Will there be a fifth season of ‘Endeavour’?

ITV has confirmed its future plans for 1960s detective drama Endeavour.

The Inspector Morse prequel series launched in 2012 and a fourth season aired in the UK earlier this year, celebrating the 30th anniversary of Morse on ITV.

Filming is currently underway around Oxford and the South East of England on six new feature‐length films, starring Shaun Evans as Detective Sergeant Endeavour Morse.

Other returning cast members include Roger Allam (The Missing) as Detective Chief Inspector Fred Thursday, Anton Lesser (Game Of Thrones) as Chief Superintendent Reginald Bright, Dakota Blue Richards (Skins) as WPC Shirley Trewlove, Sean Rigby (Isabella) as Sergeant Jim Strange, James Bradshaw (Primeval) as Dr. Max DeBryn, Caroline O’Neil (Last Tango In Halifax) as Win Thursday and Abigail Thaw (I Want My Wife Back) as Dorothea Frazil.

Season 5 will also introduce Poldark actor Lewis Peek as new recruit Detective Constable George Fancy, whom Morse has to reluctantly mentor.

All six new films will be written by series creator Russell Lewis.

Buy the Season 1-3 box set on Amazon here.

The new season begins with Morse having finally passed his Sergeant’s exams, as Oxford City Police merges into Thames Valley Constabulary. Joan Thursday (Sara Vickers) has returned to Oxford, but much is unresolved following her disappearance the previous year and Endeavour’s unexpected proposal.

Writer Russell Lewis says: “As production begins on Endeavour ’68, many of the global tensions of that most turbulent year have found their way into our six new mysteries. ’67’s Summer of Love seems already a distant memory. Dark clouds are gathering at home and abroad as, after almost 100 years, the long history of Oxford City Police comes to an end. A terrible storm is set to blow through the professional and personal lives of newly promoted Detective Sergeant Endeavour Morse and Oxford’s Finest, leaving devastation in its wake.”

Executive producer Tom Mullens adds: “We’re delighted that Endeavour will return next year with an extended run of films. It gives Russell Lewis an even bigger canvas to work with, and he has some striking stories to tell about 1968, a time of revolution in the wider world, and in the personal life of Endeavour Morse. It’s an honour to have Shaun Evans, Roger Allam and the rest of the team back on board for this new run.”

Inspector Morse author Colin Dexter sadly died earlier this year.

Executive producer Damien Timmer has paid tribute to the writer: “It was a privilege to work with Colin on Endeavour, and everyone involved will miss his contribution to the show. He was the most delightful collaborator with a razor shape mind. We hope this new series will continue to do his legacy justice.”