Endeavour set for return to ITV.

ITV has announced that Mammoth Screen’s critically-acclaimed and popular detective drama Endeavour has been recommissioned for a fifth series. The latest chapter of the Inspector Morse prequel series will be extended to run as six feature-length films for transmission in 2018.

Charting the career of the young Endeavour Morse, the hit series has gone from strength to strength since its first outing as a one-off film to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Inspector Morse in 2012. The new series, which will be set in 1968 and continue to be written by creator Russell Lewis, will go into production this Spring.

Shaun Evans is set to reprise his role as the young Morse, starring alongside acclaimed stage and screen actor Roger Allam as Endeavour’s senior officer, Detective Inspector Fred Thursday. Also returning will be series regulars Dakota Blue Richards as WPC Shirley Trewlove, Anton Lesser ) as Chief Superintendent Reginald Bright and Abigail Thaw as Dorothea Frazil.

Creator, Russell Lewis said: “The prospect of creating further chapters in Morse’s secret history is always exciting, but expanding our quartet of investigations to a sextet gives us the opportunity to deliver a truly epic year in the life of Colin Dexter’s immortal creation.” 

ITV’s Head of Drama, Polly Hill says, “Endeavour continues to be hugely popular with ITV audiences, and we’re delighted to announce that it’ll be returning for an extended fifth series. Russell Lewis’s scripts are always immensely intriguing and gripping, and Mammoth Screen consistently deliver high-quality drama.”

Endaevour's extended run will go into production this Spring.