Inspector Morse
1 9 8 7 - 2 0 0 0 (UK)
33 x 120 minute episodes
Adapted from the best-selling novels by Colin Dexter, Inspector
Morse revolved around Detective Chief Inspector Morse and his long
suffering, but ever-faithful assistant, Sergeant Lewis (both of
the Thames Valley Police and operating in the university city of
Oxford).
The role of Morse was played by John Thaw, already famous for
his portrayal of Flying Squad Inspector Jack Regan in the UK 70's
cop classic, The Sweeney. Thaw's thoughtful and sensitive
portrayal of the intellectually brilliant, but socially
ill-at-ease Oxford sleuth once again turned him into a television
icon, whose popularity would ultimately eclipse even that of his
earlier role.
Each two-hour Morse episode was in effect a feature film made
for television, which allowed for complexly challenging plots,
which had made the original novels a worldwide success. The format
was adopted by UK production companies across the board in the
years that followed with shows such as Prime Suspect.
Although in the original novels Sergeant Robbie Lewis is a 63
year old Welshman, for television it was decided that a much
younger actor was needed as a counterfoil to Morse's cynical
world-weariness.
This role was played by Kevin Whately who had starred as
likeable Newcastle bricklayer, Neville, in the popular UK comedy
series, Auf Wiedersehen Pet. The other recurring role in
the series was that of Morse's superior, Chief Superintendent
Strange, played by James Grout.
The character of Inspector Morse was introduced to television
in The Dead of Jericho (the 5th of Dexter's novels). The
result was an instant and unanimous success with the viewing
audience and critics. Over the course of thirteen years, a
world-wide audience of over a billion people ensured the series
became a multi award winner. The series also catapulted the city
of Oxford to stardom.
After a total of thirty-three investigations and eighty-one
deaths, Morse's creator himself decreed the time had come to end
his greatest creation's glittering career. As Colin Dexter (who
appeared as an extra in every single episode of the show)
explained: "(Morse) started off in his early 40's and he must
be at least 70 now. Very few police officers are over their
mid-fifties."
Morse had always been a big drinker (he had a great affinity
for Real Ale although rarely paid for a round!) and never looked
after himself very well, never spending enough time sleeping or
exercising. To the dismay of fans of the good Inspector in both
book and TV form, Morse's end was fated to be the ultimate one. So
on the remorseful night of Wednesday, November 15th, 2000, 13
million British television viewers tuned into the ITV network to
bid a final sad farewell to the Jaguar driving detective and
witness the death of Chief Inspector Endeavour Morse.
The end was as heartbreakingly sad and lonely as his fictional
life had been.
TRIVIA NOTES
In April 2002, Inspector Morse's famous 1960 burgundy Jaguar Mk II
was sold at auction in London for £53,000 (A Mk II Jaguar of that
class is usually worth about £6,000).
The opening notes of the closing music (strident string chords)
spell 'MORSE' in Morse code. (dah dah - dah dah dah - dit dah dit
- dit dit dit - dit etc).
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