LEWIS fans are eagerly waiting the hit Oxford-based show to return next weekend, but one person is not so excited: Lewis himself.

Kevin Whately, who plays the central character of Robbie Lewis, said he needed to be convinced to return for the whole of season eight.

The 63-year-old said: “There was a bit of a tiff. I said to ITV that I’d never do more than two episodes.”

But when his co-star Laurence Fox, who plays James Hathaway, agreed to do all three episodes, Mr Wheatley was persuaded.

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He said: “I agreed I’d do two and a half. But that’s gone out of the window, I’m doing three. There’s not much artistic thrill after being in a character for so long.

“There’s a sense of responsibility, I’ve worked as Lewis for 28 years on and off. it’s a long time. I’m starting to feel like Ken Barlow from Coronation Street.”

This week, the actor, who lives near Milton Keynes, told the Radio Times he only wants one more series after this.

But speaking to the Oxford Mail, he said it was hard to break away from the show, despite the creation of Endeavour, which acts as a prequel to the original Morse.

He said: “You’d think that with Endeavour we could disappear into the ether a bit but you still come under pressure to do them.

“It’s a commercial thing.

“It’s still hugely successful, so ITV are still keen to keep it going.“ Mr Wheatley said he was happy returning to Oxford for the filming, adding: “We’re a big part of the economy around here. It’s a great place to film, it’s fabulous for us.”

As well as familiar faces, this season will feature a new lead character – Det Sgt Lizzie Maddox, played by Waterloo Road star Angela Griffin.

Maddox is Hathaway’s subordinate as he struggles with his first murder case as an inspector.

Ms Griffin, a former Bicester resident, said that her character initially finds it hard to fit in: “Hathaway can’t let go of his old job and isn’t necessarily good at delegating. She’s a bit like a spare part and desperately wants to be involved.”

Speaking about filming, which started in March, she said: “I thought Lewis would be quite easy to step into, but it’s been more difficult than I thought.

“But it does do Oxford justice. It’s just so beautiful.

“The city is still taking my breath away, and I used to come into Oxford all the time when I lived in Bicester.”

She said: “There’s a tone and a style to Lewis that’s really established.

“There’s a very loyal audience that like their Lewis in a certain way.

“I’ll be really interested to see what their reaction to me is like.”

Entry Wounds, episode one of series eight, the first of three two-part episodes, will be shown on ITV on Friday, October 10, from 9pm to 10pm.

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