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)?