The Morse universe lost one of its biggest stars this week, Colin Dexter. But like all stars Colin will continue to brighten all our lives for many, many years.
This post will be about Colin and only Colin. I have trawled the net looking for as many tweets, obituaries and other material that related to Colin’s death.
Let’s start with Twitter.
Mammoth @mammothscreen
We make telly: @EndeavourTV @PoldarkTV @VictoriaSeries etc
A very sad day for all of us at Mammoth – Rest in peace, Colin Dexter. pic.twitter.com/JDFIPi4mi2
— Mammoth Screen (@mammothscreen) March 21, 2017
Endeavour @EndeavourTV
The official home of #Endeavour.
It is with a heavy heart we say goodbye to a true inspiration to everyone involved in #Endeavour. Rest in peace, Coin Dexter. pic.twitter.com/Sb1CZ5Hw07
— Endeavour (@EndeavourTV) March 21, 2017
Jack Bannon (Sam Thursday) @jactorbannon
Very sad news about Colin Dexter. Amongst other things he leaves behind a rich world…
— Jack Bannon (@jactorbannon) March 22, 2017
Laurence Fox @LozzaFox
Farewell wonderful Colin. Thankyou for your rich characters, your mischief and for being the best dinner companion anyone could wish for.
— Laurence Fox (@LozzaFox) March 21, 2017
What a grin. #dexter pic.twitter.com/nPOgfDWLNV
— Laurence Fox (@LozzaFox) March 21, 2017
Rebecca Front @RebeccaFront
Colin Dexter loved his 'Hitchcock' moments on Lewis. I remember him once setting me crossword clues to pass the time. I failed to solve any https://t.co/4ZufftEQbK
— Rebecca Front (@RebeccaFront) March 21, 2017
Sara Vickers @SaraLVickers
Such sad news about Colin Dexter. What a great mind and man.
— Sara Vickers (@SaraLVickers) March 21, 2017
Dakota Blue Richards @DakotaBlueR
Thank you, Colin Dexter, for your wonderful imagination. The Endeavour team owe you an awful lot and will miss you terribly.
— Dakota Blue Richards (@DakotaBlueR) March 21, 2017
abigail thaw @abigailthaw
So sad about this. Strangely thought it could never happen. We owe him so much. A very dear and brilliant man #RIPColinDexter https://t.co/fhi21D8geH
— abigail thaw (@abigailthaw) March 21, 2017
Russ Lewis (Writer and creator of the Endeavour series) @ScriptULike
All at #TeamEndeavour mourn the passing of our leader & inspiration. Colin Dexter (1930-2017). Goodbye, sir.
— Russ Lewis (@ScriptULike) March 21, 2017
Roger Allam @All_Allam
Very sorry to hear of the passing of the great Colin Dexter. A wonderful writer and a lovely man
— Roger Allam (@All_Allam) March 21, 2017
BBC Archive @BBCArchive
Author Colin Dexter, speaking about Inspector Morse in 1993. He has died, aged 86. pic.twitter.com/phFmaU7dL4
— BBC Archive (@BBCArchive) March 21, 2017
The New York Times @nytimes
Colin Dexter, whose creations included the poetry-loving detective Chief Inspector Morse, has died https://t.co/vUzCWMG763
— The New York Times (@nytimes) March 22, 2017
BBC Radio 5 @bbc5live
Kevin Whately on the “wonderful and benevolent” Inspector Morse creator Colin Dexter, who has died aged 86https://t.co/UQMSd5TKbb pic.twitter.com/8StoK9tyCr
— BBC Radio 5 live (@bbc5live) March 21, 2017
Caerphilly Libraries @CaerphillyLibs
Very sad news that the great Colin Dexter has died aged 86. The Inspector Morse novels were detective fiction at its best. R.I.P. pic.twitter.com/icWHLntzY7
— Caerphilly Libraries (@CaerphillyLibs) March 21, 2017
Dan McCulloch @danmcculloch
We've known for a while Colin Dexter was ill. Today he died. I wrote a little something about my experience with him on the train home: pic.twitter.com/AJFWsD8jFp
— Dan McCulloch (@danmcculloch) March 21, 2017
Literary Interest @InterestingLit
'The secret of a happy life, Lewis, is to know when to stop and then to go that little bit further.' – Colin Dexter (1930-2017)
— Literary Interest (@InterestingLit) March 21, 2017
Andrew Beaumont @DrBeauBeaumont
I once overheard 2 tourists on a bus saying they'd always wanted to see Morse's Oxford.
Colin Dexter, sitting next to me, smiled to himself.— Beau (@DrBeauBeaumont) March 21, 2017
Val McDermid @valmcdermid
Deeply sorry to hear of the death of my good friend Colin Dexter. He brought pleasure to millions and joy to his friends.
— Val McDermid (@valmcdermid) March 21, 2017
Pan Macmillan @panmacmillan
Everyone at Pan Macmillan is immensely saddened by the passing of the great Colin Dexter. pic.twitter.com/KHqBR8VAAu
— Pan Macmillan (@panmacmillan) March 21, 2017
The Archers @BBCTheArchers
Colin Dexter: wrote a page between The Archers and his nightly trip to the pub #thearchers – via @Independent https://t.co/0mQfmkUaGT
— The Archers (@BBCTheArchers) March 25, 2017
Newspaper Obituaries.
New York Times
Obituary Headline:
Colin Dexter, 86, Dies; Creator of Inspector Morse, a Sleuth on Page and Screen
The Guardian
Obituary Headline;
Colin Dexter: the writer who brought novel ideas to television
TV took the Inspector Morse stories of the late Colin Dexter into the homes of millions – and he wasn’t the only novelist to bathe in the glow of the small screen
The Independent
Obituary Headline:
Colin Dexter obituary: Inspector Morse creator and one of the great whodunnit men
The Seattle Times
Obituary Headline;
Colin Dexter, creator of the beloved Inspector Morse, dies at 86
http://www.seattletimes.com/news/10327603/
Colin Dexter | Tribute from the Scorpion Press
BBC
Headline;
Morse’s Oxford: The city that inspired Colin Dexter.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-39343923
Oxford Mail
Headline
Tributes flood in for Oxford legend and Inspector Morse author Colin Dexter
Radio Show Obituaries;
Laurence Fox, Kevin Whately etc talk on BBC Radio Shows about Colin Dexter.
BBC Radio 4 Obituary Programme ‘The Last Word’: Colin Dexter (24th March 2017)
Colin Dexter Cameos etc
- Endeavour: British Magazine Articles About Series 4. (Includes article about Colin)
- Colin Dexter: Another Double Sighting in a Lewis Episode, ‘Life Born of Fire’.
- UPDATE: More Sightings of Colin Dexter in Lewis.
- Double Sighting of Colin Dexter in the Lewis Episode, ‘Allegory of Love’.
- Colin Dexter’s appearances in Endeavour.
- Colin Dexter to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award from The Strand Magazine.
- Colin Dexter’s appearances in the Lewis series.
- Colin Dexter’s appearances in the Inspector Morse series.
From the Find My Past website;
Famous family trees: Colin Dexter
https://blog.findmypast.co.uk/famous-family-trees-colin-dexter-1406256420.html
The Indian Express Website
Morse Code: Fifteen memorable quotes from Colin Dexter
“Patrick thinks you’re a very good detective. A poor policeman, and a very good detective.”
“Really. Well I suppose half a compliment is better than none.”
Second Time Around (TV series)
(on why he – Morse – never married) “No one would put up with me – I play my records too loud.”
The Silent World of Nicholas Quinn (TV series)
He was somewhat of a loner by temperament…though never wholly happy when alone, he was usually slightly more miserable when with other people.
The Wench is Dead
He had no time for reports. He suspected that 95 per cent of the written word was never read by anyone anyway.
– The Last Bus to Woodstock
“Morse’ Law is there’s always time for one more pint…except that there isn’t.”
The Silent World of Nicholas Quinn (TV series)
The wider the circle of knowledge, the greater the circumference of ignorance.
– The Riddle of the Third Mile
Life was full of “if only” for everyone.
The Dead of Jericho
“I like being dead. It takes the strain out of living.”
Masonic Mysteries (TV series)
“The secret of a happy life, Lewis, is to know when to stop and then to go that little bit further.”
The Silent World of Nicholas Quinn
“Unlike you, I’ve lived a very sheltered life. I have tried to get invited along to one of these porno-parties, but everybody seems to think I’m above such things.”
Morse’s Greatest Mystery and other stories
“I stumble about. That’s what I do. Sometimes I stumble in the right direction”
– Deceived by Flight (TV series)
“You can’t arrest the man just because you don’t like him”
“More’s the pity!”
Driven to Distraction (TV series)
“If anybody wants me, they’ll find me looking at fish. Through the bottom of a beer glass!”
– The Wolvercote Tongue (TV series)
This was exactly why holidays were so valuable…they allowed you to stand back a bit, and see where you were going rusty.
The Way Through the Woods
“What’s your first name?”
“Inspector.”
– Remorseful Day (TV series)
We come to the end of this particular post. However, I am hoping to post again later today with a recording of the BBC radio 4 drama House of Ghosts: A Case for Inspector Morse. Until then, take care.