Sunderland Echo

A youthful Morse tries to solve the problems posed by love and work

Detective show Endeavour is back on ITV with Shaun Evans as the inspector climbing the career ladder. The actor tells Georgia Humphreys what fans can expect from the upcoming episodes

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There’s no denying Inspector Morse was a mighty success.

One of British TV’s greatest detectives, the final episode of the crime series, starring the late John Thaw, was watched by more than 12 million people in the UK.

And when the prequel to the show, Endeavour, hit our screens over a decade later, it gave fans the chance to see new sides to the cantankero­us yet endearing character.

In the fifth series of the ITV drama, once again set in Oxford, we find out more about his relationsh­ips with the opposite sex - and while former love interest Joan Thursday is still part of the story, new characters come on to the scene.

“There’s a little bit of action,” discloses Shaun Evans, the actor behind the young Endeavour Morse. “Not before time, if you ask me.

“His relationsh­ips with other women show a slightly more rounded version of the character,” he adds. “I think it’s OK to surprise people.”

Here, Evans tells us what else is in store. The new series begins with Morse being promoted, after finally passing his sergeant’s exams.

But he’s not feeling entirely satisfied with the new role.

“It hasn’t been anything he thought it would be,” 37-year-old Evans explains in his thick Liverpudli­an accent. “There’s a line Morse says to Dorothea Frazil, ‘It’s just the same, but more work’. Belligeren­t to the end.”

There are further issues to come where his job is concerned - the force is facing some changes.

In 1968, Oxford City Police, along with Oxford County and two other local constabula­ries, ceased to exist when they were merged into Thames Valley (Morse fans will recognise that name, for sure).

And the station closing “has been the main focus of the story this time”, says Evans.

“Some of the older generation don’t know if it is going to be their last case,” he continues, before revealing: “The way we have ended it is that each of us get a letter saying where we are going to be posted.”

Work woes aside, there’s one person in Endeavour’s life who fans particular­ly want to hear about.

Over the previous series, we have seen his relationsh­ip with Joan Thursday - his boss’ daughter - go through some serious ups and downs, including her turning down his marriage proposal.

Now, we will see him look for love elsewhere, even if Evans admits his character still holds a torch for Joan. “I think it is tricky because you can’t keep doing the same thing,” he says. “You have got to try to do something new and take it to somewhere new and that has got to be in the relationsh­ips, whether that is with Joan or with someone else. His involvemen­t with other women is a subconscio­us knee-jerk reaction to the history between him and Joan,” he elaborates. “He’s trying to find his place in the world and who he’s going to spend it with.”

So, what romantic storylines can we expect?

“There is a brilliant French actress [in this series]; she plays a character called Claudine, a photo journalist,” the actor teases.

If there’s one thing that hardworkin­g leading man Evans brings to every scene in the show, it’s energy.

Evans understand­ably feels “very lucky to play this role”.

“I’m amazed we’ve done so many so far,” he says. “I feel very grateful that Endeavour is still popular and doing well.” Of course, an undeniable element in the show’s ongoing success must be that the character was already so adored by TV fans. The original show, based on the popular books by Colin Dexter, who died last year, ran on TV for 13 years.

“Colin was still in our thoughts as we made this series,” says Evans. “We want to try and stay as true to his original vision as possible while also taking it in new directions.”

While shooting six films for this series, rather than the usual four, has been a challenge, Evans reckons the decision has paid off.

“The conflict comes between quality and quantity,’ he says. ‘Is the budget going to stay the same? Are we going to be as ambitious with six as we were with four? Is the level of work going to stay the same standard? I am pleased to say I think it has, which is great.”

23 The number of episodes (two hour films) of Endeavour which have been shown once the 2018 series is over.

This is a family show going out at 8 or 9 on a Sunday night, so you are not going to be rolling around with your kit off!” SHAUN EVANS ON LOVE SCENES IN ENDEAVOUR

This series definitely sets up more for a return. There are lots of questions to answer. But you just take this job one day at a time ON THE FUTURE OF THE DRAMA

 ??  ?? Shaun Evans as Dectective Sergeant Endeavour Morse ad Roger Allam as Detective Chief Inspector Fred Thursday.
Shaun Evans as Dectective Sergeant Endeavour Morse ad Roger Allam as Detective Chief Inspector Fred Thursday.
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