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Homepage ► Inspector Morse

Inspector Morse starred John Thaw as Morse and Kevin Whately as Detective Sargeant Lewis. The crime drama was based on Colin Dexter’s novels of the same name.

The programme ran for seven series with five specials. It comprises of a total of 33 episodes, each running to 100 minutes. The pilot was broadcast on 6th January 1987.

Initially the programme was made by Zenith Productions for Central Independent Television and later by Carlton UK Productions in association with WGBH - Boston US.

Morse is a bit of an odd character. He is clearly an intelligent man but he often made the wrong assumption. He has often arrested the wrong person or come to the wrong conclusion. Many times he has more than his share of good luck. He also lacked ambition and his cynicism has not made him many friends amongst the police hierarchy. He does not have much luck in his personal relationships but a passion for music, art and the classics. He also loves drinking English real ale often whilst tackling the Times crossword.

The crimes take place in and around Oxford and often involve the academics or, indeed, opera singers. Two fictional colleges are mentioned in the series called Beaumont College and Lonsdale College although a lot of filming was carried out around Eton college. It created a world of “dreaming spires” and beautiful countryside but serious plots. It also gives the impression that it is somehow set in an idyllic past age. He drives a maroon Jaguar Mk 2 registration 248 RPA which was sold after filming for £100,000.

One theme from the show is Morse’s ability at deciphering of anagrams which help him to spot people who have changed their names by creating a new name that is an anagram.

However, it is Lewis, happily married with children, who does the leg-work and is responsible for much of the deduction. He is the Doctor Watson to Morse’s Sherlock Holmes. His lack of understanding of the cultural references brings forth explanations from Morse that we mortal are thankful for,

The programmes theme famously incorporates the morse code for MORSE. There is little incidental music in the series but the programme does feature works by Mozart, Schubert and Wagner.

The series attracted audiences of up to fifteen million and was widely exported. It was commercially sponsored by Beamish Stout. It also attracted top class theatrical actors like Janet Suzman, Sheila Gish and Sir John Gielgud.

The programme is frequently aired on ITV3 with occasional outings on ITV1.

ITV’s Inspector Morse starring John Thaw and Kevin Whately

The beer-drinking opera music loving detective infuriates his work collegues

Starring John Thaw and Kevin Whately