Shaun Evans is back on the beat in Endeavour. Keeley Bolger talks to the about the "dark" third series and why he's not ready for LA just yet
​Belfast Telegraph

The doyenne of cool, Patti Smith, recently gave TV detective dramas her unexpected seal of approval after admitting that when she's in the UK, she likes nothing better than hunkering down in a hotel room and binge-watching our crime shows.

It was exciting news for Shaun Evans, the lead in the jewel of ITV's current detective drama crown, Endeavour, and a self-confessed fan of the American singer-songwriter.

"I've got the biggest crush on Patti Smith," says the 35-year-old with a laugh.

"I find her really inspiring. Her photographs are incredible, the poetry that she writes, and just her way of living.

"I'm totally gushing now, but as soon as I finished one of her books, I started it again, because I was so intoxicated with the atmosphere of it. She's something else."

Even without the punk poet's declaration, Endeavour, which is written by Colin Dexter and delves into Inspector (Endeavour) Morse's early career as a detective in Sixties Oxford, has been a huge success story for the channel.

The pilot was the highest performing new drama to air on ITV in 2012, reached a peak of seven million viewers for the second series and subsequent episodes have been shown in the States as well as over here.

Now it's back for a third time, is Evans, who trained at the Guildhall School Of Drama And Music, interested in capitalising on his biggest role to date and launching a career across the pond?

"Well, I feel very fortunate at the moment," says the actor, who moved from his native Liverpool to study in London aged 18.

"I've always worked and I've always managed to do stuff that at least I have found interesting, [whether that's] theatre, film, TV. I don't feel like there's this elusive thing I'm desperately trying to achieve that is located in Los Angeles, do you know what I mean?

"I'm lucky, man. I work quite a lot here, so I don't feel like there's much missing."

The second series ended with Morse languishing in prison after being falsely accused of murdering Chief Constable Robert Standish and with senior officer, DI Fred Thursday (Roger Allam), seriously wounded after a gun shot to the chest, so there are plenty of meaty storylines for the actor to get his teeth into.

"There's a bank heist," explains Evans.

"There's a love story throughout, but it ends in a very tragic way. There are some terrific stories, really well told by the director. We've got a lovely cast as well, who are just in their element. I'm very proud of it and hope people enjoy it."

Keen to act from a young age, Evans, who played Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain in the play Kurt And Sid, alongside Danny Dyer in 2009, starred in productions at his school in the Liverpool suburb of West Derby.

His breakthrough came in 2002 when he played young languages teacher JP in Channel 4 comedy Teachers, but he also had a part in BBC One drama Silk, as trainee barrister Daniel Lomas, as well as in Whitechapel and Ashes To Ashes.

And unlike many actors, Evans "doesn't mind" watching himself back on screen.

"When you watch it as a piece of work and think, 'That was good' or, 'That's interesting that they've chosen that rather than this' or, 'That could be improved' - it's a good thing," he explains.

"And also to be grateful and congratulate good work where it's done, even if that's your own, you know, it's important. It helps you grow."

Over the last year, Evans, who loves browsing the shelves of second-hand bookshops in Oxford whenever he films in the city (much of the series is shot near Maidenhead), also starred in BBC One's raunchy The Scandalous Lady W with Natalie Dormer, as well as three plays including Hello/Goodbye opposite Spooks actress Miranda Raison.

Although he's "open" to any opportunities "to be involved in a good story, told well", he's not ready to hang up Morse's dapper hat just yet.

"We'll just have to see how the audience takes to the new series," he says.

"It's not like we have a six-year contract, there's none of that. It's day by day, year by year. I think this one is really good. We'll know when it airs if there's an audience for it and if we feel there's another place to take these characters."

While making Endeavour takes up a big chunk of Evans' year - roughly five months - he still tries to indulge his other passion - travelling.

Recently, he went to Russia with the British Council to talk about the film War Book, which he starred in alongside Ben Chaplin and Sophie Okonedo, and also revisited South East Asia.

"I love that part of the world. It's just so different. You've got monks walking down the street barefoot of a morning," says Evans.

"I was in a second-hand bookshop and I found a copy of Colin Dexter's short stories. It's funny ... You go halfway around the world to a different culture, but good stories are everywhere."

Endeavour, ITV, Sunday, January 3, 8pm

Belfast Telegraph

​Western Morning News

​Shaun Evans is back on the beat as the young Morse in ITV detective drama Endeavour. Keeley Bolger catches up with the Liverpudlian actor to talk about the "dark" third series, unexpected fans and why he's not ready for Los Angeles just yet. 

The doyenne of cool, Patti Smith, recently gave TV detective dramas her unexpected seal of approval after admitting that when she's in the UK, she likes nothing better than hunkering down in a hotel room and binge-watching our crime shows.

It was exciting news for Shaun Evans, the lead in the jewel of ITV's current detective drama crown, Endeavour, and a self-confessed fan of the American singer-songwriter.

"I've got the biggest crush on Patti Smith," says the 35-year-old with a laugh.

"I find her really inspiring. Her photographs are incredible, the poetry that she writes, and just her way of living.

"I'm totally gushing now, but as soon as I finished one of her books, I started it again, because I was so intoxicated with the atmosphere of it. She's something else."

Even without the punk poet's declaration, Endeavour, which is written by Colin Dexter and delves into Inspector (Endeavour) Morse's early career as a detective in Sixties Oxford, has been a huge success story for the channel.

The pilot was the highest performing new drama to air on ITV in 2012, reached a peak of seven million viewers for the second series and subsequent episodes have been shown in the States as well as over here.

Now it's back for a third time, is Evans, who trained at the Guildhall School Of Drama And Music, interested in capitalising on his biggest role to date and launching a career across the pond?

"Well, I feel very fortunate at the moment," says the actor, who moved from his native Liverpool to study in London aged 18.

"I've always worked and I've always managed to do stuff that at least I have found interesting, [whether that's] theatre, film, TV. I don't feel like there's this elusive thing I'm desperately trying to achieve that is located in Los Angeles, do you know what I mean?

"I'm lucky, man. I work quite a lot here, so I don't feel like there's much missing."

The second series ended with Morse languishing in prison after being falsely accused of murdering Chief Constable Robert Standish and with senior officer, DI Fred Thursday (Roger Allam), seriously wounded after a gun shot to the chest, so there are plenty of meaty storylines for the actor to get his teeth into.

"There's a bank heist," explains Evans.

"There's a love story throughout, but it ends in a very tragic way. There are some terrific stories, really well told by the director. We've got a lovely cast as well, who are just in their element. I'm very proud of it and hope people enjoy it."

Keen to act from a young age, Evans, who played Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain in the play Kurt And Sid, alongside Danny Dyer in 2009, starred in productions at his school in the Liverpool suburb of West Derby.

His breakthrough came in 2002 when he played young languages teacher JP in Channel 4 comedy Teachers, but he also had a part in BBC One drama Silk, as trainee barrister Daniel Lomas, as well as in Whitechapel and Ashes To Ashes.

And unlike many actors, Evans "doesn't mind" watching himself back on screen.

When you watch it as a piece of work and think, 'That was good' or, 'That's interesting that they've chosen that rather than this' or, 'That could be improved' – it's a good thing," he explains.

"And also to be grateful and congratulate good work where it's done, even if that's your own, you know, it's important. It helps you grow."

Over the last year, Evans, who loves browsing the shelves of second-hand bookshops in Oxford whenever he films in the city (much of the series is shot near Maidenhead), also starred in BBC One's raunchy The Scandalous Lady W with Natalie Dormer, as well as three plays including Hello/Goodbye opposite Spooks actress Miranda Raison.

Although he's "open" to any opportunities "to be involved in a good story, told well", he's not ready to hang up Morse's dapper hat just yet.

"We'll just have to see how the audience takes to the new series," he says.

"It's not like we have a six-year contract, there's none of that. It's day by day, year by year. I think this one is really good. We'll know when it airs if there's an audience for it and if we feel there's another place to take these characters."

While making Endeavour takes up a big chunk of Evans' year – roughly five months – he still tries to indulge his other passion – travelling.

Recently, he went to Russia with the British Council to talk about the film War Book, which he starred in alongside Ben Chaplin and Sophie Okonedo, and also revisited South East Asia.

"I love that part of the world. It's just so different. You've got monks walking down the street barefoot of a morning," says Evans.

"I was in a second-hand bookshop and I found a copy of Colin Dexter's short stories. It's funny... You go halfway around the world to a different culture, but good stories are everywhere."

- Endeavour returns to ITV on Sunday, January 3

Endeavour III Press Pack

Q: How does it feel to be back? Do you enjoy returning to the character?
“It’s great. I do really enjoy it. I’m very lucky to be able to finish a series and then have the option of coming back, so I can see if there is room for improvement. It’s very satisfying to be able to do that.”

Q: At the end of series II Endeavour was locked up, falsely accused of murder. Where do we find him at the beginning of series III? Is his life back on track?
“His life is on a different tangent. He’s been released from prison but is suspended pending inquiry. He’s moved out of his flat, he’s split up with his old girlfriend and his time is his own, he’s seeing what life could be like. Endeavour is reluctant to go back to the police force and he’s looking for a new direction. He falls in with some very wealthy people who present him with new opportunities, and he thinks ‘maybe this could be my new career, my new thing. these people could be my new friends.’ But as fate would have it, as he’s driving to a party, he comes across a murder scene and is slowly drawn back in. But he fights it tooth and nail until the end.”

Q: How did the events at the end of series II affect Endeavour? Has he changed?
“Because of what happened at the end of series II he starts by saying - ‘this isn’t for me, I’m not going to help you out, I don’t want to be involved in this anymore’ – Endeavour and Thursday are very separate in film 1. But over the course of the four films we see that there’s an acceptance of the job for good or ill. He has evolved.”

Q: Has Endeavour Morse grown up?
“He has. He’s less morose and afraid. That kind of teenage angst can only take you so far, and then it needs to change into something else. That was certainly my intention.”

Q: Endeavour has been through a lot during his .me with the force. How does he feel about policing now?
“If that were me I’d have changed job by now. It’s funny, because we know this person isn’t going to die. It’s a challenge for the writer to make it as engaging and as exciting as possible. At the beginning of series III his relationship with the police force is the worst it’s been since we started, but by the end of the series it’s the best it’s ever been. He returns to work in Film 1 and it’s like an acceptance of fate.”

Q: What compels him to work as a policeman?
“Working out puzzles; working out something that no one else can see in an intuitive, imaginative way. He finds that quite satisfying.”

Q: What can we expect from series III?
“This is the first time we have shot Endeavour in summer so it looks and feels lighter, but the stories are still quite dark. We’ve had brilliant actors and characters throughout these last few years like Sean Rigby, Anton Lesser, and Sara Vickers, and this series everyone gets their moment. We’ve only seen small parts of their stories so far but now it all starts to come together. We couldn’t have done that previously, you need to build in order to break your heart.”

Q: Endeavour socialises with a new group of friends in Film 1. Do we see a more social side to him and do we learn more about him?
“He’s an observer. I don’t think he’s the type to be the life and soul of the party. He’s always going to be slightly wary, watching, which is what isolates him and makes him a loner. Endeavour’s past is a limitless source, you can constantly invent things and it’s a useful bag of tricks. We don’t learn much more about his family, although he talk’s a little bit about his mum in one of the films.”

Q: How is Endeavour’s relationship with Thursday in series III?
“It’s very interesting; in the first and fourth films their relationship is in a very funny place. Thursday has less time ahead of him, than he does behind him, especially as a policeman. It makes him act out of character, which drives them apart. Ultimately they come back together; ultimately they find a new level of mutual respect. But it’s a new and interesting dynamic.”

Q: Thursday means more to Endeavour than just a colleague?
“Yes, and I think that is there throughout. He’s always waiting in the hallway with his coat on while Thursday gets the sandwiches. It’s the life he never had, the family he will never have.”

Q: We are introduced to WPC Shirley Truelove in film two. What can viewers expect from their relationship? Trewlove is an interesing name…
“Dakota is brilliant, she’s so fresh and real. In terms of character she steps up to the plate and is very present. Will there be a romantic thing? Not from Endeavour’s point of view I don’t think. He takes her out but it’s not a date, it’s work, but she misinterprets it as a date. That could be something interesting; that could be a new dynamic.”

Q: Have the events at the end of series II changed Endeavour’s relationship with DS Jakes?
“This is a person who doesn’t form relationships very easily. Endeavour is the only person to whom Jakes admitted his past and I didn’t want this series to start in a place of antagonism again between them. If you’ve revealed something to someone then you never really discuss it again, something as heavy as that, that changes the dynamic of your relationship.”

Q: Is there competion between Endeavour and PC Strange this series?
“There’s definitely a conflict. The seed has been sown. There is no denying Strange is a good officer, and ambitious and gets on with everyone, but he lacks Endeavour’s brilliance. An antagonism definitely begins to creep in.”

Q: Has Endeavour’s relationship with CS Bright changed?
The great thing about this series is that they are very much a team, they all value each other in a new way after the events of series II. We know that these are all good eggs, essentially, and you have the little, small dynamics like in any family. Bright was previously quite hard on Endeavour but we start to see a new dynamic and learn more about Bright’s backstory. Anton is such a terrific actor so I’m pleased we get to explore his character more and in an interesting way.”

Q: What is your favourite film from this series and why?
The fourth film is my favourite. It’s a really good story and it’s really well told. There’s a lot going on in it, not just one thing, but many things and different layers of stories coming together. It’s a really satisfying, heart-breaking story with a terrific cast.”

Q: Series III is set in1967. What differences has that brought and do we see any historical moments from that era?
“We start to see the psychedelic 60’s of drug culture and free love. It’s important to bring those elements into the story because it’s what was going on at the time. These aren’t documentaries, it’s an amazing world to set a drama in and explore. These stories work best in the world that we’ve created for the drama. In the 60’s so much was going on, it’s sort of infinite, the pool that you can draw from. So when we create it really well, that’s when the story’s really engaging.”

Q: What is it about the character of Morse that audience’s love?
“It’s an oddity isn’t it? This is a young man who’s into opera, into crosswords, and yet is in a world in which that isn’t really indulged. His mind works in a very specific way. But if you were to put that character in a story that wasn’t well told or well constructed then people wouldn’t be fascinated or engaged by it. There’s no separation, the character works because the stories work. When the stories don’t work, the character doesn’t work. It works as a whole, not as individual pieces.”

Q: Have you enjoyed playing Endeavour this series?
“There’s certainly been moments where I’ve thought, ‘this is an incredible job.’ There was a moment shooting at midnight and they’d decorated one of the colleges, we all had tuxedos on, and there was a band playing, and an orchestra; it was an amazing moment. I find it incredibly satisfying and gratifying. We get to roam through the streets of Oxford at one/two o’ clock in the morning, it’s fun! It’s also a great team of people.” 

​Q: Russell Lewis has described series III as: “1967 is for Endeavour perhaps the end of the beginning. Change is abroad in the world, and not even the city of dreaming spires can escape its influence.” What does that mean for Endeavour?
“It means that the introduction of this person into the police force is coming to an end. He’s got to be two feet in the police force because what’s about to happen is the imminent changing of the guard. How long will Thursday be there? A long time I hope, but his world is changing and I think that’s what Russell means.”

Q: Are you pleased with the audience response to Endeavour?
“I’m delighted and I feel very grateful as well because it could have gone either way. It could have just been a one off, which would have been fine, but I’m glad that we have the opportunity to keep coming back to something. I feel like I want to reward that by making each film the best that it can be.”

Q: How is it filming in Oxford for this series?
“Brilliant, but too brief. I love Oxford, I love being there, I love the atmosphere of the place. Unfortunately we only get to do a few days there per film. I would wish for more because it’s so key to the story. It’s so atmospheric and everything feels right when we are there. If I’m there in the morning I’ll go for a walk really early. When I’m in Oxford I always walk to work and then walk back at the end of the night. I like the second hand bookshops there. They’re the best in the world.”

Q: Would you like to do more Endeavour?
​“Never say never. Let’s see how series III is received. The fourth film of this series is the best one we’ve ever done.”  

By Antonia Paget - Liverpool Echo

Actors Shaun Evans and Maxine Peake performed the annual Penny Readings to a sold-out audience today.

The traditional event, which dates back to the Victorian times when Charles Dickens once performed the readings, was held in St George’s Hall .

Special readings, music and entertainment were put on at the event, all for the price of a penny.

Liverpool-born actor Shaun Evans , from ITV drama Endeavour, performed the penny readings with actress Maxine Peake, known for her roles in The Theory of Everything, Shameless and Dinnerladies.

The penny readings take place every year and have become a much loved feature of Liverpool’s festival calendar.

Previous readers include ECHO editor Alastair Machray, TV presenter Loyd Grossman and Roger Phillips, BBC Radio Merseyside broadcaster.