AFTER playing Inspector Morse's sidekick Sgt Lewis for so long, you would think actor Kevin Whately would know Oxford like the back of his hand.

Having first appeared in Inspector Morse in 1987, the 57-year-old Geordie actor has been coming back to film in the city ever since.

Most recently, he has been shooting the second series of Lewis, a spin-off from the hugely successful Morse detective dramas, based on the novels by Oxford author Colin Dexter.

And despite the rigours of filming for a series of two-hour-long shows, he said the lure of the dreaming spires remained strong.

He said: "It's unbelievable. We've been coming to Oxford for 20 years and we still find new little nooks and crannies every time we film.

"Everywhere you point the camera in Oxford is beautiful.

"Compared to Acton, where we do a lot of the show, it's delightful for us, plus it's a lot easier to get around than west London."

Mr Whately seems very relaxed with his updated and promoted character, Det Insp Lewis, although he admitted that playing the lead role had increased the pressure on him.

He added: "I feel a huge responsibility, whereas all the pressure used to be on John (Thaw). It was quite easy for me then.

"Now I have the crew coming to me with their problems."

When John Thaw, who played Inspector Morse, died in 2002, Whately did not envisage returning to the role of Robbie Lewis and it was his wife who convinced him it was worthwhile.

He said: "I was quite apprehensive but she said the character of Lewis had changed enough for him to carry the show. I was very tentative about it and I didn't see the script until quite late. But it seemed to have the right balance."

Having returned to the role, Lewis has been lauded by critics and about eight million viewers saw each of the four episodes of the second series, which recently finished its run on ITV1.

Discussing the change from series one to series two, Mr Whately thought increasing the chemistry between himself and his own sidekick, a problem he never had before, was the key.

He said: "We wanted to develop the relationship between Lewis and Det Sgt Hathaway (played by Laurence Fox), but otherwise the show worked.

"John and I never really had to consciously do anything to our relationship. We played off each other."

A third series of Lewis is being planned.

Mr Whatley said: "You all relax a bit between series when you see there's an audience for it, whereas at first you fret about how it's going to turn out.

"I never really think far beyond the present. I just do it one year at a time.

"It depends on Laurence. I keep telling him to do films but he says he's happy here."

And with his modesty intact, Mr Whately breezes off.

But given his powers of comeback, it shouldn't be for too long.