British Mystery: Inspector Morse

Years: 1987-2000
Broadcaster: ITV
Written by: Colin Dexter, Julian Mitchell,
Daniel Boyle, Alma Cullen, Anthony Minghella,
Kenny McBain, Malcolm Bradbury, John Brown,
Peter Buckman, Jeremy Burnham, Geoffrey Case,
Stephen Churchett, Thomas Ellice, Russell Lewis,
Peter Nichols, Michael Wilcox, Charles Wood
Stars: John Thaw, Kevin Whately
Episodes: 33
Episode Average: 7.242

BEST EPISODES:
Dead On Time (1992), Second Time Around (1991)

SERIES ONE

(1987)
3 episodes
Series Score: 20
Episode Average: 6.67
Perfect 10's: 0

S1E1

THE DEAD OF JERICHO

Originally broadcast: 6 January 1987
Directed by: Alastair Reid
Written by: Anthony Minghella, Colin Dexter

Morse rejects the idea of suicide when a female friend is found hanged, a key cutter points Lewis in the direction of a handyman neighbour, and a law student who knew the woman lashes out after a series of questions.

HOLY GODIVA 3 - ONION JACK 3
TOTAL: 6

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S1E2

THE SILENT WORLD OF NICHOLAS QUINN

Originally broadcast: 13 January 1987
Directed by: Brian Parker
Written by: Julian Mitchell, Colin Dexter

An employee of the Foreign Examination Syndicate is found murdered, Morse notices that a letter jammed in a filing cabinet is an acrostic, and a drawing of the victim's cinema ticket turns up at a second murder scene.

HOLY GODIVA 3 - ONION JACK 3
TOTAL: 6

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S1E3

SERVICE OF ALL THE DEAD

Originally broadcast: 20 January 1987
Directed by: Peter Hammond
Written by: Julian Mitchell, Colin Dexter

A churchwarden with a knife in his back is found to have been poisoned, the police search for a tramp said to be present at a special service, and the priest jumps from the tower to avoid answering awkward questions.

HOLY GODIVA 4 - ONION JACK 4
TOTAL: 8

SERIES TWO

(1987)
4 episodes
Series Score: 24
Episode Average: 6.00
Perfect 10's: 0

S2E1

THE WOLVERCOTE TONGUE

Originally broadcast: 25 December 1987
Directed by: Alastair Reid
Written by: Julian Mitchell, Colin Dexter

A jewel is stolen from a room where an American tourist is found dead, suspicion grows when the husband of the deceased goes missing, and a couple have their romantic riverside evening spoilt by a naked corpse.

HOLY GODIVA 3 - ONION JACK 4
TOTAL: 7

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S2E2

LAST SEEN WEARING

Originally broadcast: 8 March 1988
Directed by: Edward Bennett
Written by: Thomas Elice, Colin Dexter

Morse feels sure that a teenage girl missing for six months must be dead, the truth behind a handwritten letter to her parents surprises Lewis, and the lifeless body of popular deputy head is discovered by a cleaning lady.

HOLY GODIVA 4 - ONION JACK 4
TOTAL: 8

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S2E3

THE SETTLING OF THE SUN

Originally broadcast: 15 March 1988
Directed by: Peter Hammond
Written by: Charles Wood, Colin Dexter

A Japanese student is killed after excusing himself from a college dinner, lab tests on the victim's clothing and a video tape reveal traces of heroin, and Morse is shocked when another body is discovered in a public toilet.

HOLY GODIVA 2 - ONION JACK 2
TOTAL: 4

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S2E4

LAST BUS TO WOODSTOCK

Originally broadcast: 22 March 1988
Directed by: Peter Duffell
Written by: Michael Wilcox, Colin Dexter

A man finds the woman he's been waiting for dead in the pub car park, a coded letter addressed to her colleague is found in the victim's handbag, and chatting to a post room boy raises the possibility of missing money.

HOLY GODIVA 2 - ONION JACK 3
TOTAL: 5

SERIES THREE

(1989)
4 episodes
Series Score: 27
Episode Average: 6.75
Perfect 10's: 0

S3E1

GHOST IN THE MACHINE

Originally broadcast: 4 January 1989
Directed by: Herbert Wise
Written by: Julian Mitchell, Colin Dexter

Morse is assigned to investigate the theft of six paintings from a stately home, the owner of the house is found dead in the family mausoleum, and evidence of blackmail is discovered at the scene of a fatal car crash.

HOLY GODIVA 4 - ONION JACK 4
TOTAL: 8

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S3E2

THE LAST ENEMY

Originally broadcast: 11 January 1989
Directed by: James Scott
Written by: Peter Buckman, Colin Dexter

A letter is found in the pocket of a headless torso retrieved from a canal, Morse is asked to look into the disappearance of a college vice master, and Lewis's investigations turn up the name of a very senior civil servant.

HOLY GODIVA 2 - ONION JACK 2
TOTAL: 4

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S3E3

DECEIVED BY FLIGHT

Originally broadcast: 18 January 1989
Directed by: Anthony Simmons
Written by: Anthony Minghella, Colin Dexter

Morse meets an old college friend who's in Oxford for a cricket match, the troubled man is later found electrocuted in unusual circumstances, and Lewis gives up a weeks' leave to go undercover as a college porter.

HOLY GODIVA 4 - ONION JACK 4
TOTAL: 8

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S3E4

THE SECRET OF BAY 5B

Originally broadcast: 25 January 1989
Directed by: Jim Goddard
Written by: Alma Cullen, Colin Dexter

Dr. Russell's disappointed when murder gets in the way of the quickstep, an architect is found strangled to death in a car that's missing its keys, and Morse shows an interest in a strange painting of Romney Marshes.

HOLY GODIVA 4 - ONION JACK 3
TOTAL: 7

SERIES FOUR

(1990)
4 episodes
Series Score: 35
Episode Average: 8.75
Perfect 10's: 1

S4E1

THE INFERNAL SERPENT

Originally broadcast: 3 January 1990
Directed by: John Madden
Written by: Alma Cullen

A professor due to speak at a Union debate dies after being mugged, a journalist returns to where she grew up to write her latest story, and Morse learns that a college master has been receiving bizarre hate mail.

HOLY GODIVA 4 - ONION JACK 4
TOTAL: 8

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S4E2

THE SINS OF THE FATHERS

Originally broadcast: 10 January 1990
Directed by: Peter Hammond
Written by: Jeremy Burnham

The managing director of a family brewery is found dead in a mixing vat, Morse is faced with resistance when he tries to talk to the relatives, and questions are asked about a strangely low offer from a rival company.

HOLY GODIVA 4 - ONION JACK 4
TOTAL: 8

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S4E3

DRIVEN TO DISTRACTION

Originally broadcast: 17 January 1990
Directed by: Sandy Johnson
Written by: Anthony Minghella

A pregnant woman is killed in the same way as a previous murder victim, Morse is sceptical when a specialist in crimes against women joins the team, and Lewis takes issue with going outside of the law to get a result.

HOLY GODIVA 5 - ONION JACK 5
TOTAL: 10

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S4E4

MASONIC MYSTERIES

Originally broadcast: 25 January 1990
Directed by: Danny Boyle
Written by: Julian Mitchell

Morse is found with a knife in his hand when his lady friend is murdered, immediate suspension sees Strange assign another officer to the case, and a range of damning evidence means that an arrest has to be made.

HOLY GODIVA 5 - ONION JACK 4
TOTAL: 9

SERIES FIVE

(1991)
5 episodes
Series Score: 36
Episode Average: 7.20
Perfect 10's: 2

S5E1

SECOND TIME AROUND

Originally broadcast: 20 February 1991
Directed by: Adrian Shergold
Written by: Daniel Boyle

A retired police officer is killed after confronting an intruder in his home, the hunt begins for a man seen racing away from the crime scene, and a missing chapter from a manuscript leads back to an unsolved murder.

HOLY GODIVA 5 - ONION JACK 5
TOTAL: 10

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S5E2

FAT CHANCE

Originally broadcast: 27 February 1991
Directed by: Roy Battersby
Written by: Alma Cullen

A student with ideas of becoming a female priest dies during an exam, a clergyman suspected of burglary disappears before questioning, and an hysterical woman causes a nuisance after going missing from a hostel.

HOLY GODIVA 2 - ONION JACK 2
TOTAL: 4

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S5E3

WHO KILLED HARRY FIELD

Originally broadcast: 13 March 1991
Directed by: Colin Gregg
Written by: Geoffrey Case

The dumped body of an artist is found to have been stored elsewhere, an absence of individual style leads to questions about possible forgery, and Lewis reveals his intention to apply for promotion in the traffic division.

HOLY GODIVA 3 - ONION JACK 3
TOTAL: 6

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S5E4

GREEKS BEARING GIFTS

Originally broadcast: 20 March 1991
Directed by: Adrian Shergold
Written by: Peter Nichols

Language issues frustrate Morse when a Greek chef is found murdered, investigation leads to a project that plans to bring a trireme to Britain, and the dead man's sister disappears while in the care of an interpreter.

HOLY GODIVA 3 - ONION JACK 3
TOTAL: 6

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S5E5

PROMISED LAND

Originally broadcast: 27 March 1991
Directed by: John Madden
Written by: Julian Mitchell

Doubts are raised about a ten-year old conviction when a prisoner dies, Morse and Lewis head to Australia to speak to the main informant, and the discovery of a newspaper explains an attack at a retirement home.

HOLY GODIVA 5 - ONION JACK 5
TOTAL: 10

SERIES SIX

(1992)
5 episodes
Series Score: 39
Episode Average: 7.80
Perfect 10's: 1

S6E1

DEAD ON TIME

Originally broadcast: 26 February 1992
Directed by: John Madden
Written by: Daniel Boyle

The husband of Morse's former fiancée dies in what looks like a suicide, the man's doctor points out that his disability would make it impossible, and suggestion of murder seems to point the finger at just one suspect.

HOLY GODIVA 5 - ONION JACK 5
TOTAL: 10

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S6E2

HAPPY FAMILIES

Originally broadcast: 11 March 1992
Directed by: Adrian Shergold
Written by: Daniel Boyle

A wealthy industrialist is found bludgeoned to death in his own pantry, an awkward press conference makes Morse a target for the tabloids, and a second murder on the family estate does little to ease the pressure.

HOLY GODIVA 5 - ONION JACK 4
TOTAL: 9

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S6E3

THE DEATH OF THE SELF

Originally broadcast: 25 March 1992
Directed by: Colin Gregg
Written by: Alma Cullen

A woman is killed at a self-help workshop run by an ex-fraudster in Italy, odd behaviour at the inquest sees Morse and Lewis sent to Vicenza, and differing methods lead to disagreements with the man leading the case.

HOLY GODIVA 3 - ONION JACK 3
TOTAL: 6

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

S6E4

ABSOLUTE CONVICTION

Originally broadcast: 8 April 1992
Directed by: Antonia Bird
Written by: John Brown

A property fraudster dies from an induced heart attack while in prison, Lewis is keen to focus on threats sent to one of his former partners, and Morse is furious when an ambitious sergeant uses an illegal phone tap.

HOLY GODIVA 4 - ONION JACK 4
TOTAL: 8

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S6E5

CHERUBIM & SERAPHIM

Originally broadcast: 15 April 1992
Directed by: Danny Boyle
Written by: Julian Mitchell

Morse is left devastated by a very personal tragedy while away on leave, Lewis is assigned to a by-the-book man as he studies for promotion, and a young man killed by a train is found to have taken a mysterious drug.

HOLY GODIVA 3 - ONION JACK 3
TOTAL: 6

SERIES SEVEN

(1993)
3 episodes
Series Score: 19
Episode Average: 6.33
Perfect 10's: 0

S7E1

DEADLY SLUMBER

Originally broadcast: 6 January 1993
Directed by: Stuart Orme
Written by: Daniel Boyle

A doctor who died in his garage is found to have been bound and gagged, death threats make the father of a comatose woman the prime suspect, and a safe combination leads to a desperate search for a suitable alibi.

HOLY GODIVA 4 - ONION JACK 4
TOTAL: 8

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S6E2

THE DAY OF THE DEVIL

Originally broadcast: 13 January 1993
Directed by: Stephen Whittaker
Written by: Daniel Boyle

A manhunt begins when a serial rapist escapes from a mental hospital, the psychiatrists are criticised for feeding an interest in the occult, and
Morse pays the price for ignoring an order when a woman is kidnapped.

HOLY GODIVA 4 - ONION JACK 3
TOTAL: 7

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S6E3

TWILIGHT OF THE GODS

Originally broadcast: 20 January 1993
Directed by: Herbert Wise
Written by: Julian Mitchell

A journalist writing about a college benefactor is found dead on the river, Morse is horrified when an opera singer is shot during a procession, and investigations try to determine whether the bullet hit its intended target.

HOLY GODIVA 2 - ONION JACK 2
TOTAL: 4

THE LAST FIVE EPISODES WERE SPECIALS RATHER THAN A SERIES

SPECIAL

(1995)

SPECIAL

THE WAY THROUGH THE WOODS

Originally broadcast: 29 November 1995
Directed by: John Madden
Written by: Russell Lewis, Colin Dexter

A serial killer uses his final breaths to deny murdering the last victim, a shooting forces Strange to listen to Morse's concerns about the case, and the discovery of the girl's photographs leads to a group of erotica lovers.

HOLY GODIVA 5 - ONION JACK 5
TOTAL: 10

SPECIAL

(1996)

SPECIAL

THE DAUGHTERS OF CAIN

Originally broadcast: 27 November 1996
Directed by: Herbert Wise
Written by: Julian Mitchell, Colin Dexter

A retired Oxford University don is found stabbed to death in his home, Morse learns of a scout who was sacked for dealing drugs to students, and a mysterious girl who caused a jealous row turns out to be an escort.

HOLY GODIVA 3 - ONION JACK 3
TOTAL: 6

SPECIAL

(1997)

SPECIAL

DEATH IS NOW MY NEIGHBOUR

Originally broadcast: 19 November 1997
Directed by: Charles Beeson
Written by: Julian Mitchell, Colin Dexter

A physiotherapist is shot dead through a window while eating breakfast, the investigation leads to two rivals for a college Master's position, and a second shooting sees Morse consider the possibility of mistaken identity.

HOLY GODIVA 4 - ONION JACK 3
TOTAL: 7

SPECIAL

(1998)

SPECIAL

THE WENCH IS DEAD

Originally broadcast: 11 November 1998
Directed by: Robert Knights
Written by: Malcolm Bradbury, Colin Dexter

Morse collapses while at a museum conference about Criminal Oxford, recovery provides an opportunity to look into an 1859 murder case, and a young constable helps to investigate a possible miscarriage of justice.

HOLY GODIVA 4 - ONION JACK 5
TOTAL: 9

SPECIAL

(2000)

SPECIAL

THE REMORSEFUL DAY

Originally broadcast: 15 November 2000
Directed by: Jack Gold
Written by: Stephen Churchett, Colin Dexter

The police receive an anonymous letter about an unsolved murder case, Morse learns that his health must be maintained rather than fixed, and bodies start to pile up when Lewis loses a man just released from prison.

HOLY GODIVA 4 - ONION JACK 3
TOTAL: 7

CHIEF INSPECTOR

MORSE

Played by John Thaw

33 episodes
(1987-2000)
in... Promised Land (S5E5)

DETECTIVE SERGEANT

ROBERT LEWIS

Played by Kevin Whately

32 episodes
(1987-2000)
in... Deceived by Flight (S3E3)

CHIEF SUPERINTENDENT

JIM STRANGE

Played by James Grout

22 episodes
(1987-2000)
in... Fat Chance (S5E2)

PATHOLOGIST

DR. MAX DeBRYN

Played by Peter Woodthorpe

7 episodes
(1987-1988)
in... Last Seen Wearing (S2E2)

PATHOLOGIST

DR. LAURA
HOBSON

Played by Clare Holman

5 episodes
(1995-2000)
in... The Daughters of Cain (Special)

PATHOLOGIST

DR. GRAYLING RUSSELL

Played by Amanda Hillwood

4 episodes
(1989)
in... Deceived by Flight (S3E3)