Endeavour to return to ITV in 2020 for seventh series

Endeavour will be back in 2020 for a seventh series on ITV, it has been confirmed.

The series – which just wrapped up its sixth series last night – charts the early career of the young Endeavour Morse, played by acclaimed actor, Shaun Evans.

The new set of films will see Evans reprise his role alongside celebrated star of stage and screen, Roger Allam as mentor DI Fred Thursday.

Written once again by Russell Lewis, who has penned all of the 27 Endeavour screenplays to date, the new series will be set in 1970 and production will begin later this year for transmission in 2020.

Filming will take place in Oxford and the surrounding area.

Creator Russell Lewis said: “We’re thrilled ITV has asked #TeamEndeavour to continue to add to the Casebook of Colin Dexter’s immortal creation, and take E. Morse and Oxford’s Finest into a new decade of decimalisation, package holidays, the Oil Crisis, Blackouts, Three Day Weeks, and Europa Endlos.”

Damien Timmer, Managing Director at programme makers Mammoth Screen added: “We’ve been thrilled with the response to Series 6 – it’s testament to Russell Lewis’ continuing cleverness and also the brilliant partnership between Shaun Evans and Roger Allam as Endeavour Morse and Fred Thursday.

“The 1970s are calling us, and we can’t wait!”

Head of Drama at ITV, Polly Hill commented: “We’re incredibly proud of Endeavour and delighted to have recommissioned the drama for a seventh series.

“Writer and creator Russell Lewis continues to engage viewers with carefully crafted stories for Endeavour and Thursday as we move into the 1970s.

“We’re grateful to the production team at Mammoth Screen for continuing to deliver such a high quality drama.”

Endeavour started out as a one-off film in 2012 and has gone on to air a total of 24 episodes.

The latest series launched with a consolidated audience of just under 7 million viewers and a 27% share, marking Endeavour’s biggest audience since 2014.