Lewis (TV series)

Infobox Television
show_name = Lewis
show_name_2 = "Inspector Lewis"


caption = Cover of the DVD of the first series
genre = Crime drama
runtime =
creator =
developer =
producer =
executive_producer =
starring = Kevin Whately,
Laurence Fox
theme_music_composer =
opentheme =
endtheme =
country = United Kingdom
location = London, Oxford
language = English
network = ITV
first_aired = 29 January 2006 (pilot)
18 February 2007
24 February 2008
num_series = 2
num_episodes = 7
list_episodes =
preceded_by = "Inspector Morse"
imdb_id = 0874608

"Lewis" (known as "Inspector Lewis" in the United States) is a British television detective drama made as a spin-off from "Inspector Morse", and set in Oxford. Kevin Whately reprises his character Robbie Lewis, who had been Morse's sidekick in the original series, and is now the boss of DS James Hathaway (Laurence Fox). A second series aired in early 2008. A third series of the show is currently being filmed.

Cast

DI Robbie Lewis	Kevin Whately
DS James Hathaway	Laurence Fox
Ch Supt Innocent	Rebecca Front
Dr Laura Hobson	Clare Holman

Pilot

The drama began with a one-off pilot, written by Stephen Churchett from an idea by Russell Lewis, with Morse creator Colin Dexter in a consultant's role. This show attracted 11.4 million viewers when it was first broadcast on ITV, making it ITV's most popular single drama of 2006. [cite news |title=A class double act |work=Television & Radio section |publisher=The Daily Telegraph |page=3 |date=23–29 February 2008 ]

The episode included background use of the song "Formed a Band" by Art Brut — a stark contrast to the classical music found in "Inspector Morse". It was played as Lewis and Hathaway dashed up character Danny Griffon's Oxford college staircase to interview him.

Daniel "Danny" Griffon	Charlie Cox
Trudi Griffon	Jemma Redgrave
Rex Griffon	Jack Ellis
Thomas "Tom" Pollock	Danny Webb
Jessica Pollock	Flora Spencer-Longhurst
Regan Peverill	Sophie Winkleman
Ivor Denniston	Michael Maloney

Distribution

The pilot epsode was broadcast in the United States on Mystery! on July 30, 2006 as "Inspector Lewis."

DVD release

The pilot episode was released on Region 1 DVD on September 12 2006, renamed "Inspector Lewis", [http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000FNNHZC] after first being aired on PBS. [http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/mystery/lewis/] The title was also changed for the opening titles. It was released in the UK on 12 March 2007.

eries One

As a result of the pilot's success, ITV announced a full series of three new episodes, with the same cast, broadcast on ITV on consecutive Sundays. [ [http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/article/ds36889.html Television - News - Kevin Whately returns to 'Lewis' role - Digital Spy ] ] The episodes are as follows:

1. "Whom the Gods Would Destroy" — Sunday 18 February 2007 at 21:00 GMT.
Lewis and Hathaway investigate a murder involving a group called the Sons of the Twice Born named after an epithet of Dionysus relating to his birth, whose activities are shrouded in Greek codes, quotes from Nietzsche and a Dionysian fondness for drugs. The title is part of a quotation from Euripides - the full quotation is "Whom the gods would destroy, they first make mad." [ [http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Euripides] ] Written by Daniel Boyle. Directed by Marc Jobst. [ [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0874609/ "Lewis" Whom the Gods Would Destroy (2007) ] ] Guest Stars:Anna Massey (Professor Gold); Sasha Behar (Catherine Linn); Richard Lintern (Sefton Linn); Crispin Redman (Dean Greely); Sian Thomas (Ingrid Nielson); Adrian Rawlins (Harry Bundrick); Richard Dillane (Theodore Platt); Diana Payan (Petra Bundick); Anna Madeley (Anne Platt, née Sadikov); Ellie Kendrick (Megan Linn); Nicola Redmond (Tina Daniels); Martyn Whitby (Staunton); Mark Spalding (Love Lines supervisor)

2. "Old School Ties" — Sunday 25 February 2007 at 21:00.
When an ambitious Oxford student is found dead in her hotel room after inviting a reformed computer hacker to speak at the Union, Lewis and Hathaway are called in to investigate. The pair are soon drawn into a case driven by celebrity, ambition and dangerous sexual politics, which strikes alarming chords with Lewis. Written by Alan Plater. Directed by Sarah Harding. [ [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0877154/ "Lewis" Old School Ties (2007) ] ] Guest Stars:Owen Teale, Gina McKee, Tom Harper

3. "Expiation" — Sunday 4 March 2007 at 21:00.
Lewis and Hathaway investigate the apparent suicide of a housewife living in Summertown. Written by Guy Andrews. Directed by Dan Reed. [ [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0885973/ "Lewis" Expiation (2007) ] ]

Distribution

Series One was aired in the United States on PBS stations on "Masterpiece Mystery!" as "Inspector Lewis, Series I." The Series One episodes were broadcast on June 22, June 29, and July 6, 2008. [ [http://www-tc.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/schedule/masterpiece_mystery_schedule.pdf The 2008 Mystery Season. ] ]

eries Two

Aired on ITV 1 starting 24 February 2008.

1. "And the Moonbeams Kiss the Sea" — Sunday 24 February 2008 at 21:00 GMT
Lewis and Hathaway investigate the death of a maintenance engineer found shot in the head in the basement of the Bodleian Library. A search of the dead man's house reveals a stash of valuable volumes and a connection to the local gamblers anonymous group, with further probing exposing a scam involving two Oxford academics. Neil Pearson and Haydn Gwynne guest star — they had previously starred together in "Drop the Dead Donkey". With Darren Clarke, Sam Alexander, Emily Beecham, Tom Riley, Ian Burfield, Clare Holman, James Weaver, Felix Scott, Jack Gordon, Jeany Spark, Caleb Rowe and Rebecca Front. University College featured prominently in this episode, with scenes shot in Radcliffe Quad and at the Shelley Memorial.

2. "Music To Die For" — Sunday 2 March 2008 at 21:00 GMT
Lewis and Hathaway are called in to investigate a boxing scam, a close link to Lewis' old boss, Inspector Morse, and a love triangle linked to the Stasi. Written By Dusty Hughes. Directed by Bill Anderson.

3. "Life Born of Fire" — Sunday 9 March 2008 at 21:00 GMT
Lewis investigates when a devout young Christian desecrates a church by committing suicide on its altar, claiming in a call to the police that it was "murder". Hathaway recognises him as Will McEwan, an old school friend. As the detectives delve deeper, a series of gruesome murders occur, all involving members of "The Garden", a modern Christian club, and Hathaway, who once trained for the priesthood, appears to know a lot more than he is willing to tell his boss. Ian McNeice, Matthew Marsh, and Rachael Stirling guest star.

4. "The Great and the Good" — Sunday 16 March 2008 at 21:00 GMT
Following the rape of a teenage girl, Lewis and Hathaway stumble across the curious private dinner parties of high school computer technician Oswald Cooper, who ends up being brutally murdered and castrated after entertaining several highly respected societal figures.

Notes

External links

*itv.com|id=drama/copsandcrime/lewis|title="Lewis"
*imdb title|id=0469870
* [http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/mystery/lewis/ Mystery! Inspector Lewis] information from PBS