‘Endeavour’ preview: First look at Season 8 plus new story hints

Filming on the next season of Endeavour is underway and we’ve got some new details.

ITV’s Inspector Morse prequel series launched in 2012 and Season 7 premiered back in February 2020.

An eighth season was originally set to begin shooting last summer, but production was halted due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Three new feature-length episodes finally started filming in Oxford, England this spring.

Shaun Evans is back as Endeavour Morse, alongside Roger Allam as Fred Thursday.

We can now confirm that other returning cast members will include Anton Lesser (Game of Thrones) as CS Reginald Bright, Sean Rigby (Gunpowder) as DS Jim Strange, and James Bradshaw (Close to the Enemy) as Dr Max DeBryn.

Also reprising their roles are Abigail Thaw (I Want My Wife Back) as Dorothea Frazil, Caroline O’Neill (Last Tango in Halifax) as Win Thursday, and Sara Vickers (Watchmen) as Joan Thursday.

Season 8 will premiere in the UK on ITV this autumn, and in the US shortly afterwards on PBS.

Shaun Evans is directing the first episode himself.

The Endeavour star made his directorial debut with Season 6’s ‘Apollo’, returning to helm Season 7’s ‘Oracle’.

Set in 1971, Season 8’s opening instalment sees a death threat to Oxford Wanderers’ star striker Jack Swift place Endeavour and his team at the heart of the glitz and glamour of 1970s football.

The story will explore “the true cost of success and celebrity, and with it, a deep-rooted division that is soon reflected much closer to home.”

Season 8’s second and third episodes will be directed by Ian Aryeh (McDonald & Dodds) and Kate Saxon (Call the Midwife).

Writer and executive producer Russell Lewis commented: “After our longest suspension, all at #TeamEndeavour are delighted to have been returned to duty. If anything, the delay has made us all determined to make Series 8 everything it can be.

“Happily, it looks as if our timeline has endured the hiatus and that we will still be delivering our vision of 1971, albeit through an Endeavour glass darkly, exactly half a century on.”

He added: “Social distancing and strict insurance regulation with its bubbles and cohorts mean that backroom boys like me and the other execs haven’t been able to get out to set as usual, but all the same we’re very fortunate to be back in business at all and count our blessings daily.

“It’s truly lovely to be back telling new stories with Oxford’s Finest. I hope the audience finds they’ve been worth the wait.”

2021 will be a busy year for Endeavour creator Russell Lewis, with his Grace series based on Peter James’ books recently renewed for a second season.

Life on Mars actor John Simm will return as Brighton-based Detective Superintendent Roy Grace in three more feature-length films.

Meanwhile, Endeavour actor Roger Allam has been cast in BritBox’s new crime drama Murder in Provence.

The Verlaque & Bonnet novels by M.L. Longworth are being adapted for TV by Downton Abbey writer Shelagh Stephenson.

All seven seasons of Endeavour are available to watch on Amazon Prime and if you’re not already a member you can sign up for a free 30-day trial here!