For over ten years I was my disabled mother’s full time carer. However, she is now in a nursing home as it became to difficult for me to give her the care she needed. Sadly, my mum passed away on the 6th of May 2020.
Before that I worked as an Ecological Scientist. I have two children, a son who is 25 and a daughter who is 31. I am in the process of writing the second edition of my Lewis TV show book.
With Colin Dexter’s death it is even more important to maintain his legacy. We need to keep his name and the TV shows in the public mind.
I have watched the episodes of Inspector Morse and Lewis many, many times. With the start of the new year, 2014, I decided to watch all episodes of Morse, Lewis and Endeavour again. However, I needed another reason for doing so over and above just the enjoyment of watching them. So, I decided to create this blog in the hope that other people will enjoy this blog other than just me. I will add a new post as often as possible and review the shows chronologically. I hope you enjoy the blog.
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How best to navigate my blog.
Does your obvious appreciation for Colin Dexter directly influence your writing, or did your writing ambitions precede this interest? Whatever the answer, this blog is not only quite the labour of love, but visually appealing & informative. Thank you.
Hi! Alana. Thank you very much for the kind comments. My interest in writing and literature preceded my love of all things Dexter by many years.
Hi,I enjoy your efforts, great blog. Why is Morse stationed in Kidlington, rather than in Oxford? is there a separate Oxford police Department?
Thanks,
Howard
Hi Howard and thank you for the kind comment. I’m assuming he was based at Kidlington because that was the where the CID were based. In the novel Service of all the Dead, Morse does say to someone whom I can’t remember, that he was attached to the Thames Valley Police HQ in Kidlington not to the city police at St Aldates. I hope you continue to the enjoy my blog.
Interesting tidbit about Kidlington. Morse is good for the tourist trade. 🙂
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-36706591
Thanks for that Howard. I do hope it was all due to the Morse effect.
Hi, as the manager of The Old Barge, I can confirm that each shot is indeed from the same pub, and I believe there are a few more interior shots from that particular episode! Surprised you had trouble tracking us down, but glad you did! Keep up the good work! (incidently the industrial buildings you refer to are in fact a waitrose and some flats)
Thank you so much for taking the time to write.
Just like yourself, I love learning locations etc of Morse…plenty of books beside your own in-depth research to look up almost any question that comes to mind. But….I wish someone would do the same for Lewis….so many times I want to check on cast lists, locations etc. I do my own research, IMDB etc etc…but so much is unknown…we fans desperately need a book….! Over to you, perhaps…??!
Wholeheartedly agree. I am on about my 5th time thru the Lewis episodes.
Thank you so much for this way beyond excellent blog. I just watched this episode — not for the first time — and had some questions about it. I started googling for answers and eventually found you. I was curious about who the female jazz singer was, about why the groceries, etc, were scattered outside the first victim’s door — which didn’t seem right, if she’d willingly let him in. You solved both those mysteries — but I have one more: when Morse and Lewis are going to the prison, Lewis tells Morse it;s “100 miles” away. This being a British production, wouldn’t they have measured the distance in kilometers? Or do the British use American measures in casual conversation? Anyway, thank you again so much — I enjoyed your blog almost as much as the show itself!
Hi Karen. Firstly, thank you so much for the very kind comments and glad you found my blog. Regarding the miles/kilometres comment, unlike the rest of Europe the British are still unwilling to go completely metric and most Brits still refer to most things, like distance, in its imperial form. Take care.
Miles are not solely American units of measure, the are more correctly called Imperial Units and are used in several countries!
Have you thought of writing a book with all these connections? Like:
The Complete Inspector Morse
by David Bishop
I certainly have but if I did publish it would be as an ebook. Thanks for commenting Nan.
Hello. Thanks a lot. The blog is really marvellous. Any chance to have, for example, lists of poems or art works? I have been watching your last post, where the Housman’s poem appears. It was truly a great point. I have learn more about English culture with these series than in other many ways, because of their ability to embrace deep emotions and speak out them as well.
Truly yours,
Arantza.
Hi Arantza. Thank you for very kind comment. I’m glad you are enjoying my blog. I think your idea about listing poems and art works is a great idea and I will certainly do a post about that in the near future. Thanks for not only taking the time to comment but for such a great idea for a post.
Love this! I live in Oxford and grew up here and often see the filming going on. There are 3 police stations, Cowley Road where Endeavour is based, St Aldates and the HQ in Kidlington. I was at school in Kidlington next to the HQ.
My mother often chats to Colin Dexter on the bus going into Oxford – he loves to tell people who he is and we used to see him shopping in Kidlington in Sainsburys, but l know his health hasn’t been the best just recently.
Thank you for this blog and now I know you are here I shall be tuning in!
Hi Anne and thank you for your lovely comment. You are very lucky to live in such a lovely place like Oxford and to be able to watch the filming of the series. I hope you find some interesting posts on my blog.
Chris,
Thank you so very much for your continuing gift of passion and love. It cheers my heart to read a blog that is constantly informative, articulate, uplifting, and heartwarming. Especially so, with the hit taken this week for those of us residing on this side of the Pond.
What a blessing to have your email link arrive and know that – whatever the weather – it will bring cool breezes, blue skies, warm sunshine, and green hope via your labor of love. What you give to us is greatly appreciated!!
Hi Sherri. Well if anything was going to make me feel better after having been laid up with a cold for the last few days then it would certainly be your comment. Thank you for such a lovely comment.
Chris,
Thanks very much for all the passion and knowledge you share with us.
I am from Argentina and I will visiting UK in May/June. Can you help me choose the best time to visit Oxford?
Any suggestions will be wellcome.
Thanks again!
Alejandra
Hi Alexandre. Thank you for your kind comment. As to the best time to visit Oxford, to be honest the city is busy all the year around. But, best to go when the sun is shining.
Regards
Chris
Hi Chris,
Just stumbled on your excellent blog whilst watching the latest repeats of Morse and I wanted to thank you for such an informative and enjoyable labour of love. My wife and I are enjoying the repeats – we always remember snippets but rarely the whole plot. Your website doubles the enjoyment. Keep up the good work!
Best Wishes
Steve Mills
Hi Steve. Welcome to my blog and thank for your kind words. I hope you find many posts to enjoy here.
well i was the first to like your about you…very nice. i found your blog through fb ( like who doesn’t get things on fb. lol i have’nt looked through all but so far i like it very much . i am a big fan and its great too meet people that are the same as me. its great and i thank you for all the work you have done. I hope all is well.
Thank you and welcome to my blog.
Thank you for your interesting blog I have juust discovered sad to hear Colin hass left us
Dear Chris,
As a newfound Morse fan from the U.S., I would like to let you know that your blog has sustained me after watching all three series. I am thrilled to find out all the details and insights that I missed from my first viewing! Thankfully, I have a new season of Endeavour to look forward to. Why do you think that this series has stayed so relevant and popular after so many years??
Thank you so much for the inside story on, “Lazaretto.” It showed here tonight…quite enthralling, and Phoebe Nicholls certainly stood out…just like her nasty character in, “Downton Abbey.”
I have just begun the first series of ENDEAVOUR and luckily I found your marvellous blog to deepen my enjoyment of all things Morse. I most certainly do thank you for your website.
Hi Anne and welcome to my blog. Thank you for your kind comment and I hope you find many things of interest on my blog.
Hi Chris,
Being from Nebraska it was a surprise in “Harvest” (it just aired on 9/10/2017) to hear that the young physicist and his wife had relocated to the quaint village from Omaha! Anyway, I agree it was probably a nod to all of the fans in the U.S., but it was a kick! You have to give us Yanks a little credit. The dialogue sometimes is difficult to understand, particularly when all of the characters are speaking at the same time. In particular, is the young officer Endeavour had a beer with before coming home to find his apartment ransacked. I am never quite sure of what he is saying.
I love Endeavour and appreciate your insight. I would hate to see Thursday go but I can see how it would shake things up in a positive way. The Joan story is getting tedious. I wish he would have grabbed her and kissed her upon his marriage proposal, but his awkwardness wouldn’t allow it – again….
Anyway, thank you. Finding your blog is a great resource. You really know your Endeavour/Morse facts and details. Keep up the good work!
Hi Chris,
thank you for this wonderful blog about the Morse universe. I really like it, especially the connections between Morse, Lewis and Endeavour. But I have to read it very carefully, because there is a a 4-year delay in the broadcasting between UK and Germany and I have to watch of spoilers. So at the moment we have reached end of series 1 here. But series 2 will start soon.
Greetings from south of Germany – Wolfgang
This is an excellent website and I will return often.
Do you have a full bibliography for Colin Dexter?
Hi and thanks for the kind comment. I don’t have a full bibliography but that is certainly a good idea for a future post.
I’m so glad I found this website. Absolutely superb.
When I have a bit of time I’d like to shape a few paragraphs about my father’s appearance in the final Morse. His third appearance with Thaw having also appeared opposite him on The Sweeney and Kavanagh QC. He knew John and Shiela Hancock from way back.
One of the most inspirational books I have read was Colin Dexters re his wife’s horrific illness and how they dealt with it!
What book was that Penny? I’m not aware of such a book.
Are you thinking of CS Lewis about his wife Joy?
Hi Mary. I need context regarding your comment.
Chris –
I just read the new, updated “about me” blurb that appears at the end of posts. So sorry about your mother, but congratulations on going back to school! And to Edinburgh, no less! I think you and I are about the same age. I went back to school a couple of years ago to pursue a master’s in library science, after being away for about 30 years, too. Trust me, things have changed! It’s taking me three years, instead of the two I anticipated, partly because of the adjustments I’ve had to make. (Working half-to-full time while I study doesn’t make it any easier.) That year in college will probably be a bit help for you. But, again, congratulations! It takes real courage to step take a step like that!
Thank you. I am rather nervous going back into full time education. But that is tempered by my excitement at getting the chance (should I pass all the necessary exams at college) of studying English Literature at Edinburgh.
I was just in Oxford on 15 August for the first time. We only had one day of our trip for the Oxford area but I loved it and have watched every episode of the Trilogy and felt right at home. Our first sighting of the Thames valley police was in Burford as we came in from the Cotswolds. Thank you for all the effort you have put into this blog as it is a wonderful resource for all of us displaced Anglophiles… I am already planning my next trip to the area which will include more tracking of Trilogy sites ! (I unfortunately couldn’t find anyone willing to swap citizenships…)
Hi Raymond. Thank you for your kind comment. I hope you get the chance soon to spend more time in Oxford.
I have only recently begun watching Inspector Morse and was delighted to stumble upon your blog. I’ve gotten into the habit of reading the respective post after each episode. There’s a wonderful quote from the Great Gatsby in The Silent World of Nicholas Quinn, when Morse is speaking of Ogleby outside the movie theatre. “At the end of his life he wanted to prove he’d lived.” Brought me right back to my school days, studying Fitzgerald. Thank you for creating this heartfelt accompaniment to a great show!
Welcome Tracy. Well spotted regarding the Gatsby quote. I will add that to the appropriate post.
Merci beaucoup pour ce blog passionnant et très détaillé ! Continuez !
Hi Chris, I am from Colombia, South America and recently I’ve become a fan of Morse’ s universe! Could you help me understand what are the grades a British police officer has to go through his career? why Mr Bright wears uniform and Endeavour and Morse do not?
CID (Criminal Investigation Department officers) do not have the wear uniform Cecilia that is why.
So amazing to study your blog and your love and interest in the world of Morse, Lewis and Endeavour. I have the same love for the TV series and the characters and it’s truly lovely to experience your passion.
You have done an a amazing work, and I will just say thanks and thanks again for sharing. It’s truly lovely to experience another fan of the series and characters. I’m looking so much forward to your book about the Lewis TV show. Take care 🙂
I am new to the Inspector Morse world. I watched all of the Endeavour series. The only episode I have not been able to find is the Endeavour Pilot episode. I am in the US and the DVDs I see for sale only play on equipment outside of the US as I understand it. If you could point me to a location I can watch the Pilot I would appreciated it. Many thanks!
Not sure if you are still searching Steve, but the whole Inspector Morse set of episodes in available on BritBox–a streaming service available in the US
Believe the pilot is available to Amzon Prime Members.
Thank you for your reply. I did see the DVD for the Pilot on Amazon but the format of the DVD is a a non-US format. I have Amazon Prime and all of the Endeavour series is available via streaming but the Pilot is not. I searched YouTube but only see short exerpts of the Pilot there not the entire Pilot. Thanks again for your suggestion.
I’m an English professor in Ohio, and I am teaching Daughters of Cain for a class in Detective Fiction. I seem to remember hearing what Ellie’s real last name was, but it’s not in my notes and I cannot figure it out. She took Brooks’s name, as I’m sure you’ll remember, when Brenda remarried because school children made fun of her surname. If I can get some help here, I’d sure appreciate it.
Hi Bill, sorry for taking so long to answer. I’m sorry I can’t remember what her original surname was.
Hello Chris, I`m curious about what to discover on your website. I`m from Germany and I started with Lewis (in the german TV). At that time I already read about that Lewis is a sequel of “Morse”, from whom I had never heard until then. Then they broadcast Endeavour (in germany it`s called “the young inspector Morse”) an i liked it very much. Only the episods 1-4 are broadcastet in the german translation, so I bought 5 and 6 in english to improve my language skills. After that i was so curios that I bought the whole DVD-collection of Morse. I´m just at DVD 13, cherubim and seraphim. It`s very Interesting to discover the connections between Enddeavour an Morse. My wife is mocking me a bit for this, so I´m very glad that other people share my Interests.
So, please …. carry on
Just come across your blog – excellent all round, I will enjoy going through your detailed comments. Good luck with Edinburgh University too, that sounds like a great opportunity.
Do you know who chooses the music–I am fascinated by the choices, some seem to me quite obscure, but enjoyable nonetheless!
It’s either Barrington Pheloung or Matthew Slater.
I noticed the comment on the barge, are we referring to the “wench is dead” episode which featured Morse & Lewis enjoying a thinking mans pint. The Barge being filmed for that episode situated at Honey Street within the area of the famous Alton Barnes crop circle country amongst others in Wiltshire where you can see the white horse from the pub. The pub has been very distinguished down the years with travelers musicians and crop circle intervention. you could perhaps fill in the gaps for us on the shooting etc
If I was to be lucky enough to win millions I would buy this place and outward buildings and turn it into a cultural mini village with access to Devises and of course the Avebury and outlying areas of beauty and archeological history.
Kind regards Brett
I just discovered your all things Morse blog after first searching for the music from Fat Chance. Turns out it is the Mozart Solemn Vespers of the Confessor. What a find (the music list and the Mozart)! I’m a classical and sacred music lover and Morse is too. Plus I LOVE the Barrington Phelong piece that plays during the credits (and which I am playing thanks to your link below while I type this). When those big horns go into the theme, it gives me chills.Thanks to local San Francisco based KQED for playing the whole credits with music and not cutting it short. Thank you thank you for the link to the amazing Morse Music. Morse is in reruns currently on KQED and I’m watching them all.
Hi Marilyn and welcome to my website. Enjoy watching the Morse episodes.
I have been watching Endeavour during these covid months from the midwest on Prime channel. So glad I found your site. When I watch I keep a notebook and jot down funny British sayings and look them up later. Fred Thursday has the best with Peter Jakes a close second. I also love to watch for the clothing styles, the room interiors and the hairstyles. The detail is so good!
Chris – quick note from a Yorkshireman (though living in California for the last 25 years) – the Fred Thursday quote to Morse in the pub (‘His sorts worth nowt a pound – and shit’s tuppence’) means, literally, that Copley Barnes is worth less than crap – “shit costs 2p and a pound of him’s not even worth that”).
On more important themes, I’m sorry to hear about your mum. I went through this for the last 2 years and lost mine to dementia last month. It’s a hard thing to live with and through. My sympathies.
Thank you John for the translation. I have added your comment to the Trove post. Sorry, to read of your mum’s recent passing John. I can’t lie, it is and will be difficult to get through the next few weeks if not months. But surprisingly it does get a little easier as time passes and eventually you realise your mum wouldn’t want the rest of your life to be defined by her death. Take care John.
Hi Chris, my condolences at the loss of your mother.
I just ordered your book having stumbled onto your website. You’ve put a lot of effort into this site (and book). Well done.
I found your website while researching Lewis (and Morse) both of whom have used Brunel University as a location many times, where I’ve worked since 1994 (I worked there 1970-80 too).
Many other adverts, TV programmes and films have been shot at Brunel including, Spooks, Silent Witness, The Last Detective, A Clockwork Orange (which I worked on).
I’ve been fortunate enough to watch some of the episodes of Lewis being filmed, The Quality of Mercy & Wild Justice and take photos/video footage of the film crew at work. This eventually led me to creating an archive of everything shot on campus (and become the university’s unofficial film location archivist).
I look forward to receiving your book, well done again on the effort you have put and what you have created.
Regards
John
Thank you John for your condolences. Much appreciated. I hope you enjoy my book. How many photos do you have regarding the Lewis episodes?
Hi Chris, about 70 photos were taken between the two episodes, I’m not the best photographer so many of the photos were poorly framed or exposed; it was a case of rapidly taking as many as I could without getting in the way and also not be away from my job for too long. I’d say only 12-15 photos are of any use.
Hi John, would you be willing to share the photos and allow me to create a post about them. If you can find the time it would also nice to have a few paragraphs from you to put the photos in context.
I was at school in Oxford during the war and a few years after, and enjoy identifying the sites, Do you know where the cricket match was played? It looks to me very much like Southfield School , Glanville road , now much enlarged and renamed Oxford School.
Hi. The cricket ground location used in the Morse episode, Deceived by Flight is the Mill Hill School, London.
Hello! I just found your blog while watching “Endeavour” in Maryland, USA, on Amazon Prime. I love it. Thank you for all your hard work. Can you explain why Season 6, Episode 4 “Deguello” has the song listed “Mexicali Rose,” but it is listed as “Deguello” at the website of the MatthewSlater.com? The melody is the same, the arrangement is similar, the singer sounds the same, the lyrics are different. Is this what composers for TV do? You can hear the “Deguello” version
at the Slater website.
Thank you Jem for your kind comment regrading my website. Due to copyright and financial reasons many of the songs used in the original British broadcast cannot be used outside the UK. Matthew Slater composed a piece to sound similar to Mexicali Rose. I hope that helps.
Chris: This is an absolutely wonderful blog! Thank you for all your hard work in putting this together. Condolences on your mother as well.
I’m still playing around with areas of the blog, but thus far, I love the “pub locations” section and the music selection of the blog. I stumbled on your blog whilst looking for a particular song that was played in one of the episodes. Been listening to the music listed on your blog most of the day now!
My wife and I are avid fans of the Morris, Lewis and Endeavor series and have watched them all. Ironically, we didn’t stumble upon them until late in life and after we had made our third visit across the pond to visit Oxford and surrounding areas (first visit in 1991; then visits in 2018 and 2019). Funny, in 1991, I spent about a month at Oxford, I remember people talking about the Morris series and that they were filming, but never (stupidly) bothered to check out the series or the books. Chalk it up to the stupidity of youth. But its been a balm for our souls watching all these episodes in the last 2 years!
Cheers from across the pond!
Hi Jim, welcome to my website. It’s never too late to start enjoying the Morse Universe, (my term for all three series). I hope you find lots to enjoy here on my website.
I recently discovered your wonderful tribute to the Morse Universe. My favorite part is the Original Morris. I have noticed that you frequently mention that a certain episode is or is not on your list of the ten episodes. Where is your top ten to be found?
And many thanks for the wonderful job you do.
Hello Olaf and welcome to my website. Here is a link to my top ten favourite episodes; https://morseandlewisandendeavour.com/2015/09/25/my-top-ten-favourite-morse-episodes/
Greetings and sincerest condolences from Melbourne Victoria Australia. We have just started re-runs of Morse, have watched it for many years. I shall enjoy following the show in line with your blogs. Thank you for sharing your fantastic insights and investigations. I loved visiting the places I saw in Morse and Lewis when I visited England many years ago.
Cheers from Nurse Chris
Thank you for your kind comment.
Chris, I enjoy your episode reviews for Morse and Endeavour and the discussion that they trigger. Do you intend to write reviews for the episodes marked as “coming soon” ?
In one of the later episodes, Morse explicitly states that he is a Wagner man. However, having watched nearly all the episodes, my casual impression is that we hear more Mozart opera than Wagner. I also heard a lot of Schubert chamber music, a Brahms sextet, and surprisingly the Beethoven Op 110 and the Cavatina. So, all in all, I would say that his musical taste is quite good, although I absolutely hate Wagner. (Also, contrary to the view expressed by Laura Hobson, I believe that the music is very accurate reflection of the man. Totally creepy.)
I want to amend my previous comment. I just remembered that in the samd episode, Morse denigrated Vivaldi. I have to correct my evaluation of Morse’s musical taste: Mixed at best.
Dear Sir,
I would like to buy your book Endeavour, unfortunately it is unavailable on amazon, is there another chance to get it? best! Darius, Poland
Hi Darius. I have sent you an email in reply to your query.