. This could arguably be the most “English” part with it being in more of an era where it was less normal to have a ethnically widespread cast. The first significant shot is a wide panning shot which shows you the cottages and the surrounding area. This is utilised because it gives you a sense of where you are (in this case the countryside). This view is after a view of a sign which reads “Best Kept Village”. This is quintessentially English as it’s often what’s done in many villages in England. There are several close ups after this, these show the different types of people that live in these sorts of village and the variety that are there. Another shot shows two older women talking together which although is not just limited to England is one of the things that people think of when they hear village.
One of the next camera shots to be mentioned is the shot of the old woman locking up her bike. The shot is seen from a low angle giving it the appearance of a voyeur shot, meaning that you’re not supposed to be there. This is replicated in the next shot which is a long shot of the woman walking through the forest. This also gives the idea that she is being watched unknowingly. More shots follow in the same manner, also the way in which the shot looks like it’s being filmed with a handycam makes it seem as if you are seeing this as a P.O.V. (Point Of View) shot.
Mise en Scene:
The first shot is of a woman riding her bicycle through a village, the bicycle in this sense tends to be a very English method of transportation especially through the road with cottages, also a very English image. The next clip features an obviously old car which looks to be very “English”. You also see horses which in the English countryside it’s a very common sight to see horses sharing the road with cars and tractors.
You also see the “Post Office” which has always been a traditionally English thing with the red sign being recognised throughout the country. Also seen are the fly screen which are usually seen in English butchers shops. Also featured is a Walls ice cream sign which is another quintessentially English brand. The clothing of the characters seen is also English in appearance with bright summer colours worn along with the bandanas worn in the style of the working women posters from the war. Also seen is a garishly patterned cardigan which has always been a fault of the English wearing those but they do represent us as a nation.
Props seen that are very English include the wicker baskets that all of the women carry in this clip at one point or another. Also included are the old style English camera that the woman uses to take a photo of the flower. Next the idea of the “Peeping Tom” of the neighbour out of the window, which in itself make her look like she’s trapped behind bars. Also English is the idea of the “Beehive Cottage” all of the cottages being given names.
The combination of the old style telephone which has been used for years in Britain and is also very English, also with the cup of tea which has always been English, just as the coffee has been to the French and also alcohol to the Scottish.
Sound:
Throughout almost the entire clip there is non-diegetic sound playing in the background. This follows the mood of the clip as it goes along. For instance, at first when everything is calm and the old lady is cycling down the line of cottages the sound is calm and happy, this carries on for about a minute and a half, in which time there is also diegetic sound playing, this includes the car as it comes around the corner, but most noticeably the village dweller’s voices which for the most part are very upper class English, in other words posh. Also the sound of the horse’s hooves on the road which is heard around many parts of England.
When it gets to the scene where the woman is in the woods the non-diegetic background music fades out which helps the audience focus more on what’s going on in the show and also hints that the content may be beginning to get slightly darker. All you can hear is the rustling of the leaves underfoot and in the wind and also the birds in the trees, all examples of diegetic sound. The next sound you can hear is of a man panting in the background, (thankfully) we cannot see what he is doing, the birds begin to flap distracting the man long enough to stop. The non-diegetic background music comes back but this time it is much deeper and slow in a way. Immediately giving the idea of trouble but then again nothing particularly English about it.