Endeavour returns for series

Endeavour returns for series 3

A sadder and a wiser man, he rose the morrow morn'

Which familiar faces are set to return for the new series of Endeavour after the shocking and tragic events at the end of series 2?

Falsely accused Endeavour Morse (Shaun Evans) was last seen isolated and alone languishing in prison, framed for the murder of Chief Constable Rupert Standish. Endeavour had unearthed corruption at the very heart of the City Force but his investigation had taken a sinister twist. Will his life be back on track? Live in the shadows long enough ? You forget the sun. And does it resemble the life he'd known?

What of Endeavour's senior officer, DI Fred Thursday (Roger Allam), whose life was hanging in the balance after being shot in the chest? Has Thursday survived serious injury? Is his trademark trilby still hanging on its hook?

Series three of the phenomenally successful ITV crime drama and prequel to Inspector Morse will comprise 4 x 120 minute films and will once again be written by Lewis and Endeavour creator and Inspector Morse writer, Russell Lewis. Colin Dexter, whose first Morse story was published in 1975, continues his association with the drama, acting as a consultant to Endeavour producers Mammoth Screen.

Set in 1967, three months after Donald Campbell's ill-fated attempt to break the 300-mile speed barrier on water, the first of the new stories follows the murder of bus conductress Jeannie Hearne on the night she visited the local fairground. With the backdrop of the fun fair the investigation begins

1967 is for Endeavour perhaps the end of the beginning.' Change is abroad in the world and not even the city of dreaming spires can escape its influence. Change for Endeavour, and those most dear to him personally and professionally. Departures and arrivals. Entrances and exits. Our next quartet of mysteries will take the audience on a psychedelic Summer of Love fairground ride, filled with twists and turns, shrieks and scares. In particular, one encounter at a certain stately home will echo down the years, and have consequences that not even Endeavour Morse could have foreseen. The only constant is death And Green Shield Stamps, says writer Russell Lewis.

Returning to their roles are Jack Laskey as DS Peter Jakes, Sean Rigby as PC Jim Strange, Anton Lesser as Chief Superintendent Reginald Bright, James Bradshaw as Dr Max DeBryn and Abigail Thaw as journalist Dorothea Frazil.

Endeavour debuted in 2012 with a feature length story to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Morse. Shaun Evans won over critics and viewers alike with his portrayal of a young Morse and consequently, the film became the highest performing new drama title to air on ITV that year.

The second series returned in March 2014 with a peak audience of 7.0m and a 27% share, making it one of the best performing returning drama series on ITV that year. The final film was ITV s best performing drama of any type for ABC1 Men during 2014.

Endeavour III has been commissioned by ITV's Director of Drama Steve November and Controller of Drama Victoria Fea.

Russell Lewis serves as Executive Producer alongside Mammoth Screen's Damien Timmer and Michele Buck, and Dan McCulloch (original Endeavour Producer, Indian Summers). Tom Mullens (Black Work, New Tricks, Waterloo Road) will produce the new series.

Endeavour will be distributed internationally by ITV Studios Global Entertainment.

About Mammoth Screen

Mammoth Screen is one of the UK s leading independent production companies. Current work includes POLDARK, AND THEN THERE WERE NONE for BBC One, BLACK WORK for ITV, OPPOSITE NUMBER for Channel 4 and AGATHA RAISIN for Sky 1.

LINK:	http://www.itv.com/presscentre/press-releases/endeavour-returns-series...
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