John Nettles to star in new ITV drama?

John Nettles has reportedly been lined up to star in a new ITV drama.

The actor announced last year that he had decided to quit his role in Midsomer Murders and will shortly film his final episode.

However, The Guardian reports that Midsomer Murders producer Brian True-May is now developing a new project for Nettles.

"I've got one of our Midsomer writers, Michael Aitkens, working on it, in collaboration with ITV who are very keen," True-May said. "We're hoping to start something next spring."

He continued: "John will probably be a justice of the peace and he won't be Mr Ordinary living in an ordinary house. He'll probably be much more middle class, living in a country mansion in a farm area."

True-May added that ITV has expressed an interest in the project but is waiting to see what budget the series would need.

"It's in development now," he said. "It won't be commissioned until they see the script and decide on how much it's going to cost... ITV have to survive and they need as much as they can get out of it as well. So we've been, I think, quite reasonable and generous with ITV for the new series. Hopefully they'll make money and we will."

However, he ruled out taking the show to the BBC, saying: "I don't want to alienate the BBC but I've given up working for them a long time ago. There's too many chiefs and not enough Indians."

Earlier this year, it emerged that Neil Dudgeon will replace Nettles on Midsomer Murders.