ITV endeavour to bring top acting names to Morse prequel
ITV have announced a host of well-known guest stars to join the regular cast for the upcoming series of popular detective drama, Endeavour, which is set to air next month.
Written by Russell Lewis, British talent including Phil Daniels, Donald Sumpter and Emma Rigby have been confirmed to star in the fifth series of the Inspector Morse prequel.
The guest stars join regular cast members, Shaun Evans who returns to play the recently promoted Detective Sergeant Endeavour Morse, Roger Allam as mentor Detective Chief Inspector Fred Thursday and Anton Lesser as Chief Superintendent Reginald Bright.
Other names lined up to guest star in the set of six feature-length films include Robin Weaver, Charlotte Hope, Caroline Goodall, Ellie Haddington, Richard Durden, Dominic Carter, Steve Elder, Lily Lesser and Rebecca Saire.
Set in 1968, the new series begins with Morse having finally passed his Sergeant’s exams, as Oxford City Police merges into Thames Valley Constabulary. Joan Thursday (Sara Vickers) has returned to Oxford, but much is unresolved following her disappearance the previous year and Endeavour’s unexpected proposal.
Also reprising their roles in the upcoming drama are Sean Rigby, Dakota Blue Richards, Abigail Thaw, James Bradshaw and Caroline O’Neill. Poldark star Lewis Peek has also joined the cast as a regular.
The new films have been executive produced by Russell Lewis, alongside former Endeavour producer Tom Mullens, Mammoth Screen’s Managing Director Damien Timmer and Rebecca Eaton for WGBH, with John Phillips (Stan Lee’s Lucky Man) and Neil Duncan (Fortitude) producing.
“It’s an honour to have so many great names joining us for the new series. And across the six films we have many compelling worlds to explore – from Hollywood glamour and Egyptian curses to espionage amidst European sporting events – which we hope will continue to excite and entertain.” – Tom Mullens
The most recent films aired in January last year, marking the 30th anniversary of Inspector Morse on ITV. They received critical praise and impressive viewing figures, despite strong competition over on BBC One. The first episode of the series pulled in a consolidated rating of 6.8m and 24% share, which is the biggest audience since 2014 and up on the year on year average by half a million viewers.
