Lewis (TV series)

Lewis (TV series)
source
Title	Lewis
Genre	Crime drama Police procedural
Creator	Colin Dexter
Starring	Kevin Whately, Laurence Fox, Clare Holman, Rebecca Front
Composer	Barrington Pheloung
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
Num episodes	33
Executive producer	Michele Buck, Damien Timmer, Rebecca Eaton
Producer	Chris Burt
Location	Oxford
Runtime	89–104 minutes
Company	Granada Television, WGBH
Network	ITV
First aired	29 January 2006
Last aired	12 November 2015
Preceded by	''Inspector Morse''
Followed by	''Endeavour''

Lewis (TV series). *Lewis* is a British crime drama television series that serves as a sequel to the long-running ''Inspector Morse'' series. Set in the historic university city of Oxford, the series follows Detective Inspector Robert "Robbie" Lewis, formerly the sergeant to the late John Thaw's Inspector Endeavour Morse. The programme originally aired on ITV from 2006 to 2015, spanning nine series and thirty-three feature-length episodes, and was produced by Granada Television in association with WGBH for ''Masterpiece''.

Premise and main characters

The series centres on the professional and personal life of Detective Inspector Robbie Lewis, portrayed by Kevin Whately, who reprises his role from ''Inspector Morse''. Following the death of his wife in a hit-and-run accident, Lewis returns to Oxford from a posting in the overseas territory of the Falkland Islands and is promoted to inspector. He is assigned a new, intellectually brilliant but often brash partner, Detective Sergeant James Hathaway, played by Laurence Fox. The investigative team is supported by pathologist Dr. Laura Hobson, portrayed by Clare Holman, and later by their superior, Chief Superintendent Jean Innocent, played by Rebecca Front. The dynamic between the experienced, methodical Lewis and the university-educated, intuitive Hathaway forms the core of the series, as they solve complex murders within the academic and collegiate environs of Oxford University.

Production and broadcast

The series was created by Colin Dexter, the author of the original Morse novels, and was developed for television by Michele Buck and Damien Timmer of Granada Television. Filming took place extensively on location in and around Oxford, utilizing iconic landmarks such as the Bodleian Library and various colleges. The series' distinctive musical score was composed by Barrington Pheloung, who also scored the original ''Inspector Morse''. *Lewis* premiered on ITV in the United Kingdom on 29 January 2006 with the pilot episode "Reputation". It was co-produced with American broadcaster WGBH for its ''Masterpiece Mystery!'' strand, ensuring an international audience. The final episode, "What Lies Tangled", was broadcast on 12 November 2015.

Episodes

Over its run, *Lewis* comprised 33 feature-length episodes, typically ranging from 89 to 104 minutes. Each episode presents a self-contained murder mystery, though character arcs develop across the series. Notable episodes include the pilot "Reputation", which establishes Lewis's return to Oxford, and "The Dead of Winter", which delves into Hathaway's past. The series frequently explores themes related to academia, theology, and classical music, maintaining the intellectual tradition of its predecessor. The final series concluded the narrative for the main characters, providing closure to Lewis's journey and paving the way for the subsequent prequel series, ''Endeavour'', which explores the early career of a young Endeavour Morse.

Critical reception and legacy

*Lewis* received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised the chemistry between Kevin Whately and Laurence Fox, as well as the sophisticated plotting and picturesque Oxford setting. The series was nominated for several awards, including a BAFTA TV Award nomination for Kevin Whately. It successfully carved its own identity while honouring the legacy of ''Inspector Morse'', attracting strong viewing figures for ITV. The programme's success demonstrated the enduring appeal of the Oxford-set detective genre and led directly to the creation of the prequel series ''Endeavour'', starring Shaun Evans. *Lewis* remains a staple of ITV drama repeats and international broadcasts on channels like BBC First Australia and ''Masterpiece''.

Home media releases

The complete series of *Lewis* has been released on DVD and Blu-ray in various regions. In the United Kingdom, ITV Studios Home Entertainment released individual series sets and complete collection box sets. In North America, releases were handled by BBC Worldwide and PBS Distribution for the ''Masterpiece'' collection. The home media versions often include special features such as behind-the-scenes documentaries, cast interviews, and photo galleries. The series is also available for digital purchase and streaming on platforms like Amazon Prime and BritBox.

Category:2000s British television series Category:2010s British television series Category:British crime drama television series