The Oxford-based detective show, now entering its second series, will be filming in and around the university throughout October and November, with final production set to come to a close in January.
In spite of the weather, bystanders were able to get a close-up of actors dressed in 1960s costumes and the collection of vintage cars parked on Radcliffe Square. Unfortunately for autograph hunters, Shaun Evans, who plays the young Inspector Morse, was not spotted.
When asked why Oxford was such a popular location for detective dramas, one third-year Exeter historian surmised, “I suppose there’s a mystique about Oxford if you’re not familiar with the university. It seems like one of those places where there’s something really sinister and cult-like lurking beneath the surface. Of course in reality it’s all a bit boring, to the point where the occasional Morse murder mystery might actually liven things up.”
James Castle, a second-year St Anne’s student, said, “The best bit about Morse is that the director didn’t care in the slightest whatsoever to the real-world geography of Oxford. You’ll watch the actors walk out of a door in Exeter and then see them reappear somewhere in Magdalen. It’s both hilarious and disturbing.”
The original Inspector Morse series was an icon of British television for more than 10 years after it was first aired on ITV in 1987. The prequel Endeavour alsoproved a ratings-hit, with almost 7 million viewers tuning in to watch the return of young Morse earlier this year. The new series, made up of four 2-hour episodes, is set to hit our screens in early 2014.
