As part of ITV’s eagerly awaited Morse prequel, Endeavour, fans get to discover how Morse’s most enduring love affair started.
It’s not a woman of course, it’s the iconic burgundy Jaguar Mark 2 that Morse drove throughout his career.
Viewers will get to see a young Morse being brought back to Oxford as part of a hunt for a missing schoolgirl, a case which profoundly changes his life.
The origins of Morse’s trademark passions, including classic cars, will be unravelled too.
The drama was commissioned to celebrated the 25th anniversary of the first Morse episode, broadcasted in 1987. Shaun Evans has the somewhat daunting task of living up to John Thaw’s much-loved portrayal of Colin Dexter’s detective.
Bringing Morse and his Jaguar together
Set in the mid sixties, Endeavour sees Morse securing the car that will be his faithful companion until death.
Lucky Wargrave service and MOT centre in Berkshire was chosen as the setting, and was transformed into a retro garage, complete with bunting, petrol pumps and a collection of mouth-watering classic cars.
Like others, Manager Tim Englefield was delighted to get a glimpse of Morse’s beloved Jaguar Mark 2 during filming.
So far all that’s been revealed is that the youthful Endeavor Morse finds his dream car on sale for £1,227 – an asking price perhaps beyond the budget of a young police officer, especially one fighting to maintain his career.
Icon of British automotive history
The Jaguar Mark 2 was released in 1959, designed according embody the ideals of grace, pace and space.
Becoming a signature of the incredibly popular detective show was a matter of chance though. On taking the role of Morse, John Thaw insisted that the Lancia Morse drove in the books was changed to a Jaguar Mark 2.
Following a career of near-misses that often had the hearts of classic car lovers in their mouths, the Jaguar used in the series was sold in November 2005 for over £100,000.
The one-off Endeavour episode will air next spring.
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