THE OXFORD OF INSPECTOR MORSE January 1997, by Anthony Richards & Philip Attwell. Also out of print, and extremely rare, this softcover book is an episode-by-episode guide to all the locations used and featured in the Inspector Morse episodes, as well as their backgrounds, and an indispensible guide for those planning to visit Oxford and follow in Morse's footsteps.

JOHN THAW: THE BIOGRAPHY October 1998, by Stafford Hildred. An unauthorized biography that is full of misrepresentations and fabrications. It was said to cause John much pain, especially in its portrayal of the relationship between John and his mother. This book reads more like a celebrity magazine. Surely a personality as complex and as popular as John Thaw deserves better. Not that the authors have many negative things to say about him but this book appears to lack focus and does not have its own point of view. There are many instances in which an event or incident is mentioned only to be followed up by three pages of description of the same event from another source. This book has the appearance of being five or six "celebrity" or "gossip" magazine articles strung together into one whole. Despite its 250 pages, this book is very thin on detail; it makes up for this with frequent repetition and double spacing. It wouldn't be too dificult to compress the detail of this book into a Sunday Supplement in-depth profile. This book will give you no in depth insight in John Thaws backgrounds and life. I'm afraid this biography is best characterized as compact, or even shallow. Notable only for being the first book to come out about John Thaw the actor, rather than on Inspector Morse.

THE WORLD OF INSPECTOR MORSE (A complete A-Z Reference for the Morse Enthusiast) October 1998, by Christopher Bird. An in-depth encyclopedia to every character, location, relationship, murder, victim, and event in every Inspector Morse episode and novel cross-referenced in a handy to use, A-Z format. Need to find out that obscure fact right away? Or try and remember who did it? They're right at your fingertips here. A very rare, hard to find publication, but well worth the effort if you can locate one.

THE COMPLETE INSPECTOR MORSE May 2002, by David Bishop. The best book yet to come out on the series, it is an invaluable armchair reference book, giving a synopsis and review of each Inspector Morse episode and novel, as well as cross-referencing hundreds of bits of trivia, such as cameos of Colin Dexter, body counts, best lines, pints of ale consumed, complete references to every piece of music, a treasure trove of trivia, and how the show (and character) has evolved over the years. There's even a wonderful comparison between the characters of Morse and that of Sherlock Holmes. However, such a wealth of information and facts can be a bit dry at times, reading more like a helpful dictionary than a true appreciation of the series. There are no interviews with anyone associated with the series, no look at the phenomenon of Morse; why it became hugely popular to viewers in many countries around the world; John's approach to his portrayal of the character; any contempory reviews on the show that appeared at the time; or any sense of what made the show so popular, while charting its unexpected growth and appeal that cut across all languages and cultures. Such a phenemonon only comes along, as the book itself points out, once in a generation, but then proceeds to ignore it for the rest of the book. It has never been explained or studied fully, looking at the human side and appeal of the show, but such a subject is in itself perhaps the basis for an entire book. Still, it's the best Morse guide to ever appear in print, and will give many years of pleasure, deserving to be on any Morse afficiando's shelf, until something better comes along.

INSPECTOR MORSE COUNTRY September 2002, by Cliff Goodwin. Finally, a wonderful blend of British history and Morse trivia. A full-color, photo-packed look at Oxford and its environs, from the colleges right down to the corner pub and inn, and how they relate to the mystique of Inspector Morse. Very well written, easy to read, the book also casts light on the Morse series with behind the scenes, little known facts, such as the debate among the screenwriters on the various ways they considered for Morse to meet his fate. One wishes the author had written a full length treatement on the series. Don't visit Oxford without having this book in your knapsack!

SWEENEY! October 30, 2002, by Robert Faircloth, George Williams, and Mike Kenwood. An episode-by-episode history of one of the most memorable cop shows in TV history, with complete episode synopisis, a guide to both feature films, a complete background on every major cast member and their carers right up to the present day, and a look at how the series was conceived, filmed, and its impact on everyday pop culture. An easy-to-read guide packed will all kinds of trivia and information, this is a must-have on the bookshelf of any Sweeney fan.

JOHN THAW 1942-2002 A VIEWER'S APPRECIATION February 21, 2003, edited by Susan J. Elkin. A wonderful anthology of stories that cover different aspects of John's life; from his early school days growing up in Burnage, through his worldwide success in The Sweeney, Inspector Morse, and Kavanagh Q.C. . The book also looks at the varied reaction to A Year In Provence ; his unparalled popularity in America, and a special chapter with the latest on the cancer that killed him from a respected surgeon at the University of Manchester. Each chapter can be read as a stand-alone essay or in order following the chronological events of John's life; this book contains information and an appreciation of John's career you won't find anywhere else!




JOHN THAW'S FAVORITE CHILDREN'S BOOK - The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame - The tales of Ratty, Mole, Badger and Toad. When Mole goes boating with the Water Rat instead of spring-cleaning, he discovers a new world. As well as the river and the Wild Wood, there is Toad's craze for fast travel which leads him and his friends on a whirl of trains, barges, gipsy caravans and motor cars and even into battle. John says of this book: "I must have read this classic story of Ratty, Mole and Badger and their adventures with their troublesome friend Toad of Toad Hall at least ten times. I loved it when I first read it as a child and really enjoyed reading it over and over to my own children. My three small grandchildren are still too young to appreciate just how brilliant and funny it is, but I am really looking forward to one day sharing it with them. It will always be my favourite. "




I HAD A DATE WITH LADY JANET - read by John Thaw, issued by Pickwick Talking Books. It's a single cassette on the Pickwick Talking Books label, John Thaw takes the part of Willie, his voice sets the scene and keeps the tension high throughout the kidnap of Modesty and the rescue aided by Lady Janet. The tale appeared in the collection "Pieces of Modesty", and is definitely one for a long car journey......
















INSPECTOR MORSE: THE GAME - Ages 10 and up. Based on British Television's popular detective series with total viewing figures estimated to be over 1 billion. The Inspector Morse murder mystery board game has all the thrills, spills and intrigue of the books and TV shows. Collect the clues, check the police files and visit the crime scenes. The game contains three full investigations from series one - each can be played over and over again. For information on where to find this wonderful Christmas gift idea, CLICK HERE.




KAVANAGH QC: BLOOD MONEY - By Shirley Lowe. Hodder & Stoughton, Published May 2, 1998. Based on the Carlton television series starring John Thaw, 'Blood Money' is a tense, dramatic tale of revenge, justice and the search for truth. A new junior at River Court ruffles a few legal feathers, but James Kavanagh QC maintains his quest for justice. He is called to lead the prosecution in the war crimes trial of a Polish doctor, while the reverberations of the Bosnian conflict echo through the trial of an army chaplain. Shirley Lowe has been a magazine editor and national newspaper columnist. She has written seven books previously including the best-selling Swapping which she co-authored with Angela Ince.





KAVANAGH QC: TIES THAT BIND - By Wendy Holden. Hodder & Stoughton, Published May 2, 1998. Based on the Carlton television series starring John Thaw, 'The Ties that Bind' is a tense, dramatic tale of deception, violence and the search for truth. Against a sometimes conspiratorial atmosphere in chambers, barrister James Kavanagh's cases include defending a British ambassador's daughter accused of murder and a Stateside visit to represent a murderer on Death Row. Back in Britain fraternal jealousy seems to have lead to a brutal killing. Wendy Holden is an experienced author and journalist. She was a senior foreign and home news correspondent for The Daily Telegraph. Her books include All Necessary Means: Inside the Gulf War for BBC Books.




HOME TO ROOST - Fans of Inspector Morse will get a kick out of seeing John Thaw, long synonymous with that cerebral sleuth, playing a discombobulated single dad whose estranged teenage son, Matthew, unexpectedly disrupts his father's staid existence. For these two chaps, the generation gap seems more like a chasm: one fancies rock 'n' roll and his dad's off-limits whisky, while the other wonders what hit him and gamely tries to get with the new program. Clever dialogue, crisp direction, and first-rate acting give this popular Britcom singular charm. Selected episodes available on 3 VHS tapes or 3 DVDs for the first time ever on 3/25/03. To order CLICK HERE.








THE DEVIL DRIVES A JAGUAR - by Suzanne Downes (review by Julia Bulford from Caterham, Surrey) The Devil Drives a Jaguar was, rarely for me, a book which I quite literally didn't want to put down. Essentially a ghost story, the plot is intriguiging from the very beginning when our heroine leaves her city life to stay with an ailing aunt in a remote cottage. She soon finds herself thoroughly involved in trying to solve a murder mystery from her family's past, whilst at the same time trying to lay the ghost of her own failed relationship. This book has humour, romance and some very scary moments all written in a style which makes you feel as if the author is in the same room as you, telling you her story. The story has both lovable characters and more spiteful characters you'll love to hate.

The Devil Drives a Jaguar has a plot complex enough to intrigue, but not so complex as to make it hardgoing - just the right balance. The tale is never allowed to get sluggish. It expands at the sort of pace which is not so convoluted that you are forever turning back the pages, looking for that elusive sentence which seemed to mean nothing the first time round. Whether the characters are all they seem may not be so easy to fathom, and all the better for it. The author enjoys playing fast and loose with your certainties, even when it comes to the victim/heroine, who tells her story in the first person.

An interesting update about The Devil Drives a Jaguar comes from the book's publisher, Dick Richardson of Country Books, Little Longstone. Dick reveals that the late actor John Thaw was very interested in the book and his widow, Sheila Hancock, may continue fighting to obtain television rights for it. In the meantime, it's the perfect choice for some late night reading around Halloe'en. (The Devil Drives a Jaguar is priced £6.95, ISBN 1-898941-75-0). To order, CLICK HERE.




JOHN THAW/INSPECTOR MORSE CROSS STITCH - Looking for a unique one-of-a-kind gift for someone who's good at crafts? This wonderful project from Crafts Unlimited UK will provide hours of fun and leave you with a unique collectible that you might even frame and hang on your wall (the actual likeness to John is stunning, check the photo and judge for yourself). Or make some yourself to give out as gifts for John Thaw or Inspector Morse fans everywhere. £5 For the chart or £15 for the kit. To order, CLICK HERE.







"BEST ENDEAVOUR" ART PRINT - (October 14, 2002) The Morse legend lives on! A special offer to delight fans of Inspector Morse - this LIMITED EDITION (click to enlarge) print of Morse's Mark II Jaguar signed by Colin Dexter, author of the Morse books. Morse memorabilia doesn't come classier than this print by the renowned classic car artist Kevin Walsh. Inspector Morse held a particular fascination for millions of TV viewers who enjoyed the exploits of the irascible, beer-drinking detective. But it was his 1960s Mark II Jaguar, with the magical ability to find a parking spot on the streets of Oxford, one of the country's most traffic-bound cities, that inspired many fans. So much so that the car used in the TV series recently broke all records for a car of this type when it was sold at auction for £53,000.

Now, for Morse fans everywhere, Over50s.com is delighted to offer a chance to buy this limited edition print signed by Colin Dexter, author of the Inspector Morse books . There are only 350 prints available, from the limited edition of 850, so this is not an offer that's likely to be around for very long! When artist Kevin Walsh was approached by a Morse fan who wanted a picture of the great man's car he jumped at the chance. 'I paint a range of subjects but classic cars are my favourites,' he told Over50s.com. The painting turned out so well that Mr Walsh decided to offer it as a limited edition print. He approached Carlton TV for a licence to produce the prints and then arranged to have them signed by Colin Dexter, and they've been selling like the proverbial hot cakes.

Kevin has been a painter for more than 30 years and is particularly popular in the USA where he sells paintings and prints at several of the large classic car shows. And of course while he's there he also researches cars for future paintings. Most of his work is done from sketches he has made at events, or from photos. The unique appeal of his pictures is the detail he puts into the background setting, much of his time is spent travelling the country for suitable locations to place his cars in. Most pictures of classic cars have an airbrushed background with no detail but Kevin painstakingly recreates the appropriate settings for his pictures, and it's this that makes his paintings so popular. 'A lot of classic car pictures are very 'male', they tend to be just the car with an airbrushed background and often end up in the study,' says Kevin. 'I find that a lot of ladies like my pictures because of the detail I put into them and they're quite happy to have them up in the living room.'

If you'd like to own a piece of Morse memorabilia or you're looking for the ideal gift for a Morse fan then here are details of this once-only special offer: Morse's Jaguar by Kevin Walsh limited edition print signed by the author Colin Dexter, and by the artist, Kevin Walsh. Print (image size 552 by 383 mm, unmounted, unframed). Price £63.69 (including postage and packing). Framed print (image size 552 by 383 mm, dark wood frame with gold inner edge and double mounted). Price £130.61 (including postage and packing). Delivery is one week for the mounted print and three to four weeks for the framed print. To reserve your limited edition print send your name, address and telephone number to sales@over50s.com. Your order will be confirmed by telephone or e-mail. To pay for your print you will need to send a cheque made out to Over50s.com to us at Over50s.com Ltd, Arle Court, Hatherley Lane, Cheltenham, Glos GL51 0TP. Please note that orders will not be fulfilled until payment has been received. If you need further information you can e-mail us at sales@over50s.com or telephone 01527 873848 during office hours (9am-5pm Monday to Friday).

INSPECTOR MORSE MAGAZINE! - The Inspector Morse collection is a new fortnightly magazine and DVD or Video option series that reveals the fascinating story behind one of TV's most fascinating characters. Each issue of the magazine comes with an episode of Morse on either DVD or Video. Each issue will be divided into the following 4 sections:


Case File (5pp) - This section introduces the included episode giving listings and profiles of the principal characters, followed by a digest of the storyline. Including a detailed explanation of the episode and providing in depth analysis of the key clues and images. The murderer however, is never revealed.


Morse's World (4pp) - A blend of fact and fiction, looking at the real life locations coupled with fictional locations used in the series. Mainly focusing on Oxford and its surroundings, but occasionally other locations too. Also explores all things Morse from his beloved Jaguar and his passion for Wagner to real ale and The Times crossword.


Behind the Camera (3pp) - This section looks at the making of the show and what happened during filming. Each page contains details on the stars from the episode, including Kevin Whately (Sergeant Lewis). Leading characters from the series share their anecdotes and memories of this television classic.


John Thaw The Man (1pp) - A chronological biography charting the rise of one of Britain's greatest acting talents.


Issue 1: £2.99 Cost: £5.99 Frequency: Fortnightly. To order your subscription today or learn more about this one-of-a-kind publication, CLICK HERE to take you to Unique Magazines, the publisher's site. Publication is due to start soon, so be the first to reserve the premiere issue!





THICK AS THIEVES - One of John's earliest series is finally available in video! One of only two comedic series John did in his career, all 8 episodes are contained in this long-sought-after collector's item. The series ended when John left to do The Sweeney , and the rest, as they say, is history. What happens when two small-time crooks are released from prison and end up sharing a flat with the same woman? Find out and enjoy watching John's star clearly on the rise just before he became a household name in Britain. This critically-acclaimed series complete on a 3-tape boxed set will be released on June 10, 2003. For details on ordering CLICK HERE.








THE SWEENEY: THE COMPLETE FIRST SERIES - Devised by Ian Kennedy Martin, The Sweeney crashed onto television screens in the mid 1970s. A more visceral, hard-edged alternative view of policing to the long-running Dixon of Dock Green whose bobby had walked a softer television beat since 1955, or even the BBC police drama Z Cars, created by his brother Troy Kennedy Martin over a decade earlier, the police officers of The Sweeney were the hard-nosed, heavy drinking thief takers of Scotland Yard’s Flying Squad.

Shattering any cosy illusion the viewing public had of the police, the series became an instant success as Detective Inspector Jack Regan, played by John Thaw, and Dennis Waterman’s Detective Sergeant George Carter routinely ignored standard police procedures and employed whatever means necessary to catch the villains.

One of the first dramas filmed entirely on location, The Sweeney eschewed the studio-bound sets and slower pace inherent in existing police series. Shooting to a tight budget and schedule and made in an almost guerrilla film-making style using hand-held cameras, the series displays an immediacy and raw energy that still stands up today.

Although criticised for the violence and remembered for the high speed chases through London that preceded the knuckle-busting fisticuffs, The Sweeney relied more on the acting partnership of John Thaw and Dennis Waterman and the sharp scripts. Laced with witty and subversive humour and treating female roles far better than most male-dominated action dramas of the decade, the quality of the writing continued to attract big-name guest stars throughout the series’ four year run.

Digitally remastered and renovated for the DVD market, The Sweeney - The Complete First Series comes with a wealth of extras. Though lacking a retrospective documentary, the boxset ably makes up for that omission by delivering what could be considered the component parts to such a feature.

In a frank interview Ian Kennedy Martin discusses his past working relationship with John Thaw and explains how he created The Sweeney only to walk away once the series went into production. To illustrate where the two lead actors were in their careers immediately prior to The Sweeney, the set includes the pilot episode of Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais’ sitcom Thick as Thieves which starred John Thaw and Bob Hoskins, and the episode of Euston Films’ drama Special Branch guest-starring Dennis Waterman.

Over half the thirteen stories are introduced by the relevant guest stars, including Wanda Ventham, Warren Mitchell and Tony Selby, who talk about their roles and look back favourably on their days filming The Sweeney with the same warmth and affection as the cast and crew brought together for the hugely entertaining episode commentaries.

Clearly demonstrating the camaraderie that went on during the production of the show, the likes of Dennis Waterman and Garfield Morgan, writers Troy Kennedy Martin and Trevor Preston, directors Tom Clegg and David Wickes, editor Chris Butt and producer Ted Childs pay tribute to the late John Thaw as they reminisce about the featured cast, the perils and pleasures of filming and more importantly the regular after-work parties.

Impressed by how well the show stands up today, even with the flared trousers, kipper ties and old motors, their love of The Sweeney is keenly evident. When Ted Childs talks about the new directors brought into work on the shoe who “went on to do better things,” Troy Kennedy Martin who seems to be obsessed with the green office telephones and green cars that appear throughout the episodes quite rightly scolds him by saying “Not better things. Different things.” A landmark of British television, the digitally restored first series does The Sweeney justice.




TWO NEW RARE DVD RELEASES - DD Video have announced more titles, the first two of which are TV dramas starring John Thaw, retailing at £12.99 each. We'll Support You Evermore follows a grief-stricken father trying to find out why his son was murdered in Northern Ireland. His family are told only that he had been on a secret mission and had died a hero. But when Geoff Hollins attends his murderer's trial in Belfast, he soon discovers that the truth may be very different.

Dinner at the Sporting Club is written by Leon Griffiths, co-stars Liam Neeson and Maureen Lipman, and looks at Dinny Mathews, a small time boxing manager. Struggling to maintain his integrity in the seedy depths of the professional boxing world, Mathews is persuaded to provide a fighter to compete at the Sporting Club, where the local elite can wine and dine while fights rage.




THE TWO OF US: MY LIFE WITH JOHN THAW by Sheila Hancock - When John Thaw, star of The Sweeney and Inspector Morse, died from cancer in 2002, a nation lost one of its finest actors. Sheila Hancock lost a beloved husband. In this unique double biography she chronicles their lives - personal and professional, together and apart. John Thaw was born in Manchester, the son of a lorry driver. When he arrived at RADA on a scholarship he felt an outsider. In fact his timing was perfect: it was the sixties and television was beginning to make its mark. With his roles in Z-Cars and The Sweeney, fame came quickly. But it was John’s role as Morse that made him an icon. In 1974 John married Sheila Hancock, with whom he shared a working-class background and a RADA education. Sheila was already the star of the TV series The Rag Trade and went on to become the first woman artistic director at the RSC. Theirs was a sometimes turbulent, always passionate relationship, and Sheila describes their love - weathering overwork and the pressures of celebrity, drink and cancer - with honesty and piercing intelligence. The Two of Us is a remarkable book - a biography of a born actor and a tender, often heartbreaking memoir of a marriage.Full of insight and vivid memories, it evokes two lives lived to the utmost. (Release date October 2004 in the U.K., March 2005 in North America.)




KAVANAGH Q.C. SERIES ONE & TWO ON DVD - For the first time ever, BFS Video is now releasing the hard-to-find Kavanagh Q.C. series on DVD in Region 1 format - marking the first time this remarkable series has ever been available to own in North America. Seasons 1 & 2 are now available, which includes the episodes Nothing But The Truth, Heartland, A Family Affair, and The Sweetest Thing. Extras includes cast profiles, a John Thaw tribute, the history of the series, trivia, and much more, some of it contributed by this website. Season 2 includes the episodes Mute of Malice, Blood Money, Ancient History, Diplomatic Baggage, The Ties That Bind, and In God We Trust from Season 3. Other seasons will follow. Besides offering a selection of high-quality Inspector Morse DVDs, BFS will be releasing later this year the COMPLETE series Home To Roost, not just selected episodes, which also includes the famous "Christmas Episode". For more details or to order any of their products, click HERE to be taken directly to their web site!




"BELONGING" STARRING KEVIN WHATELY AND BRENDA BLETHYN - “A must-see.” - Sunday Mirror

“ Brilliant script … was matched perfectly by a tremendous cast. Brenda Blethyn was, as usual, utterly superb in the lead role… a joy from start to finish.” - Daily Record

The bittersweet bonds of love and betrayal:

Happily married Jess (Brenda Blethyn – Saving Grace, Little Voice) and Jacob (Kevin Whately – Inspector Morse, The EnglishPatient) live in a riverside house with Jacob’s elderly relatives, “the Oldies.” Jess enjoys caring for them all until the day that Jacob pops out for a pint – and never returns. Left reeling when the news comes that Jacob has left her for a younger woman, Jess’s once contented life becomes a hurt tangle of duty, rage and self-doubt through which she must now navigate to find her balance and her true self.

Based on the novel by acclaimed author, Stevie Davies, Belonging is a painfully perceptive, moving drama full of the endearing, demanding and abusive people who inhabit Jess’s world. Striving to keep her dignity while coping with family burdens and her own wounded desperation, Jess’s story is a glorious depiction of the limits of human endurance – and the flexibility for change.

Approx. 96 mins., Color. Special Features: Exclusive Conversation with Brenda Blethyn / Author, Cast & Crew Interviews / Production Notes / "Oldie" Facts / Selected Filmographies. To order in North America, click here!




"THE ADVENTURES OF BLACK BEAUTY " Developed for television by Ted Willis (Dixon of Dock Green), The Adventures of Black Beauty was one of the most successful television series ever made. A quality production, its mix of charm, period detail and mild peril thrilled viewers the world over and it is still seen as a benchmark production in children’s television. With scripts by Willis, Richard Carpenter ( Robin of Sherwood), Victor Pemberton ( Doctor Who) and David Butler ( Edward the Seventh) and direction by the likes of Charles Crichton ( A Fish Called Wanda) it’s no wonder this series attracted such guest stars as John Thaw, Peter Firth, Ray Smith, Geoffrey Bayldon and Peter Bowles. This four disc set contains all 26 episodes from series one, the majority of which have not been available previously on DVD.

Dr. James Gordon has moved from London to the country, bringing his children - Vicky and Kevin - with him. The two children set to exploring Five Oaks and find an exhausted, wounded horse which they take home to their father. As they bring him back to health they get very attached and it comes as a shock when his owner comes to reclaim him...




"HOME TO ROOST - THE COMPLETE SERIES" Henry Willows is a middle-aged divorcee happily living alone. But his life is disrupted when his teenage son Matthew decides, after seven years apart, that it’s time he got re-acquainted and moves back in. Sadly, Henry has never seen himself as the typical loving parent…

John Thaw (The Sweeney, Inspector Morse) and Reece Dinsdale ( Born and Bred) star in Eric Chappell’s look at the differences in age, taste and background between father and son and the confrontations they can cause. This box set contains all 28 episodes of this popular ITV comedy, first shown between 1985 and 1990, plus the 1987 Christmas Special.





"MITCH - THE COMPLETE SERIES" At his gritty best, John Thaw (The Sweeney, Inspector Morse) stars as Mitch - a crime reporter for a National newspaper. Sent in to report on sensitive and tricky situations, he has to cover robberies, race crime, terrorism and - in one case - the murder of a small boy.

Unseen since its original transmission in 1984, Mitch is a series which still packs a punch after twenty years, featuring a compelling central performance from Thaw and excellent support from Claire Higgins (Midsomer Murders), David Calder (A Touch of Frost) and Gawn Grainger (Foyle's War). Scripts by Roger Marshall (The Sweeney), Tony Hoare (Minder) and Willis Hall (Budgie) are ably complemented by striking direction from the likes of Peter Cregeen (The Bill), Don Leaver (Lovejoy) and Gerry Mill (Heartbeat).






Next: A John Thaw Chronology