Classic Television - Inspector Morse

UK - Police Drama - ITV - 1987 - 2000

The complicated cases of a cerebral Oxford detective.

Chief Inspector Morse (his first name concealed for many years) of the Thames Valley Police is an Oxford graduate and a lover of culture. Poetry, Wagnerian opera and cryptic crosswords are his passion, along with gallons of real ale to oil the cogs of his brilliant detective mind. Some-what squeamish for a policeman, and always with an eye for the ladies (although seldom a success with the opposite sex). Morse cruises the streets of Oxford in his 1960 Mark 2 red Jaguar, accompanied by his ever faithful sergeant Lewis, a Geordie making his way up the CID ladder. Unlike the crotchety batchelor Morse, Lewis is a family man, and the contrast between the two is well contrived. The pair enjoy a good working relationship, even if Morse cruelly patronizing at times.

The investigations are unfailingly multidimensional and Morse always needs time to collar his man, or woman. His theories regularly go awry, and one murder turns into two or three before he finally pieces together the solution (often helped by a chance remark from Lewis), much to the dissatisfaction of his boss, Chief Supt Strange. It is also strange not to see pathologists Max or Dr Russell more than once per episode.

Each episode saw the creator of Morse - Colin Dexter appearing in every episode rather like Alfred Hitchcock in his films.

The series ended in 1993. But the death of Morse in a 'Remorseful Day' was aired in 2000.

Morse's Christian name was finally revealed as Endeavour.

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