For once, the TV series led me to the books.

I adore John Thaw and Kevin Whately and this whole series. I’ve also read all of Colin Dexter’s books.

This is the first book and the first programme.

“The Dead of Jericho” is the first instalment of the Inspector Morse TV series starring John Thaw and Kevin Whately (as Detective Sergeant Lewis). Colin Dexter also appears briefly in a non-speaking, unnamed role as a man walking along a cloister in the opposite direction to Morse (as they pass Morse gives Dexter a suspicious backwards glance). Filmed in the summer of 1986, it aired 6 January 1987. Anthony Minghella wrote the adaptation and the episode was directed by Alastair Reid.

Several changes were made from the book. Anne’s last name of Scott was changed to Staveley (the part was played by Gemma Jones). The first names of the three Richards were changed to Anthony “Tony” (James Laurenson), Alan (Richard Durden), and Adele (Annie Lambert), making the Cs into As. Edward “Ted” Murdoch was changed to Ned Murdoch (Spencer Leigh). Former Doctor Who star Patrick Troughton, in one of his final roles, played George Jackson.

The character Sophocles’s Oedipus Rex also figures in episode 3.1 of the spin-off TV series Lewis.

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Morse studied Classics at Oxford University but failed to get a degree.

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Classics (Literae Humaniores) is a wide-ranging degree devoted to the study of the literature, history, philosophy, languages and archaeology of the ancient Greek and Roman worlds. It is one of the most interdisciplinary of all degrees, and offers the opportunity to study these two foundational ancient civilisations and their reception in modern times. The degree also permits students to take extensive options in modern philosophy, a flexibility which makes Oxford’s Literae Humaniores different from most other Classics courses.

Hence the many allusions to mythology and literature in the books/films.

I believe (and I may be wrong) but the Morse were the first TV dramas EVER to be 2 hours (film length.)

I’m feeling slightly Philo -Sophocles- ical :o)