Lewis

06/03/2009

Kevin Whately returns to the role of Inspector Lewis in four new episodes of Lewis, ITV1’s top-rated drama of 2008.

The much-loved Oxford policeman is once again joined by Laurence Fox as his young colleague DS James Hathaway, whose understanding with the Inspector deepens with every case, while memories of Lewis’s wife’s sudden death continue to haunt him.

In this new series, the duo tackles the murderous fallout from an earlier attempt to kill one of Oxford’s celebrity atheists; sudden death among student thespians, in which Shylock meets a brutally un-Shakespearian end; the killing by Persian mirror of a Czech barmaid around which hover the ghosts of the university’s fantasy authors C.S. Lewis and J.R.R.Tolkien; and death within the now middle-aged members of a rock band who were the iconography of Lewis’s youth.

Clare Holman returns as pathologist Dr Laura Hobson and Rebecca Front is back in the role of Lewis’s boss, Chief Supt Jean Innocent.  

Kevin Whately remains proud of his drama: “Everywhere I go, people talk about the production values of Lewis. 

“I love the space in Oxford and the use of the city.  It makes a huge difference, because, when it comes down to it, a lot of these cop shows are inevitably very similar.  It makes such a difference to ours, having those locations and production values.”

The new series of Lewis is very much a family affair for Laurence Fox.

First, his father James guests in the first film, where he comes under investigation by his son.

And then proud new dad Laurence introduced son Winston to his Oxford film set shortly after his birth last October.

Guest stars in the new quartet of films include Helen Baxendale, Zoë Boyle, Simon Callow, James Fox, David Hayman, Anastasia Hille, Adrian Lukis, Joanna Lumley, Art Malik and Jenny Seagrove.

The series is produced by Chris Burt, who, after producing 11 Morse films, with John Thaw and Kevin Whately, has been responsible for the eight Lewis films screened from 2006 to last year.

Executive producers are Michele Buck, Damien Timmer, and, for WGBH, Rebecca Easton.

Michele Buck says: “Lewis continues to provide quality drama for a hugely appreciative audience who are drawn to the excellent production values and intelligent, satisfying murder mysteries.

“As ever the city and university of Oxford provide the elegant backdrop for the most unexpected of crimes.”

Damien Timmer adds: “There are some significant developments in Robbie Lewis’s personal life this year, and he faces some baffling cases with the able assistance of DI Hathaway.

“We hope the audience will enjoy discovering more about this highly successful duo and be gripped by the four new films.”

Clear here to download the Lewis Press Pack (.doc)