{"id":30637,"date":"2023-02-26T09:00:57","date_gmt":"2023-02-26T08:00:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=1790243"},"modified":"2023-02-27T11:09:22","modified_gmt":"2023-02-27T10:09:22","slug":"endeavour-cast-meet-the-season-9-actors-and-new-characters","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/endeavour-cast-meet-the-season-9-actors-and-new-characters\/","title":{"rendered":"Endeavour cast: Meet the season 9 actors and new characters"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Inspector Morse prequel is ending with this ninth run \u2013 but which characters are returning? <\/p>

By Morgan Cormack\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Sunday, 26 February 2023 at 12:00 am<\/p>

\n\n

The end of Endeavour<\/a> is nigh and while fans of the long-running ITV crime drama may be saddened to see it leave our screens, we can expect the finale to leave us \u201cemotionally satisfied<\/a>\u201c, according to series star Shaun Evans.<\/p>\n

The final three episodes of the Inspector Morse prequel series are set to tie things up in a definitive way and will see Evans reprise the title role of DS Endeavour Morse for the very last time. He also directs the first of the new films titled Prelude.<\/p>\n

Roger Allam<\/a> returns as DCI Fred Thursday<\/a> and this time round, the series sets off in the early \u201970s. Our two detectives find themselves entering a new era of change both professionally and personally with the return of some familiar faces along the way including Fred\u2019s son Sam, who arrives back from Northern Ireland following his service in the British Army.<\/p>\n

But who else is set to return for the final three episodes of Endeavour? Read on to find out everything about the cast of Endeavour season 9.<\/p>

Endeavour season 9 cast<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Shaun Evans plays Detective Sergeant Endeavour Morse<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Shaun Evans as Endeavour.<\/span><\/figcaption> ITV<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Who is Endeavour Morse?\u00a0<\/strong>Our enigmatic lead, Endeavour is the younger version of John Thaw\u2019s character in the iconic Inspector Morse<\/a> series. We\u2019ve followed him through ups and downs throughout his personal and professional life, but last season saw a new side to Endeavour, as he increasingly turned to alcohol.<\/p>\n

Speaking about where we left Endeavour in season 8, Evans<\/a> states: \u201cThings were getting on top of Morse at the end of the last series. Burning the candle at both ends and not managing his relationship with alcohol. So he has taken some time off and been away for a number of months in what is said to be the West Country to get his act together.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt the start of this series he is back with a more balanced perspective. It\u2019s dealt with in a very subtle and interesting way. And he will now only take a drink during moments of emotional turmoil. It\u2019s not for boredom or for habit. It\u2019s harking back to what we\u2019ve done over the past couple of years. Whenever things are getting difficult this, in a way, is his refuge. Likewise with the crossword puzzles and the opera. It\u2019s a safe space for him.\u201d<\/p>\n

In this season, though, as things start to draw to a close, Evans has also said that his character\u2019s \u201caloneness and isolation is cemented in this series\u201d, which likely hints at the surrogate father-son relationship between Endeavour and Thursday.<\/p>\n

Where have I seen Shaun Evans before?\u00a0<\/strong>Evans has starred as Endeavour since the beginning of the prequel in 2012, but has also had roles in Teachers, Silk<\/a>, Ashes to Ashes and Vigil<\/a>. He has also directed episodes of Casualty<\/a> and Endeavour, and has directed the first episode of Endeavour season 9.<\/p>\n

Roger Allam plays Detective Inspector Fred Thursday<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Roger Allam as DCI Fred Thursday in Endeavour.<\/span><\/figcaption> ITV<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Who is Fred Thursday?\u00a0<\/strong>Fred is Endeavour\u2019s long-standing boss and mentor, who has been under financial and personal pressures in recent seasons. He\u2019s been a kind of surrogate father for Endeavour but their relationship is set to be under immense pressure in this forthcoming ninth season.<\/p>\n

Thursday\u2019s future will also be set to change this season, with Allam stating: \u201cThursday applies for a promotion to nearby Carshall, where Endeavour started his police career. The promotion means that because of the money Fred lost to his brother Charlie he can serve for maybe three more years in Carshall, increase his pension, and then call it a day. But that means more desk work which he has never been keen on.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chatting to\u00a0RadioTimes.com<\/a> and other press about the new season, Allam also revealed how there will be \u201ca bit of a crisis\u201d in the Thursday family, especially in regards to his own son Sam.<\/p>\n

\u201cI mean, it is very, very, rocky,\u201d he says. \u201cAnd there is something \u2013 something goes wrong in it that results in a kind of parting of the ways for Morse and Thursday. So it\u2019s big, it\u2019s massive.\u201d<\/p>\n

Where have I seen Roger Allam before?\u00a0<\/strong>The well-known stage and screen actor has been in a variety of different things such as playing Illyrio Mopatis in Game of Thrones<\/a>, Brigadier Adrian Stone in The Missing<\/a> and Antoine Verlaque in Murder in Provence<\/a>. He also stars in BBC Radio 4 comedy drama series Conversations from a Long Marriage<\/a> opposite Dame Joanna Lumley, to name a few of his appearances.<\/p>\n

Anton Lesser plays Chief Superintendent Reginald Bright<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Shaun Evans as Endeavour and Anton Lesser as Reginald Bright.<\/span><\/figcaption> ITV<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Who is Reginald Bright?\u00a0<\/strong>Bright is on the verge of retirement in this season, no longer able to recognise the world of 1972. Evans describes it as \u201cactually what has happened is time has moved on and perhaps you have not moved along with it. That\u2019s when Bright knows it\u2019s time to retire.\u201d<\/p>\n

Where have I seen Anton Lesser before?\u00a0<\/strong>Another acclaimed and well-known actor, Lesser is perhaps best known to many audiences for his role as Qyburn, Queen Cersei\u2019s villainous advisor, in HBO\u2019s Game of Thrones. He\u2019s also starred in\u00a0The Crown<\/a>, Disobedience, Wolf Hall, Ripper Street and most recently, Andor<\/a> and Better<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Sean Rigby plays Detective Sergeant Jim Strange<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Sean Rigby as DS Jim Strange.<\/span><\/figcaption> ITV<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Who is Jim Strange? <\/strong>Morse\u2019s friend, colleague and former roommate, Strange is a younger version of Morse\u2019s boss from the original Inspector Morse series. According to Allam, \u201cJim Strange is set to move away with Joan,\u201d which only further adds to Endeavour\u2019s sense of loneliness and isolation in this final season.<\/p>\n

Where have I seen Sean Rigby before? <\/strong>Rigby has starred in BBC historical drama Gunpowder, in addition to short films Isabella, The Baby Shower and Crossing Seas.<\/p>\n

Sara Vickers plays Joan Thursday<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Sara Vickers as Joan Thursday.<\/span><\/figcaption> ITV<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Who is Joan Thursday?\u00a0<\/strong>Fred and Win\u2019s daughter, Joan is engaged to marry Jim this season but after the lingering \u2018will they\/won\u2019t they\u2019 romantic storyline between Endeavour and Joan, how will her feelings play out in this final season?<\/p>\n

Allam also teased that \u201cThursday, Morse and others are in real danger\u201d this season, so will Joan\u2019s wedding go off without a hitch? We\u2019ll just have to wait and see.<\/p>\n

Where have I seen Sara Vickers before? <\/strong>Vickers starred in HBO\u2019s Watchmen<\/a> as Ms. Crookshanks and has also had roles in Lovesick, The Crown, Shetland, Man Down, Privates, Taggart and Scottish crime drama, Guilt<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Caroline O\u2019Neill plays Win Thursday<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Caroline O\u2019Neill as Win Thursday.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Who is Win Thursday?\u00a0<\/strong>Win is Fred\u2019s wife and previously, the two have gone through their fair share of trials and tribulations within their marriage on account of their financial situation.<\/p>\n

Where have I seen Caroline O\u2019Neill before? <\/strong>The actress has starred in numerous shows including Last Tango in Halifax, Lewis, EastEnders, Coronation Street, Grange Hill, Doc Martin<\/a>, Queer as Folk, and Happy Valley<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Jack Bannon plays Sam Thursday<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Jack Bannon as Sam.<\/span><\/figcaption> ITV<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Who is Sam Thursday?\u00a0<\/strong>Sam is Fred and Win\u2019s son, who has\u00a0arrived back from Northern Ireland following his service in the British Army. Speaking about Sam\u2019s arrival this series, Allam has revealed: \u201cSam is a huge worry for Thursday in this series. Sam is out of control and doesn\u2019t know what to do. He didn\u2019t really want to come home to Oxford in the first place. So there is an awful lot to deal with there both practically and emotionally about how to get Sam on his feet again.<\/p>\n

\u201cSam feels humiliated about what happened when he was with the Army in Northern Ireland. His experience there is a different kind of thing to what Thursday went through in the Second World War. That was so vast with Fred fighting in North Africa and the Italian campaign which was pretty awful. Especially the Battle of Monte Cassino.\u201d<\/p>\n

Where have I seen Jack Bannon before?\u00a0<\/strong>Bannon has previously appeared in Endeavour as Sam and reprises his role this season. He has also starred in Medici, Pennyworth, The Loch and Clique<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Abigail Thaw plays Dorothea Frazil<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Abigail Thaw as Dorothea Frazil.<\/span><\/figcaption> ITV<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Who is Dorothea Frazil? <\/strong>Dorothea has become a friend of Morse\u2019s throughout the seasons and is the editor of the real-life Oxford Mail newspaper, and staunch supporter of women\u2019s rights.<\/p>\n

Where have I seen Abigail Thaw before?\u00a0<\/strong>Abigail is the real-life daughter of former Inspector Morse star John Thaw. She has starred in Black Mirror, Love Soup, I Want My Wife Back, Doctors<\/a>, Casualty and The Bill, among many other TV, stage and film roles.<\/p>\n

James Bradshaw plays Dr Max DeBryn<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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James Bradshaw as Dr Max DeBryn.<\/span><\/figcaption> ITV<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Who is Dr Max DeBryn? <\/strong>Max is the Home Office pathologist, and is a younger version of the same character who appeared in early episodes of the original Inspector Morse series (who is played by Peter Woodthorpe).<\/p>\n

Where have I seen James Bradshaw before?\u00a0<\/strong>Bradshaw has starred in Hollyoaks, Primeval, Doctors, EastEnders<\/a>, Coronation Street<\/a>, Heartbeat, Close to the Enemy and Mile High.<\/p>\n

Additional cast for Endeavour season 9<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Nicholas Boulton as Jack Graham-Scott and James Anderson as Fergus.<\/span><\/figcaption> ITV<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Like with previous seasons, each film focuses on an entirely different case with a cast of guest characters and actors. Episode 1, entitled Prelude, is the first of the three films in season 9.<\/p>\n

It opens in the spring of 1972 with two unexplained deaths leading Endeavour and Thursday to the Oxford Concert Orchestra. But a body discovered in a derelict warehouse stokes fears that \u201cLondon business\u201d involving the criminal underworld has again found its way to Oxford.<\/p>\n

Thursday and Endeavour\u2019s investigation unearths some unsettling connections to cases the duo believed were well and truly behind them. Additional cast members for Prelude include:<\/p>\n