Foyle's War

Infobox Television
show_name = Foyle's War


caption = Series title card
genre = Drama
creator = Anthony Horowitz
starring = "see below"
opentheme = Jim Parker
country = United Kingdom
num_episodes = 19
list_episodes =
producer = Jill Green
Simon Passmore (2002–2003)
Keith Thompson (2004–2006)
executive_producer = Jill Green
runtime = approx. 95–100 min.
network = ITV
first_aired = 27 October 2002
last_aired = present
website = http://www.itv.com/drama/classiccrime/foyleswar/
imdb_id = 0310455
tv_com_id = 14533

"Foyle's War" is a British detective television programme created by screen-writer and author Anthony Horowitz, and commissioned by ITV after the long-running detective series "Inspector Morse" came to an end in 2000. It aired from 2001 to 2008 and contained 19 full-length episodes. A further series will go in production later in 2008, but whether it will be an addition to the existing series or a spin-off is not clear yet.Fact|date=August 2008

Overview

The programme is set during the Second World War in Hastings, England, where Detective Chief Superintendent Christopher Foyle (Michael Kitchen) attempts to catch criminals who are taking advantage of the confusion the war has created. He is assisted by his driver Samantha "Sam" Stewart (Honeysuckle Weeks) and Detective Sergeant Paul Milner (Anthony Howell).

Foyle, a widower, is quiet, methodical, and very observant and is frequently underestimated by his foes. Many of his cases concern profiteering, the black market, and murder. Foyle often comes up against high-ranking officials in the British military or intelligence services who would prefer that he mind his own business, but he is tenacious in seeking justice.

The stories are largely self-contained. There are some running strands, mainly involving the career of Foyle's son Andrew (played by Julian Ovenden), a fighter pilot in the Royal Air Force, or Foyle's continuing relationships with cameo characters.

Each episode runs for about 95 to 100 minutes, filling a two-hour slot on ITV when commercials are included. In order to fit PBS's 90 minute time-slot in the United States, episodes, particularly in series 1 to 3, were edited by several minutes each.

In a newspaper article and in his interview that accompanies the first season DVD set Anthony Horowitz was asked why he named the main character Christopher Foyle. He explained that he was seeking a name that evoked the early 1940s and thought of Foyles Bookshop in Charing Cross Road London, previously known for many years for its archaic practices and its owner Christina Foyle. Christopher was the nearest male name to Christina, but from 1999 following the death of Christina Foyle, control passed to her nephew Christopher Foyle who was given a small walk-on cameo part in the episode "Bad Blood".

After six series the show came to an end because it was getting too expensive. In April 2008, the final wartime chapter of Foyle's story, "All Clear", was aired. However, on 9 April 2008, ITV announced that it was in talks with Horowitz and Greenlit Productions to revive the series, continuing Foyle's adventures into peacetime, [Cite news|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/apr/09/itv.television|title=ITV may revive Foyle's War|work=The Guardian|date=9 April 2008|accessdate=2008-04-11] and some media observers saw high viewing figures for the penultimate episode (28% audience share) on April 13 that year as strengthening the case for a continuation. [Cite news|first=Chris|last=Tryhorn|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/apr/14/tvratings.television1
title=Foyle's War sweeps to victory for ITV|work=The Guardian|date=14 April 2008|accessdate=2008-04-14] At the time the audience figures for the final episode were released (28% and an average of 7.3 million), ITV confirmed that it had entered and was continuing "early discussions" with Horowitz and Greenlit. [Cite news|first=Chris|last=Tryhorn|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/apr/21/tvratings.television|title=Baftas watched by 5.6 million|work=The Guardian|date=20 April 2008|accessdate=2008-04-22] ITV's Duty Office recently confirmed that a further 3 episodes of Foyle's War have been commissioned, probably for transmission in 2009.Fact|date=August 2008 Anthony Horowitz also said on the ITV3 documentary series 'Drama Trails', that he is still not sure about the title of the new series.Fact|date=August 2008

Episodes

Please note that in the US series four and series five are combined and sold as series four and series six is sold as series five.

International broadcasts

"Foyle's War" has been transmitted in the following countries:
*Arabic countries—MBC 4.
*Australia—ABC with repeats on UK.TV.
*Belgium—Canvas (Belgium).
*Canada—History Television and in Ontario on TVO.
*Czech Republic—ČT1.
*Denmark—DR.
*Finland—YLE.
*Greece—ET3, NET.
*Israel—Yes 4.
*Netherlands—Nederland 1:KRO.
*New Zealand—UK.TV.
*Norway—NRK.
*Poland—TVP1.
*Portugal—RTP1, MOV.
*Serbia—RTS, Film +.
*Slovenia—TVS.
*Sweden—SVT.
*Turkey—TV8.
*United States—PBS.

Notes and references

External links

* [http://www.foyleswar.com/ "Foyle's War" at www.foyleswar.com]
* [http://www.greenlit.co.uk/foyle.html "Foyle's War" at Greenlit Productions]
* [http://www.iconmovies.net/foyleswar/ "Foyle's War" at Icon Entertainment International, Distributor]
* [http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/foyleswar/ "Foyle's War" at PBS, Masterpiece Theater/Mystery!]
* [http://www.history.ca/ontv/titledetails.aspx?titleid=100590/ "Foyle's War" at History.ca]
* [http://anthonyhorowitz.com/msgboard/index.php "Foyle's War" Messageboard at AnthonyHorowitz.com]
* [http://www.visit1066country.com/general/foyleswar/foyleswar_about.aspx "Foyle's War" on location in Hastings]
* [http://www.victoriaseymour.com/foyles_war.html "Foyle's War": Hastings and WWII in Austerity] by Victoria Seymor, a Hastings historian
* [http://www.violetdesigns.co.uk/foyles_war_midhurst.htm "Foyle's War" Series 5 Location, Midhurst]