TV viewers said a sad farewell this year to ITV's Endeavour series.

Series nine, which ended in March, were the final scenes ever shot for the show which was filmed in Oxford. 

This brought an end the franchise which started with the Inspector Morse series in the 1980s.

ITV announced last year that series nine would be the last and the final episode was followed by a special documentary, Morse & the last Endeavour.

READ MORE: Where Endeavour star Shaun Evans will be appearing next

From the original Inspector Morse series (1987-2000), through to the spin-off Lewis (2006-2015) and Endeavour, which explored the detective’s back story in 1960s an early 1970s Oxford, the story of Inspector Morse finally came to an end.

Oxford Mail: Roger Allam and Shaun EvansThe pilot episode of Endeavour was screened in 2012 and attracted 8.2 million viewers and for a decade Shaun Evans as Endeavour and Roger Allam as detective chief inspector Fred Thursday - plus a strong supporting cast - kept viewers tuning in.

Janice Troup, head of ITV programme publicity, confirmed in March that millions of viewers tuned in to the final series.

Oxford Mail: She said: "The first episode of Endeavour series nine - Prelude - which aired on Sunday, February 26, consolidated with an audience of five million viewers. 

"The Endeavour finale - Exeunt - achieved an overnight audience of 3.9 million, with a 24.3 per cent share and a peak audience of 4.3 million.

"This figure will rise during the seven-day ratings consolidation period."

Millions of viewers tuned in to see the final episode on Sunday, March 12, and critics gave it glowing reviews, including the final scene at Blenheim Palace.

In the final moments, Endeavour star Shaun Evans left the stately home following a choir performance in a black Jaguar, driving past John Thaw's iconic red Jaguar.

Oxford Mail: A John Thaw lookalikeJohn Thaw died in 2002, so his lookalike John McHale was brought in to film the scenes.

READ MORE: Photos of final Endeavour scenes

Series one, four and six of Endeavour all got an average UK audience of about seven million viewers, while series seven got 6.8 million viewers.

The TV role of Inspector Morse, first played by John Thaw, was based on the character created for a series of novels  by Oxford author Colin Dexter.

He had a number of cameo roles in the three series.

Mr Dexter wrote a clause in his will banning anyone else playing the part of the detective after his death – to prevent future actors 'competing' with John Thaw.

The author died in 2017 and a memorial service was held at Christ Church Cathedral in Oxford the following year.

READ MORE: Why Dexter 'killed off' Inspector Morse 

Before he died he made it clear that he did not want any other TV dramas to follow Endeavour in the series - Inspector Morse, Lewis and Endeavour was enough.

Oxford Mail: John Thaw and Colin DexterThe author said at the time: "We never want to repeat what John has done.

"A lot of people connected with Morse didn’t want anyone coming along to say we will try and outdo dear old John.

"I said I’m not ever going to allow that, full stop.”

Help support trusted local news 

Sign up for a digital subscription now: oxfordmail.co.uk/subscribe 

As a digital subscriber you will get: 

  • Unlimited access to the Oxford Mail website 
  • Advert-light access 
  • Reader rewards 
  • Full access to our app 

About the author 

Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here. 

He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.

His Trade and Tourism newsletter is released every Saturday morning. 

You can also read his weekly Traffic and Transport newsletter.