Inspector Morse (ITV Crime, John Thaw, Kevin Whately)

This hugely popular ITV crime drama series detailed the cases of cerebral Oxford Detective Chief Inspector Morse (John Thaw) and his down to Earth Geordie Sergeant Lewis (Kevin Whately). Morse drove a red 1960 Mark II Jaguar. Morse’s long unknown first name was finally revealed as Endeavor.

There are a couple of theories surrounding the theme tune to Inspector Morse which contains snippets of Morse Code, one is that it supposedly spells out Morse’s real name and another is that the murderer for each episode has his name spelt out.

The very final episode of Inspector Morse went out on 15 November 2000 with Endeavor Morse going to meet his maker. The Last Morse was a behind the scenes 60 minute documentary broadcast Sunday 5 November 2000 @ 10pm, a week before the final episode was broadcast.

There have been two spin-offs in the shape of sequel Lewis (which sees Sgt Lewis getting a much needed promotion) and the prequel Endeavor which is set in the 1960s and follows the early cases of the young Morse.

Cast: JOHN THAW as Chief Inspector Morse; KEVIN WHATELY as Sgt Lewis; JAMES GROUT as Supt Strange

Creator: Colin Dexter / Music: Barrington Pheloung / Executive Producer: Ted Childs

UK / ITV Network-Central-Zenith / 28×120 minute episodes and occasional specials / 6 January 1987 – 15 November 2000

SEASON ONE 6 Jan – 20 Jan 1987
1. THE DEAD OF JERICHO
2. THE SILENT WORLD OF NICHOLAS QUINN
3. SERVICE OF ALL THE DEAD

SEASON TWO 25 Dec – 22 Mar 1988
1. THE WOLVERCOTE TONGUE
2. LAST SEEN WEARING
3. THE SETTLING OF THE SUN
4. LAST BUS TO WOODSTOCK

SEASON THREE 4 Jan – 25 Jan 1989
1. GHOST IN THE MACHINE
2. THE LAST ENEMY
3. DECEIVED BY FLIGHT
4. THE SECRET OF BAY 5B

SEASON FOUR 3 Jan – 24 Jan 1990
1. THE INFERNAL SERPENT
2. THE SINS OF THE FATHERS
3. DRIVEN TO DISTRACTION
4. MASONIC MYSTERIES

SEASON FIVE 20 Feb – 27 Mar 1991
1. SECOND TIME AROUND
2. FAT CHANCE
3. WHO KILLED HARRY FIELD?
4. GREEKS BEARING GIFTS
5. PROMISED LAND

SEASON SIX 26 Feb – 15 Apr 1992
1. DEAD ON TIME
2. HAPPY FAMILIES
3. THE DEATH OF THE SELF
4. ABSOLUTE CONVICTION
5. CHERUBIM AND SERAPHIM

SEASON SEVEN 6 Jan – 20 Jan 1993
1. DEADLY SLUMBER
2. THE DAY OF THE DEVIL
3. TWILIGHT OF THE GODS

The Mystery of Morse was a fifty minute documentary that aired on 17 January 1993 and filmed on location (at the time season 7 was heavily rumoured to be the final season of Morse).

SPECIALS
THE WAY THROUGH THE WOODS (29 Nov 1995)
THE DAUGHTERS OF CAIN (27 Nov 1996)
DEATH IS NOW MY NEIGHBOUR (19 Nov 1997)
THE WENCH OF DEAD (11 Nov 1998)
THE REMORSEFUL DEAD (15 Nov 2000)