On the 6th January 1987, just before heading back to my first year at uni, I was stunned by a piece of television. I had sat through 2 hours of intelligent, beautifully filmed story and was hungry for more. I became a instant fan, devouring video, TV transmission and book alike.

Inspector Morse went rapidly from strength to strength. The first episode had an audience of 13.9 million and by the end of series 4 had reached 16.2 million. It has been shown in over 200 countries, and is viewed as a piece of British television history. It has spawned CDs, tours, dinky toys, videos and DVDs and even conventions and tours. Its structure has formed the basis for other successful drama series like Cracker, Prime Suspect, Taggart, Silent Witness etc.

Now having the opportunity to revisit them, I hope this column will provide interest for those of you new to Morse or memories for those familiar with him. I've also tried to track down some of the music involved (another key ingredient), do some simple comparisons to the books if appropriate and all the Hitchcockian appearances of Colin Dexter in the programmes.

For some of this information (and for anyone wanting more) I recommend The Complete Inspector Morse book by David Bishop (yes, that David Bishop).

Oh, and in case you don't won't to know the solutions to the cases......I haven't included them !

Series 1

The Dead of Jericho

The Silent World of Nicholas Quinn

Service of All the Dead


Series 2

The Wolvercote Tongue

Last Seen Wearing

The Settling of the Sun

Last Bus to Woodstock


Series 3

The Ghost in the Machine

The Last Enemy

Deceived by Flight

The Secret of Bay 5B


Series 4

The Infernal Serpent

The Sins of the Fathers

Driven to Distraction

Masonic Mysteries


Series 5

Second Time Around

Fat Chance

Who Killed Harry Field

Greeks Bearing Gifts

Promised Land


Series 6

Dead on Time

Happy Families

The Death of the Self

Absolute Conviction

Cherubim & Seraphim
 

Series 7

Deadly Slumber

The Day of the Devil

Twilight of the Gods


The Specials

The Way Through the Woods

The Daughters of Cain

Death is Now my Neighbour

The Wench is Dead

The Remorseful Day