First Look at ‘Inspector Lewis’ Season 9

Guess who's back, back again: Lewis and Hathaway! (Photo: ITV)
Guess who's back, back again: Lewis and Hathaway! (Photo: ITV)
Despite a bit of back and forth that occasionally seemed to leave the future of the popular mystery series in doubt, Inspector Lewis is returning for a ninth season. Stars Kevin Whatley and Laurence Fox are back as Robbie Lewis and James Hathaway, alongside Angela Griffith as DS Lizzie Maddox.

The slate of six new episodes – which will be retaining the one-hour format, two-part mystery first used in Season 7 – marks yet another chapter in the occasionally confusing history of Lewis, itself a spinoff of popular drama Inspector Morse. Lewis seemingly wrapped up its run back in 2013, when star Whatley wanted to pursue other projects or possibly just take a break from a character he portrayed for something like 20 years. (They even gave Lewis a happy, looking off into the sunset with a beer ending. Things seemed pretty done.)

But, happily, the show returned for something of a surprise eighth season in 2014 and was renewed for Season 9 back in April. Huzzah! 

Watch the ITV trailer below: 

Per the official press release, here are the basics of what we can expect from the new season.  The arrival of a new Chief Superintendent heralds a fresh dawn for Oxfordshire Police, although the high flyer soon clashes with Lewis over the latter’s more traditional approach to detective work.

With forensic pathologist Laura Hobson (Clare Holman) contemplating early retirement, and the new boss piling on the pressure, will Lewis finally decide to call time on his policing career? Meanwhile, after years of avoiding the thorny issue of family ties, Hathaway (Laurence Fox) is forced to confront his past.

There’s also the small matter of identifying the remains of a body that’s been discovered in a well, and solving a murder. Business as usual in Oxford, right?

The first two-part new Lewis mystery is called “One for Sorrow” and will premiere in the UK on October 6. No official word yet on when we can expect to see the new season here in the US, but I’d assume that early 2016 is probably a safe bet. (I’d be happy to be wrong on that score though, so keep your fingers crossed!)

What about you guys – excited for more Lewis stories? 


Lacy Baugher

Lacy's love of British TV is embarrassingly extensive, but primarily centers around evangelizing all things Doctor Who, and watching as many period dramas as possible.

Digital media type by day, she also has a fairly useless degree in British medieval literature, and dearly loves to talk about dream poetry, liminality, and the medieval religious vision. (Sadly, that opportunity presents itself very infrequently.) York apologist, Ninth Doctor enthusiast, and unabashed Ravenclaw. Say hi on Threads or Blue Sky at @LacyMB. 

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