Since its debut in 1987, viewers have been captivated by the Oxford-based detective Inspector Morse, and despite the series concluding in 2000, it still boasts a loyal fanbase.
Regular reruns air on ITV, and a plethora of episodes are available on ITVX. But where are the original cast members of Inspector Morse now?
Inspector Morse - John Thaw
John Thaw, who played Inspector Morse, was the star of the show for all eight seasons and remains a household name. By the time the series ended in 2000, he had appeared in 33 episodes on ITV.
His first significant role came in the 1970s when he portrayed Flying Squad detective Jack Regan, before taking on the title role in Inspector Morse. Thaw continued to feature in other shows towards the end of his career, such as The Last Morse, Hidden Treasure, and Goodnight Mister Tom, where he played Tom Oakley.
Sadly, just a year after leaving the show, Thaw was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer in 2001 and passed away at the age of 60 after nearly a year of treatment. His memorial service in London was attended by numerous famous faces, including Richard Attenborough and King Charles, who came to pay their respects to the beloved Morse actor.
Reflecting on his Inspector Morse co-star, actor Kevin Whately said: "John's death will leave a hole in millions of lives.
"John had a wonderful sense of humour which is bellied sometimes by journalists' impression of him as irascible. He loathed the whole celebrity circuit.
"In between takes he was like an Irish storyteller in a bar - he wouldn't tell jokes, just stories and you would find yourself rolling around and crying with laughter. He was a wonderful mimic, particularly of people on the set rather than famous people."
Detective Sergeant Robbie Lewis - Kevin Whately
Kevin Whately, who portrayed Detective Sergeant Robbie Lewis for 13 years, was Morse's loyal "sidekick" and closest friend.
The character of Lewis allowed him to reprise his role in 2006, working alongside Laurence Fox as DS James Hathaway until 2015. In 2018, Whately lent his voice to Island Medics and has also graced the stage in productions such as Arthur.
Chief Superintendent Strange - James Grout
James Grout, who played Chief Superintendent Strange, was a constant presence in the series. Like his co-star Thaw, Grout was a RADA-trained actor and appeared in shows including A Very Peculiar Practice, Yes, Minister, and Looking for Clancy.
A seasoned stage actor, he received a Tony Award nomination in 1965 for his performance in Half A Sixpence.
However, Inspector Morse was the final show Grout starred in before his death at the age of 84 in 2012.
