The show's producer sparked a race row when he described the all-white Midsomer Murders cast as 'the last bastion of Englishness'.

But since he stepped down from his role, the middle-England villages in which the ITV crime drama is set have become much more politically correct.

At least 24 ethnic minority characters have appeared in the show since former producer Brian True-May claimed 'it wouldn't be an English village with them'. And 22 of them have been in mixed-race relationships.

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New faces: Natalie Mendoza plays Sasha Fleetwood in the ITV series, left. Right, Jaye Jacobs as Florrie

Dairy owner: One episode featured Gregory Brantner, played by Patrick Robinson, who had a white wife

The latest series has also seen the introduction of the first Asian character with a permanent role, pathologist Dr Kam Karimore, who is played by Manjinder Virk, 42.

In 2011, Mr True-May sparked outrage when he described the drama as 'the last bastion of Englishness' because of its lack of black or Asian faces.

'We just don't have ethnic minorities involved because it wouldn't be the English village with them,' he said. 'Suddenly we might be in Slough… We're the last bastion of Englishness and I want to keep it that way.'

He later apologised and claimed his comments had been misinterpreted but in 2013 he 'stepped down' from his long-running role on the show. There subsequently appears to have been an effort to bump up the number of black and Asian faces seen in Midsomer.

Romance: Bella Summersbee (Georgia Taylor) was secretly dating employee Rob Mead, played by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, left. Right, Rachel Monkford, played by Cara Horgan, and Killion Staples (Michael Wildman)

There have been at least 24 ethnic minority characters in the last 20 episodes of the show. Conversely, there is believed to have been just one non-white character in the 89 episodes before the race row.

Of the 24 non-white characters who have appeared in the show following the race row, at least 22 have been cast in a mixed-race relationship with a white actor or actress.

Viewers have seen loyal Asian wife Sasha Fleetwood, played by Natalie Mendoza, married to a financier, and black delivery man Perry Stevens (Samuel Anderson) dating horticulturist Emma Harris (Anna Wilson-Jones).

Viewers have seen black delivery man Perry Stevens (Samuel Anderson) dating horticulturist Emma Harris (Anna Wilson-Jones), pictured together left. Right, Rakie Ayola played black musician Alice Winning

Another episode featured black dairy owner Gregory Brantner, played by Patrick Robinson, who had a white wife, and in a later series bookshop owner Bella Summersbee (Georgia Taylor) was secretly dating black employee Rob Mead, played by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith.

Rakie Ayola played black musician Alice Winning, who was married to the white organiser of a folk festival, and black WPC Carolyn Florrie (Jaye Jacobs) went on a date with a white colleague.