WELL, we’ve witnessed some extraordinary demises in Midsomer Murders, but here’s one that really takes the biscuit – death by cheese.

Yes, you read that correctly. And what’s more, the character involved is played by former soap star Martine McCutcheon.

She plays Debbie Moffett, who is crushed to death by a giant round of cheese at the award-winning dairy where she worked, only hours after an argument at a parents’ council meeting at Midsomer Pastures Prep School.

It’s been a while since we saw Mc- Cutcheon acting, and it seems she enjoyed being back on the box. “I’m a troublemaker in the episode which is set around a posh prep school,” she says.

“My character is well-to-do and feisty, she’s not Tiffany from Albert Square. It’s great to do something I wouldn’t normally do, as she’s not a nice piece of work.”

Certainly after Debbie’s body is discovered, her colleagues seem more concerned about the state of the cheese than the woman herself.

Eventually, the truth comes out. Debbie’s daughter was about to be expelled from school. She was there on a scholarship with strict rules not only for the pupil, but their parents too. Debbie had broken one by having an affair with her boss, former rugby international Gregory Brantner. Later, another body is found, this time with its mouth full of maggots.

What can this mean?

McCutcheon has been performing professionally since the age of 12, when she landed a role in an advert. Modelling assignments, bit parts in TV series and appearances in music videos followed. She then had a stint in girl band Milan before EastEnders’ bosses came calling and she spent four years in Albert Square as Tiffany. Since then, she has had a stint as a pop star and successful roles on stage in My Fair Lady and on the big screen in Love Actually.