Lewis, ITV’s long-running Morse spin-off, is effectively cancelled after UK series nine. Kevin Whately was first cast as Robbie Lewis opposite the late John Thaw’s Morse, on the forerunning British drama of the same name. Reportedly, Whately and Lewis co-star Laurence Fox, who plays Detective Sergeant James Hathaway, have decided to retire from their roles, after 33 episodes, so as not to outdo Thaw’s Morse, which also ran for 33 episodes. ITV will air part one of the two-part series finale, “What Lies Tangled,” today, November 3, 2015. Lewis will conclude its UK run on November 10.
In the US, the series, which airs on PBS under the Masterpiece! banner, is titled Inspector Lewis (and its predecessor: Inspector Morse). The final season has yet to air. Because PBS combined the second and third UK series into one season, the final season of Inspector Lewis will, on PBS, be referred to as season eight. Along with Whately and Fox, over the years, the cast of Lewis has featured Rebecca Front, Angela Griffin, Claire Holman, Jason Durr, and Steve Toussaint.
From Mirror:
Whately, 64 , said: “I feel incredibly fortunate to have shared a decade of fantastic worldwide success with Laurence and with the most brilliant crew, cast and production team anyone could wish for. And all that time with the loyal support of so many fans. What a ride it has been.”
Whately had said previously: “There were 33 Inspector Morse stories. I suppose it’s a sentimental thing but I wouldn’t want to do more Lewis than we did Morse because I do still think of it as an off-shoot.” […]
Fox, 37, said: “What an extraordinary 10 years. I’ll miss hanging out with Kev for half the year.”
From TV Wise:
“It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to Robbie Lewis, one of ITV’s most loved and enduring characters. We owe Kevin a huge debt of gratitude for nearly 30 fantastic years of Morse and Lewis, and, of course, many thanks too to Laurence Fox who has been by Kevin’s side for the last 10 years”, said ITV’s Director of Drama Steve November. “We respect their decision not to continue into a further series and wish them the very best for whatever comes next.”
“I feel incredibly fortunate to have shared a decade of fantastic worldwide success with Laurence and with the most brilliant crew, cast and production team anyone could wish for, and all that time with the loyal support of so many fans and of our backers ITV and WGBH Boston”, Kevin Whately said in a statement. “Thanks everybody. What a ride it has been!”
What do you think? Have you been watching Inspector Lewis on ITV or PBS? Do you think it should come to an end? Would you have watched a tenth (or US ninth) series (season)?
Please add a spin off of Lewis with Laurence Fox as Hathwsy like you did with Kevin Whatley from Morse we need more show like this one starting the younger actor. Fox would be great in the role and he character could be expand to highlight his music and his crime solving abilities he was great on the show! Bring him back. He is a good actor he could make a series about Hathwsy as good as Lewis. It’s ime!
Yes. Please do a follow-up series. I miss these guys.
I enjoyed both the Inspector Morse and Inspector Lewis Series. Some of which I binged on Amazon prime. Confusing about season 9 which is actually season 8? Still wondering. No, I would rather see them go on. Loved the story formula, the little love story with the Doc (Great on screen chemistry) for Lewis and all the the personalities, and developed characters. Hathaway still very intriguing. Bring them Both back!!
Maybe, Hathaway could go on?
Having just finished binge-watching the Inspector Lewis series, I’m sad that there won’t be any more. Kevin Whately wanted to end Inspector Lewis because he doesn’t want to outnumber the Morse series. But that reason shouldn’t prevent an Inspector Hathaway series!
I have watched the last episode of the Lewis series! I was hoping, with all my heart, that there would be more in this series – or at least a series 10!! I watched all the episodes of Inspector Morse before that — I just loved all of them! I didn’t know initially if I would like the Lewis series after Morse died and that series ended — but it turned out I liked Lewis and Hathaway even better!! Not only are they superb actors (and, of course, so is Laura, the Pathologist, who has become Lewis’ wife), but they… Read more »
Have just watched all 9 seasons of Lewis back to back and loved it!!! Would absolutely love a season 10 but if not then a ‘Hathaway’ series would be just as good. Please let’s have some!!!
I’ve watched both entire Morse and Lewis series several times and enjoyed them every time. I really want to see Inspector Lewis season 9, but can’t find it anywhere. I think Inspector Hathaway would a great series to follow these two.
I like all three series – Morse, Lewis and Endeavour, and am very saddened to see it end. I join in the call for a new series, Hathaway. But, having said that, may I observe that I liked Lewis in the Morse series – amiable, cheerful, and a little bit thick. He didn’t do well in his own series – his character was never really DI material, and it seemed for most of the nine series, the character was locked in a mournful doleful expression like your favorite dog would have if you just kicked it unexpectedly. Yes, so he… Read more »