<P> Inspector Morse is a British detective drama television series based on a series of novels by Colin Dexter . It starred John Thaw as Chief Inspector Morse and Kevin Whately as Sergeant Lewis . The series comprises 33 two - hour episodes (100 minutes excluding commercials) produced between 1987 and 2000 . Dexter made uncredited cameo appearances in all but three of the episodes . </P> <P> The series was first shown in the UK on the ITV network of regional broadcasters and was made by Zenith Productions for Central Independent Television . Between 1995 and 1996 the commissioning company was Carlton Television and towards the series end it was a joint venture by Carlton and WGBH . </P> <P> Every episode involved a new murder investigation and depicted a complete story . Writer Anthony Minghella scripted three, including the first, "The Dead of Jericho"', which aired on 6 January 1987 featuring Gemma Jones, Patrick Troughton, and James Laurenson . Its other writers included Julian Mitchell (10 episodes), Daniel Boyle (five), and Alma Cullen (four), and its directors included John Madden (four episodes), Herbert Wise (three), Peter Hammond (three), Adrian Shergold (three), and Danny Boyle (two). </P> <P> "Morse" remains popular and is frequently repeated on the principal and subsidiary ITV channels (ITV, ITV2, ITV3, ITV4) in the UK as well as on television channels in other European countries . </P>

When was the first episode of morse aired