Lewis praise from Morse author (From The Oxford Times)

Lewis praise from Morse author

9:40am Saturday 16th June 2012 in News

Morse author Colin Dexter has praised the people behind TV series Lewis as production is set to get under way for a seventh series of the drama.

Chiefs at ITV decided to make another series within weeks of the previous one finishing.

It means there will have been the same number of series of its famous forerunner Morse.

The 81-year-old writer said: “I am very pleased they are making another series and I am sure my dear friends Kevin Whately and Laurence Fox will be too.

“It has been a worthy successor to Morse and Kevin has done very well.

“We made 33 episodes of Morse so it is almost getting to the same sort of number.

“The Americans seem to be very fond of it for some reason.

“I think they like Laurence Fox because he goes behind the bike shed for a crafty cigarette.”

Mr Dexter said there would only be three episodes in the next series as some of those involved had other commitments.

He added that he was not sure how long the series could keep going for but hinted that Robbie Lewis may have to retire soon.

“I am not sure how old Kevin is but there comes a point when you have to call it a day,” he said.