Factory employees became the stars of a hit TV crime series when the cast and crew of Midsomer Murders took over their workplace.

The ITV1 drama, which stars John Nettles, spent four days at Tiptree Jam Factory to film the episode 'Sauce for the Goose', with 30 members of staff taking part in the production.

A 60-strong crew and team of actors including Mr Nettles and Vicar of Dibley star James Fleet, carried out the majority of filming over the weekend of January 22-23, returning for extra material the following two days.

David Cross, 60, head of the fruit-sorting department, explained: "They wanted an old-fashioned jam factory, because the episode's set in the 1950s I think. Tiptree just fitted the bill."

He said he still found it hard to believe. "It was like a dream," he explained. "I was doing a job and John Nettles just walked over - it didn't seem real. You can't imagine you're rubbing shoulders with someone so famous.

"One of my highlights was when (actor) David Ross was taking some Japanese tourists round the factory and his trousers fell down. Unfortunately the camera couldn't pan down quickly enough."

The real star came in the form of forklift driver, David Driver, 45, who drove a forklift truck in the episode and was the only jam factory extra to have a speaking part.

"I was picked by one of the blokes who works here who was organising it. He asked me if I'd be interested and I said yes because it's something different, something else to do for a change," he said. "I had about five complete sentences to say and it was only me who got to say anything at all."

Mr Driver's three children, aged 25, 23 and 22, couldn't believe he had taken part: "They thought it was great but took the mickey out of me. I've never done it before and they didn't think I ever would."

Janet Smith, 58, is head of the filling room department, where most of the episode was shot. Although interested to see how television programmes are filmed, Mrs Smith was delighted to have met John Nettles, who plays Ch Insp Tom Barnaby in the show.

"I think he's got a lot of fans here," she said. "He was very pleasant, a very nice chap, and he looks just like he does on telly. He seems quite shy to me, and was very quiet, but he did come in and say hello and good morning to everyone.

"It was a good experience and everyone came in on the Monday on a real high. Even my neighbours are asking when it's going to be on. I think televisions and videos will be hot that night.

"It was a once in a life-time thing," she added.

Walter Scott, production director for Wilkin and Sons, who runs the factory, said it had been a fantastic experience for everyone involved. "It was around the time when the day was meant to be the worst day of the year and it uplifted everybody here. It was wonderful to see."

The episode is due to be transmitted in April or May.

Published Thursday February 3, 2005

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