Editing Inspector Morse

{{Short description|Fictional character by Colin Dexter}}
{{About|the fictional character|the TV series|Inspector Morse (TV series){{!}}''Inspector Morse'' (TV series)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox character
| name       = Detective Chief Inspector Morse
| first      = 1975: novel'' [[Last Bus to Woodstock]]'' 
| lbl32 = Born
| data32 = 1930<ref>"Dexter said that Morse would be turning 70 next year [2000]", from: {{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/art-mirrors-life-as-inspector-morse-is-finally-defeated-by-drinking-and-diabetes-1119356.html|title=Art mirrors life, as Inspector Morse is finally defeated by drinking|website=[[Independent.co.uk]]|date=4 October 2015|access-date=15 November 2018}}</ref> (television: 1938)
| lbl33 = Died
| data33      = 1999: novel ''[[The Remorseful Day]]'' (television: 2000)
| lbl1      = Appears in
| data1     = 13 novels (1975–1999) <br>[[Inspector Morse (TV series)|''Inspector Morse'' television series]] (1987–2000)<br>[[Endeavour (TV series)|''Endeavour'' television series]] (2012–2023)
| creator    = [[Colin Dexter]]
| portrayer  = [[John Thaw]] (television) (1987–2000)<br>[[Shaun Evans]] (television) (2012–2023)
| lbl2 = Also portrayed by
| data2 = [[Andrew Burt]] (BBC Radio) (1985)<br>[[John Shrapnel]] (BBC Radio) (1992–96)<br>[[Colin Baker]] (stage) (2010)<br>[[Neil Pearson]] (BBC Radio) (2017)
| title      = [[Detective Chief Inspector]]
| nationality = British
| lbl31 = Decorations
| data31 = [[George Medal]] (television 1967)
| family = {{plainlist|
* Cyril Morse (father)
* Constance Morse (mother)
* Gwen Morse (stepmother)
* Joyce Garrett (half-sister)}}
| relatives = Marilyn Garrett (niece)<br>Wayne Garrett (nephew)
| lbl34 = Alma mater
| data34 = [[St John's College, Oxford]]
}}

'''Endeavour Morse''', [[George Medal|GM]], is the namesake character of the series of "Morse" [[detective novel]]s by British author [[Colin Dexter]], a [[Detective]] [[Chief Inspector]] in the [[Thames Valley Police]] in [[Oxford, England|Oxford]], [[England]].

On television he was portrayed by [[John Thaw]] in a 33-episode drama series, ''[[Inspector Morse (TV series)|Inspector Morse]]'' (1987–2000), and by [[Shaun Evans]] in the (2012–2023) [[prequel]] series ''[[Endeavour (TV series)|Endeavour]]''. The older Morse is a senior [[Criminal Investigation Department]] (CID) officer, while the younger is a detective constable rising through the ranks with the [[Oxford City Police]] and, in later seasons, the Thames Valley Police.

Morse presents, to some, a reasonably sympathetic personality, despite his sullen and snobbish temperament. He is known for his classic [[Jaguar Mark 2]] (a [[Lancia]] in the early novels), thirst for English [[real ale]], and love of classical music (especially opera and [[Richard Wagner|Wagner]]), poetry, art and cryptic crossword puzzles. In his later career he is usually assisted by [[Inspector Lewis|Sergeant Robbie Lewis]], a partnership and formal friendship which is fundamental to the series.
Morse uses Lewis’ first name, Robbie for the first time in S5, E5 “Promised Land” before going to face a kidnapper and potential killer.

==Biography==

===Family===
Morse's father was a taxi driver. In the episode of the television adaptation ''[[Cherubim and Seraphim (Inspector Morse episode)|Cherubim and Seraphim]]'', it is revealed that Morse's parents divorced when he was 12. He remained with his mother until her death three years later, upon which he had to return to his father. Morse had a dreadful relationship with his stepmother Gwen. He claims that he only read poetry to annoy her, and that her petty bullying almost drove him to suicide. He has a half-sister named Joyce with whom he is on better terms. Morse was devastated when Joyce's daughter Marilyn took her own life.

Morse prefers to use only his surname, and is generally evasive when asked about his first name, sometimes joking that it is ''Inspector''. “Everyone just calls me Morse. I do have a first name.” In ''The Dead of Jericho'' and ''The Wench Is Dead'' it is noted that his initial is E.<ref>''[[The Dead of Jericho]]'', chapter 7.</ref><ref>''[[The Wench Is Dead]]'', chapter 1.</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/21/books/colin-dexter-dead-creator-of-inspector-morse.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220103/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/21/books/colin-dexter-dead-creator-of-inspector-morse.html |archive-date=2022-01-03 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Colin Dexter, 86, Dies; Creator of Inspector Morse, a Sleuth on Page and Screen|newspaper=The New York Times|date=22 March 2017|access-date=15 November 2018|last1=Grimes|first1=William}}{{cbignore}}</ref> At the end of ''[[Death Is Now My Neighbour]]'', his name is revealed to be Endeavour.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/colin-dexter-obituary-inspector-morse-oxford-whodunit-crime-writer-a7642411.html|title=Colin Dexter obituary: Inspector Morse creator and one of the great whodunit men|date=21 March 2017|website=The Independent|access-date=26 July 2019}}</ref> Two-thirds of the way through the television episode based on the book, he gives the cryptic clue "My whole life's effort has revolved around Eve, nine letters".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0611637/|title=Death Is Now My Neighbour|date=19 November 1997|via=IMDb}}</ref> In the series, it is noted that Morse's reluctance to use his Christian name led to his receiving the nickname ''Pagan'' (Deceived by Flight) while at [[Stamford School]] (which [[Colin Dexter]], the author of the Morse novels, attended).<ref name="auto"/> In the novels, Morse's first name came from the vessel [[HMS Endeavour|HMS ''Endeavour'']]; his mother was a member of the Religious Society of Friends ([[Quakers]]) who have a tradition of "[[virtue name]]s", and his father admired [[James Cook|Captain James Cook]].<ref name="nytimes.com">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/01/26/tv/behind-morse-the-dour-dignified-detective.html|title=Behind Morse, the Dour, Dignified Detective|newspaper=The New York Times|date=26 January 1997|last1=Gussow|first1=Mel}}</ref>

Dexter was a fan of cryptic crosswords and named Morse after champion setter [[Jeremy Morse]], one of Dexter's arch-rivals in writing crossword clues.<ref>Colin Dexter in ''Super Sleuths: Inspector Morse''. Director: Katie Kinnaird</ref> Dexter used to walk along the bank of the [[River Thames]] at Oxford, opposite the boathouse belonging to 22nd Oxford Sea Scout Group; the building is named ''[[Training ship|T.S.]] Endeavour''.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Oxford of Inspector Morse: Dreaming spires, dead bodies... and lots and lots of pubs |date=18 August 2018 |url=https://www.countrylife.co.uk/out-and-about/theatre-film-music/oxford-inspector-morse-dreaming-spires-dead-bodies-lots-lots-pubs-182670}}</ref>

===Education===
Although details of Morse's education are kept vague, it is hinted that he won a scholarship to study at [[St John's College, Oxford]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Dexter|first1=Colin|title=The Riddle of the Third Mile|publisher=St Martins Press|page=Chapter 7|edition=1983}}</ref> He lost the scholarship as the result of poor academic performance stemming from a failed love affair, which is mentioned in the second episode of the third series, "The Last Enemy", and recounted in detail in the novel ''[[The Riddle of the Third Mile]]'', Chapter 7. Further details are revealed piece-by-piece in the prequel series. He often reflects on such renowned scholars as [[Alfred Edward Housman|A. E. Housman]] who, like himself, failed to get an academic degree from Oxford.

===Career===
After university, he entered the army on [[National Service]]. This included serving in [[West Germany]] with the [[Royal Corps of Signals]] as a [[cipher]] clerk. Upon leaving, he joined the police<ref name="nytimes.com"/> at Carshall-Newtown, before being posted to Oxford with the [[Oxford City Police]]. He was awarded the [[George Medal]] in the last episode of ''[[Endeavour (TV series)|Endeavour]]'' Series 4, which he refrains from wearing on his uniform. He is assigned to a uniformed position in Series 6 despite having his opinions and observations disregarded by CID.

===Habits and personality===
Morse is the embodiment of middle-class Englishness, with a set of prejudices and assumptions to match, although his background, being the son of a taxi driver, might be considered working class. He claims to have a private income from his father driving for the [[Aga Khan]], but this may be a joke.<ref>''[[The Dead of Jericho]]'', chapter 21</ref> Due to his manners and bearing, he is sometimes considered [[gentleman detective]], the staple of British [[Detective fiction#Famous fictional detectives|detective fiction]], in contrast to the working-class lifestyle of his assistant [[Inspector Lewis|Lewis]]. In the novels, Lewis is [[Welsh people|Welsh]], but in the TV series this is altered to a [[Tyneside]] ([[Geordie]]) background, appropriately for the actor [[Kevin Whately]]. Morse is in his forties at the start of the books (''Service of all the Dead'', Chapter Six: "… a bachelor still, forty-seven years old …"), and Lewis slightly younger (e.g. ''The Secret of Annexe 3'', Chapter Twenty-Six: "a slightly younger man – another policeman, and one also in plain clothes"). John Thaw was 45 at the beginning of shooting the TV series and Kevin Whately was 36.{{citation needed|date=August 2021}}

Morse's relationships with authority, the establishment, bastions of power and the status quo, are markedly ambiguous, as are some of his relations with women. He is frequently portrayed as patronising female characters, and once stereotyped the female sex as not naturally prone to crime, being caring and non-violent, but also often empathises with women. He is not shy to show his liking for attractive women and often dates those involved in cases. Indeed, a woman he falls in love with sometimes turns out to be the culprit.{{citation needed|date=August 2021}}

Morse is highly intelligent. He is a [[crossword]] addict<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/crossword-blog/2012/aug/09/top-10-crosswords-fiction-inspector-morse|title=Top 10 crosswords in fiction, no 3: Inspector Morse|first=Alan|last=Connor|date=9 August 2012|website=The Guardian|access-date=15 November 2018}}</ref> and dislikes grammatical and spelling errors; in every personal or private document that he receives, he manages to point out at least one mistake. He claims that his approach to crime-solving is deductive, and one of his key tenets is that "there is a 50 per cent chance that the person who finds the body is the murderer". Morse uses immense intuition and his fantastic memory to apprehend the perpetrator.{{citation needed|date=August 2021}}

Among Morse's conservative tastes are that he likes to drink [[real ale]] and [[whisky]], (which he calls “brain food”) and likes to drink while thinking about cases despite doctors’ advice on cutting down. In the early novels, Morse drives a [[Lancia]].<ref name="auto"/> In the television and radio productions (and reprints of the novels), this is altered to a [[Jaguar Mark 2]]. His favourite music is opera, which is echoed in the soundtracks to the television series. The original music is by [[Barrington Pheloung]].
Which has been made into Morse Code and spells out Inspector Morse.

His dying words, said to Jim Strange, (who liked calling Morse, “matey” due to their long working relationship together), are "Thank Lewis for me."<ref>"The Remorseful Day"</ref>

Morse is portrayed as being an [[atheist]].<ref>{{cite web| url = https://britishmysterybooks.com/colin-dexter| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20191221231509/https://britishmysterybooks.com/colin-dexter| archive-date = 21 December 2019| title = Colin Dexter – Inspector Morse {{!}} British Detective Stories}}</ref> However, in some scenes, he does entertain the possibility of God and/or quote the Bible from memory, agreeing with the phrases, as he does with lines from various literary books/texts.

==Novels==
The novels in the series are:
* ''[[Last Bus to Woodstock]]'' (1975)
* ''[[Last Seen Wearing (Dexter novel)|Last Seen Wearing]]'' (1976)
* ''[[The Silent World of Nicholas Quinn]]'' (1977)
* ''[[Service of All the Dead]]'' (1979)
* ''[[The Dead of Jericho]]'' (1981)
* ''[[The Riddle of the Third Mile]]'' (1983)
* ''[[The Secret of Annexe 3]]'' (1986)
* ''[[The Wench is Dead]]'' (1989)
* ''[[The Jewel That Was Ours]]'' (1991)
* ''[[The Way Through the Woods]]'' (1992)
* ''[[The Daughters of Cain]]'' (1994)
* ''[[Death Is Now My Neighbour]]'' (1996)
* ''[[The Remorseful Day]]'' (1999)

Inspector Morse also appears in several stories in Dexter's short story collection, ''[[Morse's Greatest Mystery|Morse's Greatest Mystery and Other Stories]]'' (1993, expanded edition 1994).

==In other media==

===Television===
{{Main|Inspector Morse (TV series)|Endeavour (TV series)|Lewis (TV series)}}

====''Inspector Morse'' (1987–2000)====
The Inspector Morse novels were made into a [[Inspector Morse (TV series)|TV series]] (also called ''Inspector Morse'') for the British commercial TV network [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]]. The series was made by [[Zenith Productions]] for [[Central Independent Television|Central]] (a company later acquired by [[Carlton Television|Carlton]]) and comprised 33&nbsp;two-hour episodes (100&nbsp;minutes excluding commercials)—20&nbsp;more episodes than there are novels—produced between 6 January 1987 and 15 November 2000. The last episode was adapted from the final novel ''The Remorseful Day'', in which Morse dies from a heart attack. Morse was played by [[John Thaw]] and Lewis by [[Kevin Whately|Kevin Whateley]].

====''Lewis'' (2006–2015)====
A spin-off series, similarly comprising 33&nbsp;two-hour episodes and based on the television incarnation of [[Sergeant Lewis|Lewis]], was titled ''[[Lewis (TV series)|Lewis]]''; it first aired on 29 January 2006 and last showed on 10 November 2015. The spin-off consisted the following cast members: [[Kevin Whately]] as DI Robbie Lewis, [[Laurence Fox]] as DS James Hathaway, [[Clare Holman]] as Dr Laura Hobson and [[Rebecca Front]] as CS Jean Innocent.

====''Endeavour'' (2012–2023)====
In August 2011, ITV announced plans to film a [[prequel]] drama called ''[[Endeavour (TV series)|Endeavour]]'', with author Colin Dexter's participation. English actor [[Shaun Evans]] was cast as a young Morse in his early career.<ref>[http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/yourtown/oxford/9005186.Inspector_Morse_set_for_TV_comeback_as_young_man/ Inspector Morse set for TV comeback as young man], ''[[Oxford Mail]]'', 4 May 2011</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110806033549/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/8681868/Inspector-Morse-is-an-enigma-lets-keep-him-that-way.html Inspector Morse is an enigma – let's keep him that way], ''[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]'', 5 August 2011</ref> The pilot episode was broadcast on 2 January 2012 on ITV. The prequel was made by [[Mammoth Screen]]. Four new episodes were televised from 14 April 2013, showing Morse's early cases working for DI Fred Thursday ([[Roger Allam]]) and with [[Chief Superintendent Strange|Jim Strange]] ([[Sean Rigby]]), initially as PC Jim Strange, later DS Jim Strange, and pathologist Max De Bryn ([[James Bradshaw (actor)|James Bradshaw]]), plus Chief Superintendent Reginald Bright ([[Anton Lesser]]), DS Peter Jakes ([[Jack Laskey]]), WPC Shirley Trewlove ([[Dakota Blue Richards]]), DC George Fancy (Lewis Peek), DI Ronnie Box (Simon Harrison) and DS Alan Jago (Richard Riddell). Alongside the police department, the prequel also consisted of Fred Thursday’s family members: Win Thursday, (Caroline O’Neill), Sam Thursday ([[Jack Bannon (English actor)|Jack Bannon]]), Joan Thursday ([[Sara Vickers]]) and the newspaper editor Dorothea Frazil ([[Abigail Thaw]]). A second series of four episodes followed, screening between 30 March 2014 and 20 April 2014. On 3 January 2016, the third series aired, also containing four episodes. A fourth series was aired, once again with four episodes, on 8 January 2017. Filming of a fifth series of six episodes began in early 2017 with the first episode of the fifth series aired on 4 February 2018. On 10 February 2019 the sixth series aired, which comprises four 1-hour-30-minute episodes. A seventh series of three episodes was filmed in late 2019, aired on 9 February 2020 and in August 2019 ITV announced that the series has been recommissioned for an eighth series, screened on 12 September 2021, also containing three episodes.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2019-08-16/endeavour-confirms-eighth-series/|title=Endeavour confirms eighth series|work=Radio Times|date=19 August 2019|access-date=29 September 2019}}</ref> Morse was voted number two on the top 25 list in [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]]'s Britain's Favourite Detective first broadcast on 30 August 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.itv.com/presscentre/press-releases/britains-favourite-detective/|title=Britain's Favourite Detective|publisher=ITV|date=21 July 2020|access-date=30 August 2020}}</ref>

On 23 May 2022, a day after filming began for the ninth series, ITV announced that ''Endeavour'' would end production after a decade on air at the conclusion of the ninth series, bringing the total number of ''Endeavour'' episodes to 36. The ninth and final series comprised the final three episodes, which aired from 26 February 2023 to 12 March 2023.

===Radio===
An adaptation by Melville Jones of ''[[Last Bus to Woodstock]]'' featured in [[BBC Radio 4]]'s ''[[Saturday Night Theatre]]'' series in June 1985, with [[Andrew Burt]] as Morse and [[Christopher Douglas (British actor)|Christopher Douglas]] as Lewis.<ref>{{cite web |title=Saturday-Night Theatre: Last Bus To Woodstock|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/04b7d88d0e194f8181eda86da049ab42 |access-date=February 7, 2025|work=BBC Radio Genome}}</ref>

In the 1990s, an occasional BBC Radio 4 series (for ''The Saturday Play'') was made starring the voices of [[John Shrapnel]] as Morse and [[Robert Glenister]] as Lewis. The series was written by Guy Meredith and directed by [[Ned Chaillet]]. Episodes included: ''[[The Wench is Dead#Television and radio adaptations|The Wench is Dead]]'' (23 March 1992); ''[[Last Seen Wearing (Dexter novel)#Radio play|Last Seen Wearing]]'' (28 May 1994); and ''[[The Silent World of Nicholas Quinn#Radio play|The Silent World of Nicholas Quinn]]'' (10 February 1996).<ref>{{cite web |title=Inspector Morse - Episode guide|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000xw0x/episodes/guide |access-date=February 7, 2025|work=BBC Radio}}</ref>

In 2017, [[Alma Cullen]] dramatised her 2010 Morse stage play ''House of Ghosts'' as a Radio 4 production starring [[Neil Pearson]] as Morse, and [[Lee Ingleby]] as Lewis.<ref>{{cite web |title=Inspector Morse, House of Ghosts|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08k12z8 |access-date=February 7, 2025|work=BBC Radio}}</ref> A year later, Cullen penned an original drama entitled ''Morse: In The Shallows'', with Pearson and Ingleby reprising their roles.<ref>{{cite web |title=Drama on 4, Morse: In the Shallows|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0b9tsjw |access-date=February 7, 2025|work=BBC Radio}}</ref>

===Theatre===
An Inspector Morse stage play appeared in 2010, written by [[Alma Cullen]] (writer of four Morse screenplays for ITV). The part of Morse was played by [[Colin Baker]]. The play, entitled ''Morse—House of Ghosts'', saw DCI Morse looking to his past, when an old acquaintance becomes the lead suspect in a murder case that involves the on-stage death of a young actress. The play toured the UK from August to December 2010.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.whatsonstage.com/news/theatre/london/E8831273054191/Inspector+Morse+Has+Stage+Debut+with+Colin+Baker.html|title=What's on Stage|access-date=26 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121013175030/http://www.whatsonstage.com/news/theatre/london/E8831273054191/Inspector%2BMorse%2BHas%2BStage%2BDebut%2Bwith%2BColin%2BBaker.html|archive-date=13 October 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> Subsequent stagings include [[Weymouth, Dorset]] in 2015 with [[Nigel Fairs]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Inspector Morse set to investigate a murder in new play House of Ghosts|url=https://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/leisure/stage/12896483.inspector-morse-set-to-investigate-a-murder-in-new-play-house-of-ghosts/ |date=April 17, 2015 |access-date=February 7, 2025|work=Dorset Echo}}</ref> and an upcoming touring production starring [[Tom Chambers (actor)|Tom Chambers]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Tom Chambers to star in brand new Inspector Morse play on tour|url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/tom-chambers-to-star-in-brand-new-inspector-morse-play-on-tour_1663539/ |date=February 5, 2025 |access-date=February 7, 2025|work=[[WhatsOnStage.com]]}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* Allen, Paul and Jan, ''Endeavouring to Crack the Morse Code (Inspector Morse)'' Exposure Publishing (2006)
* Bishop, David, ''The Complete Inspector Morse: From the Original Novels to the TV Series'' London: Reynolds & Hearn (2006)  {{ISBN|1-905287-13-5}}
* Bird, Christopher, ''The World of Inspector Morse: A Complete A–Z Reference for the Morse Enthusiast  '' Foreword by [[Colin Dexter]] London: Boxtree (1998) {{ISBN|0-7522-2117-5}}
* Goodwin, Cliff, ''Inspector Morse Country : An Illustrated Guide to the World of Oxford's famous detective'' London: Headline (2002) {{ISBN|0-7553-1064-0}}
* Leonard, Bill, ''The Oxford of Inspector Morse: Films Locations History'' Location Guides, Oxford (2004)  {{ISBN|0-9547671-1-X}}
* Richards, Anthony, ''Inspector Morse on Location.'' Irregular Special Press (2007){{ISBN|9781901091304}}
* Richards, Anthony, and Philip Attwell, ''The Oxford of Inspector Morse'' (2012) {{ISBN|9781901091038}}
* Sanderson, Mark, ''The Making of Inspector Morse'' Pan Macmillan (1995) {{ISBN|0-330-34418-8}}
* Sýkora, Michal, [https://mcfarlandbooks.com/wp-content/uploads/6-Sykora-Clu402.pdf The Skeptical Poetics of Colin Dexter's Morse Novels], ''Clues: A Journal of Detection'', vol. 40, no. 2 (2022), pp.&nbsp;49–58.
* Wright, Matthew, [https://mcfarlandbooks.com/wp-content/uploads/7-Wright-Clu402.pdf Colin Dexter's Classicism], ''Clues: A Journal of Detection'', vol. 40, no. 2 (2022), pp.&nbsp;59–68.

{{Commons category|Inspector Morse}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Morse, Endeavour, Inspector}}
[[Category:Inspector Morse| ]]
[[Category:Fictional British detectives]]
[[Category:Fictional British police detectives]]
[[Category:Oxford in fiction]]
[[Category:Fictional English people]]
[[Category:Literary characters introduced in 1975]]
[[Category:Characters in British novels of the 20th century]]
[[Category:BBC Radio dramas]]