Roger & out

Roger Allam and Shaun Evans on the final series of the long-running crime drama

- CAREN CLARK

NEW CRIME DRAMA
Endeavour
Sunday, 8 pm, ITV1

Back in 2012, Inspector Morse prequel Endeavour introduced us to a fresh-faced, melancholic young Endeavour Morse as he cracked his first case among the dreaming spires of Oxford. Now, the brilliant but still deeply-troubled DS Morse (Shaun Evans) and his stalwart superior DCI Fred Thursday (Roger Allam) are bowing out for good in the ninth and final series.

The three-part swansong is set in 1972 and begins as Endeavour returns to Oxford feeling brighter than usual after seeking help for his alcohol issues, but change is in the air at Castle Gate Police Station.

RENEWED ENERGY

‘At the end of the last series, Endeavour was told to get his act together. He was fighting that, but then he reached the conclusion that he did need time off, so he’s back in a more positive mood and full of good intentions,’ says Evans, 42. ‘But Bright [Endeavour and Fred’s boss, played by Anton Lesser] is retiring and Fred might be moving on, and for Endeavour, something is ending and shifting inside…’