
Scripted series · ITV1
Inspector Morse
Who's in it
Cast
The principal ensemble across the run of the series.
The Nutevio profile
TV DNA
How Inspector Morse actually feels to watch, measured on the traits our editors track across every series.
Signature profile
Inspector Morse reads strongest on Character Depth, Tension and Bingeability.
How fully written and psychologically layered the ensemble is.
The sustained pressure the series keeps you under.
How hard it is to stop after one episode.
How often an episode ends on a hook you can't ignore.
How much each hour depends on the one before it.
How much the series is designed to affect you.
Visual ambition — scale, craft and set-piece filmmaking.
The scale, internal logic and texture of the world.
How often the series is genuinely funny, by design.
The story
What it's about
Inspector Morse is a detective drama based on Colin Dexter's series of Chief Inspector Morse novels. The series starred John Thaw as Chief Inspector Morse and Kevin Whately as Sergeant Lewis, as well as a large cast of notable actors and actresses.
The run
Seasons
7 seasons · 28 episodes.

Season 0 · Complete
Specials
19958 episodes
Best episode · S00E04 The Wench is Dead

Season 1 · Complete
Series 1
19873 episodes
7.3IMDbBest episode · S01E02 The Silent World of Nicholas Quinn

Season 2 · Complete
Series 2
19874 episodes
7.5IMDbBest episode · S02E02 Last Seen Wearing

Season 3 · Complete
Series 3
19894 episodes
6.7IMDbBest episode · S03E01 The Ghost in the Machine

Season 4 · Complete
Series 4
19904 episodes
7.6IMDbBest episode · S04E03 Driven to Distraction

Season 5 · Complete
Series 5
19915 episodes
7.6IMDbBest episode · S05E01 Second Time Around

Season 6 · Complete
Series 6
19925 episodes
7.4IMDbBest episode · S06E02 Happy Families

Season 7 · Complete
Series 7
19933 episodes
7.6IMDbBest episode · S07E01 Deadly Slumber
Where the series peaks
Best Episodes
The hours that define the show, ranked by audience response and editorial signal.

S00E04
The Wench is Dead
While Morse is in hospital for a bleeding ulcer, he takes an interest in an 1859 murder and becomes convinced its resolution was a miscarriage of justice.
- Directed by Robert Knights
- Written by Malcolm Bradbury

S05E01
Second Time Around
The mysterious death of a former deputy police commissioner brings Morse into reluctant contact with an old rival, Ch Insp Dawson. Morse and Lewis, in uneasy tandem with Dawson, spot a link with the unsolved murder of a young girl 18 years earlier. To find the latest killer they have to unravel the first case again.
- Directed by Adrian Shergold
- Written by Daniel Boyle

S04E03
Driven to Distraction
The apparently motiveless murder of two young women points to a psychotic killer. Morse's speculations on what they might have in common leads him to a local garage owner, Jeremy Boynton, who knew them both, and who arouses his suspicions and dislike. Convinced that Boynton holds the key to the crime, Morse begins to hound him, despite having no firm evidence. Morse is also faced with the possible oss of his beloved red Mk II Jaguar.
- Directed by Sandy Johnson
- Written by Kenny McBain, Anthony Minghella

S00E02
The Daughters of Cain
An Oxford professor and fund raiser is stabbed to death at home with a weapon that is yet to be stolen from a university museum.
- Directed by Herbert Wise
- Written by Julian Mitchell

S00E03
Death Is Now My Neighbour
When the next-door neighbour of a murdered woman is also killed, Morse suspects the first shooting may have been an error.
- Directed by Charles Beeson
- Written by Julian Mitchell

S03E01
The Ghost in the Machine
Morse investigates the reported theft of erotic paintings belonging to Sir Julius Hanbury, a local baronet who is one of those standing for election as the new Master of Courtney College, Oxford. As well as the pictures, Sir Julius himself has also disappeared. Morse finds Sir Julius's dead body, and at first it looks like murder, but the new police pathologist, Dr Grayling Russell, believes he killed himself. Then there is another death which is undoubtedly a murder - but how is it connected with the late Sir Julius Hanbury?
- Directed by Herbert Wise
- Written by Julian Mitchell
Recently aired
Latest Episodes

S00E08
Inspector Morse Rest in Peace

S00E05
The Remorseful Day
- Directed by Jack Gold
- Written by Stephen Churchett

S00E04
The Wench is Dead
- Directed by Robert Knights
- Written by Malcolm Bradbury

S00E03
Death Is Now My Neighbour
- Directed by Charles Beeson
- Written by Julian Mitchell

S00E02
The Daughters of Cain
- Directed by Herbert Wise
- Written by Julian Mitchell

S00E01
The Way Through the Woods
- Directed by John Madden
- Written by Russell Lewis
Behind the series
Created by
Showrunners, creators, executive producers and the writers who set the voice of the series.
- Photo unavailable
Tony Warren
Showrunner
- Photo unavailable
Colin Dexter
Creator

John Thaw
Executive producer
- Photo unavailable
Ted Childs
Executive producer
- Photo unavailable
Kenny McBain
Writer
- Photo unavailable
Peter Nichols
Writer
- Photo unavailable
Charles Wood
Writer
- Photo unavailable
John Brown
Writer
- Photo unavailable
Daniel Boyle
Writer
- Photo unavailable
Peter Buckman
Writer

Anthony Minghella
Writer
- Photo unavailable
Michael Wilcox
Writer
- Photo unavailable
Julian Mitchell
Writer

Thomas Ellice
Writer
- Photo unavailable
Jeremy Burnham
Writer
- Photo unavailable
Geoffrey Case
Writer
- Photo unavailable
Alma Cullen
Writer
The craft
Key Crew
Directing, writing, production, camera, music and editing.
Executive production
- Kenny McBainProducer
- John ThawExecutive Producer
- Deirdre KeirProducer
- David LascellesProducer
- Ted ChildsExecutive Producer
- Chris BurtProducer
Writing
- Kenny McBainWriter
- Peter NicholsWriter
- Charles WoodWriter
- John BrownWriter
- Daniel BoyleWriter
- Peter BuckmanWriter
Direction
- Brian ParkerDirector
- Peter DuffellDirector
- Jim GoddardDirector
- Roy BattersbyDirector
- Adrian ShergoldDirector
- James ScottDirector
Music
- Barrington PheloungOriginal Music Composer
Recognition
Awards
2 wins
BAFTA Awards
2 wins · latest 1993
- WinnerBritish Academy Television Award for Best Actor1993
Inspector Morse · Inspector Morse
- WinnerBritish Academy Television Award for Best Actor1990
Inspector Morse · Inspector Morse
Where to watch
Streaming
Availability verified against regional listings.
- Britbox Apple TV Channel Streaming
- BritBoxStreaming
- BritBox Amazon ChannelStreaming
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