Everyone welcomes Kinsella home with a party, thrown by Gerald Farquharson, a local magistrate. Among the guests are Giles Braithwaite, his secretary Iris, and Grace, who is the wife of Kinsella's manager Frank Bishop. Some of the inconsistent supporting cast could have done a better job, too, in particular Glenn Murphy as Frank and Henry Garrett as John. Much of their line delivery was so wooden I was amazed it made the director's cut. Barnaby and Jones discuss the case. Barnaby feels that Gerald deserves a better son than Sebastian. Jones says Gerald's no saint- gambling habits. Barnaby says Gerald is a JP.- A pillar of society. Barnaby thinks that the challenge for the estate is all to do with Sebastian not being a biological heir. Jones says he seems convinced the child's not his. Barnaby says it's all about inheritance. TV Commentary: Good left hand again. Rattling that jab into the face of Latosa. Good shot! Left hook! Kinsella has put Latosa down! Working off that right-hand lead. And a left hook has put Latosa on the canvas. The gumshield is out. At the party, Grace Bishop says to Iris Holman, "Sorry for squeezing your hand like that. During the fight the other night. You must think I'm awful." Iris says, "How perceptive." Grace says, "Is that a smile? Or just your lips sliding off your teeth?" Barnaby says to Giles Braithwaite, "Gerald is very strongly identified with Midsomer Morchard, isn't he?" Joyce says, "He's the lord of the manor." Giles retorts, "Not quite." Joyce says, "He lives in the manor house." Giles says, "He's the current occupant." Barnaby says, "And it is very kind of him, is it not, to open up the place for the celebration?" Giles says, "He's a sporting man with a strong sense of occasion." Giles is not a boxing fan, but he did have an interest in this fight. Joyce says, "And your wife?" Giles says, "Iris? She's not my wife. She's my assistant." Giles walks off.

am: John, Teddy and Frank have arrived in London. Frank is planning to be at Giles Braithwaite's house at 2 am. Meanwhile, Giles opens the door to someone. John Kinsella arrives at his lover's house. Later he climbs out the window of the house and runs away. Teddy drops Frank off at Giles' place and waits outside in the car. Kinsella goes to Grace's house and gives her a hug. Libby Morris walks by. Gerald introduces her. She's the sculptor making the statue of Tom Sayers, commissioned by Frank Bishop. Barnaby says, "That must be a bit hard, mustn't it? Trying to make the likeness of a man who died 150 years ago." Libby says, "It is. But fortunately, there's some photographs of him." Gerald says, "And you had a live fighter to pose for you." Libby says, " John Kinsella. Before he went off to the States. Gerald here thinks I developed a bit of a crush on him." Barnaby asks if it is finished and Libby invites him to drop by when he's passing. Grace says, "She did fancy my John. But then, they all do." Gerald says, "Grace is very protective about young Mr Kinsella. She treats him like a son. He lives with her and Frank." Sebastian says, "Might have been better for everyone if they'd left him in the gutter." Gerald says, "Which is obviously where you've left your manners. I do apologise. Can I have a chat with you?" Grace walks off. Sebastian says, "Hurray, I finally have your attention!"

Dominic Jephcott first appeared as Richard Bayly in "Death's Shadow" (1999) and was later cast as Henry Marwood/Benjamin Hastings in "Four Funerals and a Wedding" (2006). Episode six from season thirteen this Midsomer Murders mystery was directed by Richard Holthouse this isn't a bad episode I suppose but isn't that great either & feels a little routine, while The Noble Art is a solid enough crime drama murder mystery I don't think it will last too long in my memory. The script revolves around the world of boxing with various old fashioned sentimental nonsense, the usual Midsomer Murder plot details like affairs & people with financial problems also come up & in the end The Noble Art is nothing that new or groundbreaking with relatively restrained if plausible motives for murder. The character's are decent enough, there's the usual red herrings & plot points that are there to throw the viewer but never really go anywhere. Fairly unremarkable in the context of the series I suppose but The Noble Art is watchable enough & most fans of the show should like it well enough. Starting with what "The Noble Art" does well, the production values as always are just great, the idyllic look of it contrasting very well with the story's grimness, and quaint and atmospheric photography. The music fits perfectly, with some lush jauntiness and sometimes an ominous quality, and the theme tune one of the most memorable and instantly recognisable of the genre. Preparing for the Reenactment: At Morchard Manor, Gerald greets Camilla and Grace. They are planning the Tom Sayers Reenactment World Title Fight. Grace is helping with publicity and the hiring of costumes and she's handling the charity donations. Grace says, "Can you think of anyone better to deal with my husband's tight-fistedness?" Gerald says, "Now this whole event was Frank's idea." Grace says, "That might be. But I'm telling you, it's going to take an expert to get him to part with the money we raise." Outside Sebastian runs into Giles. "I've been looking everywhere for you!" Giles says, "Not now, Sebastian. We're leaving." Sebastian says, "I don't think so."

Neil Dudgeon, Chief Inspector John Barnaby, appeared for the first time as Daniel Bolt [7] a character in the episode "Garden of Death" (2000).Detective Constable Gail Stephens ( Kirsty Dillon) (series 10–13)—a colleague of Tom Barnaby and DS Jones, who often helps them in their cases, sometimes providing valuable insight. Gail was transferred to Midsomer from Binwell. Gail is cheery but emotional, breaking down in tears when, after initially serving as a uniformed woman police constable, she was appointed as a plain-clothed CID detective. Throughout Gail's appearances, it is implied that she is on the point of having an affair with Sgt Jones, but when it came to the crunch he decided that he did not want to get too heavily involved with a colleague, after which Gail effectively snubbed him. Strangely, Gail has not been seen since "Fit For Murder". Judy Parfitt appeared as Angela Wentworth in "Death's Shadow" (1999) and as Caroline Halsey in "Days of Misrule" (2008).

The Fight: In Morchard Manor, a group of villagers are watching the fight of local John Kinsella at Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY. Detective Sergeant Charlie Nelson ( Gwilym Lee) (series 16–18)—When Jones was promoted, he was replaced by DS Charlie Nelson. Nelson was the first Sergeant to not serve alongside Tom Barnaby. He was a lodger at Kate's house. Nelson left the series after season 18. Joyce and Barnaby arrive at Morchard Manor. Joyce is helping plan the Reenactment. She runs inside and shows Grace and Camilla a poster printed for the event. Joyce says, "What do you think? Magnificent brutes, aren't they?" Grace says, "Joyce! You're right. That'd definitely persuade me to go to the fight." Camilla says, "They didn't have posters in 1860. All the arrangements had to be hush-hush in case the police found out and stopped it." Grace says, "That was 150 years ago. This time round, we need all the publicity we can get." Camilla says, "I was only trying to show that I'd done my research." Grace says, "Hey, you don't have to justify yourself to me. I'm not that husband of yours. We're very happy to have you in charge."In "Murder Of Innocence", it is revealed that Jones is in a relationship with firefighter Susie Bellingham. In the series 16 opener, "The Christmas Haunting", it is revealed that Jones has been promoted to Inspector and transferred to Brighton. A photo of Jones (alongside Kate Wilding, who also moved to Brighton) is shown in the series 18 opener "Habeas Corpus". DI Jones made a further appearance in episode 3 of series 19 "Last Man Out", in an undercover role - erroneously still listed in the credits as DS Ben Jones. In the end, he left Causton CID after a mini farewell party at John and Sarah Barnaby’s home at the end of episode 6 of series 15, "Schooled in Murder". The Noble Art" is somewhere in the middle as far as Season 13 goes. It is a let-down after "Master Class", which blew me away and was the best 'Midsomer Murders' episode since "The House in the Woods". However, it is infinitely better than "The Made-to-Measure Murders" and especially "Blood on the Saddle" (almost anything is better than that episode this said). Barnaby asks Frank "What was that about?" Frank says, "No idea. All a bit mad, aren't they, the aristocracy? All that inbreeding. You just have to accept it." Frank came to see Gerald, but says it can wait. "Wouldn't want to get in the way of some father and son bonding. Happy families, eh?" Barnaby says, "Mr Bishop. Did you know that your wife is planning to divorce you?" Frank says, "She's been planning that for years, Chief Inspector. It's what gets her out of bed in the mornings."