MovieChat Forums > Foyle's War (2003) Discussion > Foyle's War to end after current series

Foyle's War to end after current series

posted 10 years ago by caviar1234
66 replies | jump to latest

http://www.itv.com/presscentre/press-releases/final-foyles-war-episode

Final Foyle’s War episode brings one of tv’s best loved series to a close

ITV, Eleventh Hour Films and Acorn Productions today confirmed that the award-winning drama series Foyle’s War, starring Michael Kitchen, will air its final episode on Sunday 18 January 2015 at 8pm on ITV.

Writer and creater, Anthony Horowitz OBE, has penned the iconic Foyle’s last ever case, Elise, which sees award-winning actor, Michael Kitchen star as one of television’s favourite detectives, Christopher Foyle, Senior Intelligence Officer for the secret service, MI5, for the final time in this two-hour drama.

In the dramatic finale to the much loved series, Foyle must re-examine Hilda Pierce’s top secret role during the war within SOE (Special Operations Executive) following an assassination attempt on her life outside MI5. SOE French section sent many agents behind enemy lines and Foyle suspects the shooting may be connected to the hunt for a traitor within SOE called Plato who could have been behind the deaths of nine agents in France.

Anthony Horowitz first thought up the idea of Foyle’s War in 2000 and has scripted twenty-four two-hour films. Foyle’s War has travelled from the start of the war to Dunkirk, the Blitz, VE Day and the Cold War with secret intelligence, Soviet spies and the atomic bomb. Along with the murders and mysteries, Foyle’s War has explored many remarkable stories including the quiet heroism of the SOE, the genius and original thinking of the men and women behind the bouncing bomb, the development of plastic surgery and the invention of radar.

Anthony Horowitz said: “It feels a terrible wrench to say goodbye to characters I’ve lived with for more than fifteen years. But the truth is that I’m not sure there are any more stories to tell and anyway it was always my intention to end on a high note and I think this year’s episodes are the very best we’ve done.

“I’m proud of what we’ve achieved with Foyle’s War and I’m very grateful to the audience that has stayed with us for so long. I’ve had a good war.”

Jill Green, Executive Producer Eleventh Hour Films said: “We have made twenty-eight successful feature length films-a huge body of work-with the quality rising every year. So it is good to be closing on a high, and having the time to now offer our loyal audiences new dramas.

“Michael Kitchen, Honeysuckle Weeks and several crew have been with us for every episode across a fourteen year period....so particular thanks again to them.”

The cast joining Michael Kitchen for the final episode includes series regulars Honeysuckle Weeks, Daniel Weyman, Ellie Haddington, Tim McMullan and Rupert Vansittart, with guest stars Katherine Press, Emma Fielding, Tony Clay, Leo Gregory and Conleth Hill.

ITV’s Director of Drama Steve November said: "We are very sad to be saying goodbye to Foyle's War after so many amazing years, but delighted that the finale is so rich and mesmerising. Christopher Foyle has been a classic ITV hero and we are indebted to Anthony Horowitz for creating him and writing so many original stories for him, to Michael Kitchen for bringing him to life so brilliantly and to Eleventh Hour Films for consistently impeccable production."

Michael Kitchen has played, the enigmatic, Christopher Foyle since 2002. The first episode of Foyle’s War, The German Woman, was broadcast on 27 October 2002.

Elise is produced by John Chapman (The Street, Cracker, The Lost Prince), directed by Andy Hay (New Tricks, Waking the Dead, Silent Witness) and executive produced by Jill Green (Injustice, Vexed, Collision) and Nicole Finnan (Jane Eyre, Mistresses, Monarch of the Glen) on behalf of Eleventh Hour Films.

Foyle’s War is produced for ITV and Acorn Productions by Eleventh Hour Films, the production company founded by executive producer Jill Green.

Acorn Productions Limited is an RLJ Entertainment Inc company, itself a leading distributor of British Television in the US. Acorn Productions owns and manages the rights to the Foyle’s War brand.

[–] Tweekums 10 years ago

I just read about it on the BBC; a shame but better than dragging it on and on if the writer is out of good story ideas.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-30781140

[–] caviar1234 10 years ago

I agree. Just wish the final episode could give some sort of closure to the main chracters. I don't think Foyle should stay very long at MI5, he's too black-or-white sort of person.

[–] ieklein-389-699084 10 years ago

Will miss it but I think Anthony Horowitz is right. Better to go out on top. Glad we have streaming and DVD's. It's one of the few series that holds up to repeat watching

Oh Where Oh Where Has My Sanity Gone. Oh Where Oh Where Can It Be?

[–] florentyna1972 10 years ago

I can see the series has to come to an end but I still feel I'll miss them all terribly. They were somehow like family to me. I have all the DVDs and I'm going to watch them all through again. My respect and thanks to all who have worked for the series!

[–] psdhart 10 years ago

Better to go out on top. Glad we have streaming and DVD's

farewell Foyle, they will still be on itv3

[–] dblackman70 10 years ago

All series come to an end (except for the never ending soaps and reality shows), but it is far too soon to end Foyle's War as it's one of the few decent drama's left on TV and has plenty more stories to tell

[–] caviar1234 10 years ago

I wish they can produce 2 more episodes after this series, to make the total number 30 and give a definitive closure on the story of Foyle.

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[–] pucciojj 10 years ago

Yes, most television and movie series come to an end. However, there are exceptions, the most notable being the Bond series. After it got stale and silly, Daniel Craig, new directors, and a new direction made the series better (and more profitable) than ever. Maybe "Foyle" needs new writers and new directors. Who knows. I suppose it's all moot now, anyway, since the decision to cancel seems already to have been made. Oh, well....

[–] dblackman70 10 years ago

I'm very disappointed. There's so many more stories to tell and both Kitchen and Weeks wanted to do more. There was always talk that another writer would take over because Horowitz wanted to step down so I wish they had brought flesh blood in instead of ending it

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[–] benbrae76 10 years ago

Mr. Foyle is in a flux as to what to do or where to go next himself.

That's a situation that comes to us all. I think it should be left to each of us to imagine what he will do.

Christopher Foyle is such a good role model for men, everyone, and we need this kind of stuff

Then isn't it best to leave the character be and not over cook it, and perhaps turn him into a crabby old f*rt? By waving goodbye now he will remain a role model. He will stay as you want him to be, not what he might become.

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[–] caviar1234 10 years ago

If there were more episodes, I don't see the need for Sam and her husband to return anymore. Their storyline in recent series has become a distraction and usually has nothing to do with the main plot. From next series, I want to see Foyle and his MI5 colleagues as central characters. Valentine, Sir Alec and Elizabeth Addis are all interesting characters that can be further developed. Maybe Andrew could also make a return and become a regular again since his relationship with Foyle.

[–] dblackman70 10 years ago

It says in the Radio Times "Foyle has been declared dead twice before and come back so we live in hope". So, yes, I'm hoping

[–] IanDSmith 10 years ago

Never thought I would say this, but after seeing this last series, I think it is best that the show end. This is the first time I haven't really enjoyed any of the episodes, Horowitz seems to be grasping for straws rather than finding real believable drama in these stories. Worse, Foyle is less featured than usual, Sam's storylines all are too dependent on her unlikable husband and recurring characters like Valentine and Addis don't compel. Fan favorite Hilda Pierce is of course wonderful, but the series finale finds her character very ill-served despite the weighty material she gets.
Still, the show has had an excellent run and Michael Kitchen was never less than superb throughout. I will miss it but count it as one of many long-running series that went on for one too many seasons.

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[–] caviar1234 10 years ago

I just wish they could at least produce one more series to give a definitive closure on the story of Foyle. While the current final episode is great, it doesn't feel like a finale.

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[–] caviar1234 10 years ago

Well, the VE Day episode could be a fine closure on the story. When the show was revived, they had to change it and move forward, until now, its sudden cacellation leaves the story with no proper ending. It's really a shame especially when you compare it to other long-running dramas like Agatha Christie's Poirot, Inspector Morse or A Touch of Frost.

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[–] letess 10 years ago

After seeing last night's new episode - High Castle - this series could go on. Le Carre style. The Cold War spy novel of the 50s/60s. I hate to see it end.

[–] laza-6 10 years ago

All good things come to an end.

Its just a shame and im more annoyed with ITV's ham fisted first axing of this show that disrupted the WW2 storylines

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[–] laza-6 10 years ago

Quote

"Cancellation and revival[edit]

After five series, the show was abruptly cancelled by Simon Shaps, who was ITV's director of programmes at the time.[4] This forced Horowitz to throw out scripts set during most of 1943 and 1944, resulting in time jumps of nine months to a year between episodes "

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[–] letess 10 years ago

Well, I disagree. As long as there's Michael Kitchen, there's Foyle. Foyle's War could include the time period after WWII - it's fascinating dealing with secret agents. There was another British series called The Hour which dealt with many great stories. It was short-lived but I could see many stories, sets, wardrobe similar to these being used in new Foyle episodes.

I think the reason this series is ending is, as I recall reading, was that it the most expensive show to produce. Perhaps they are limited in their funding, and "wanting to go out on a high note," might just be that they are not getting enough financial support and support in general to carry this through. I would definitely continue watching Foyle. I think it's a bad choice on ITV's part. I know they want to give other or newer shows a chance, but there was nothing like this ever in TV history even though TV has improved. This show has quality, research, history, writing, and the cast - . I think spy espionage is really timely now. It would really be fun to watch the beginnings of the Cold War. I think it's ending too soon. It has more life to it.

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[–] letess 10 years ago

I don't know what Michael wants to do.

To me, he hasn't aged that much since the beginning of the show whereas some of the other cast members have. There are spy stories and there are spy spoofs just as there are WWII stories and WWII stories. But the stories pertaining to Foyle have always been unique and different, and I would expect the spy stories could also be new and different. He's a police officer. His story worked well during the war and it could work after. He has a moral code and he's humble. The writers on this show are fantastic. They could easily create new and energetic scripts dealing with post WWII for Foyle, and with all the historical research they do, the episodes would be so informative and enlightening. I have learned so many things about WWII in Britain that I would have never have known if it hadn't been for Foyle's War, and I expect there are many things I still don't know post-war. I got some clues by watching The Hour. But still if Foyle continued in his natural direction, I could see watching him the years following the end of the war. I don't think he's ready for fishing and retirement.

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[–] letess 10 years ago

I want to see Michel Kitchen as Foyle the age he is after WWII. That's what I would like. His story is not over. I think Sam's story is, but not Foyle's. I don't care about Andrew.

Anything other than that is a new series. And no spinoffs with this one please. It's too magnificent for that.

But sadly, this is not happening. There is no more Foyle.

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[–] letess 10 years ago

That's the impossible. And putting another actor to do the younger Foyle would be just horrible. For most of us, Foyle started for us with The German Woman - May 1940. You know a little about his life, WWI, his wife, his son, but that's where it begins and it's good because events of the war and his detective skills mesh beautifully. I don't know if the end of WWI and being married would be that interesting. This series could go on. These last episodes are fantastic and getting high marks. It's not even sliding. Some of these episodes are better than ever. And Foyle and MK are definitely not too old and this particular period in Britain is equally fascinating.

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[–] letess 10 years ago

Morse was a beloved fictional character of Colin Dexter's books. PBS does a lot of British detective series. Morse ended with the death of the actor, John Thaw, in 2002. Then came Lewis, Morse's sidekick, and then Endeavour which was 12 years later. When I see Endeavour, I don't see Morse at all. I see a new detective series. Same with Lewis. There's Whitechapel, Grantchester, Inspector Lynley, Midsomer Murders, not to mention the standbys like Poirot, Miss Marple, the list goes on. I do recall Cracker being excellent. But these are detectives stories.

I don't think you can compare Foyle with these kind of series. And why would you do a younger Foyle, when the real Foyle is still here? The concept of Foyle's War started with the writer, Anthony Horowitz, and it's produced by his wife, Jill Green. He's at the helm and is the sole writer of this series. He got Michael Kitchen, his first choice. He started the started the series with the time period he wanted and with the man at the age he wanted. I think I read he had more stories to tell but had to re-do because of network choices of when to run things. I am not so sure he'd be interested in doing a series of the earlier Foyle, and I am not that interested in seeing it. A lot of what this series is about is the man set in a political and historical setting. There is a huge amount of research done for this time period. I remember reading it was the UK's most expensive TV show.

I think MK as Foyle could continue in post-WWII and do really well, if not, better.

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[–] letess 10 years ago

Except the last few episodes have been the best, and the war has ended. These episodes have received the highest scores of all for the entire 8 seasons. So, it's ending on a high note for sure.

But to address your "fundamental point of the uniqueness of Foyle's War within the backdrop of war itself" - this could be said of both WWII and post-WWII because the turn in direction from Fascist Germany to Communist Russia overlaps. I don't think you have to limit Foyle's War to WWII. The kind of man he is can be in both time periods - both wars (WWII and the Cold War). I think if you saw The Hour, you could see how Foyle could work in this time period. And in this last episode, Trespass, you can see the beginning of the Middle East peace process, acts of terrorism, and controversial ‘fringe’ politics - something that is relevant in figuring out what is going on today. And then the Suez canal; why the British wanted Palestine for the business of oil. It's the same political machinations in WWII and post-WWII - only there are so many stories that haven't been told that this fantastic writer Anthony Horowitz could write about.

You keep saying Foyle's War is meant only for WWII and yet you suggest a younger Foyle pre-WWII, which doesn't make sense -- pre-war w/o MK and post-war with him. I choose the latter. If ITV is closing this down for whatever reason, when the writer and MK and the producers are up to continuing, then it is a real shame. It's a one off.

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[–] letess 10 years ago

I got it now. It's Michael Kitchen as Foyle - you think he's too old. If he was James Bond, yes. But he's Foyle. Mid-60s is not too old. He's not limping. He's vital and fascinating. But I now see what you're about. Hmmm, Foyle's Progress... now this may be limp.

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[–] letess 10 years ago

Very intelligent and interesting post.

I mentioned the Suez because it was in The Hour and I was trying to list a series of events in the 10 years after the war. I have to admit I am not knowledgeable on Palestine and I think it's important. I have always had my qualms about Truman, but I really need to read up. So, thank you.

Something from the writer:

http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2015-01-04/anthony-horowitz-on-the-dark -truth-behind-foyles-war

BTW, I just saw a heading in the posts here suggesting an American version, and I just cringed. So, for all it's worth, I would much rather see a younger Foyle during the 30s and leading up to the WWII, than to see an American version - I think they suggested California as a location.

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[–] letess 10 years ago

Spoilers....I am printing out all your posts. They are so interesting and intelligent. I plan to do some research. I saw the last episode of Elise, and I just think these last 3 episodes were fantastic. I almost liked them better than the previous seasons. One thing I did notice was that Foyle was not in them as much as he was in previous episodes - much less screen time. I loved how Foyle - at the end in the cemetery - with his terse (and wonderfully sarcastic phrasing) said two words - although not connected. "Honored," and "Pleasure." And that sums it up for me. The series has been a gift. I love Foyle and I am sad that this series has ended because I really like Foyle and the Cold War, but you could not end on a higher note. ITV made three 45-minute interviews with writer, Anthony Horowitz and his historical contact, and they discussed each of these episodes, High Castle, Trespass and Elise, in length.

Question on your thoughts of final final seconds... Foyle says his goodbye to Sam and continues walk through cemetery grounds. He sees Addison above. He acknowledges her and you can tell she has respect for him and she likes him. They kind of go well together. He continues walking, I think he tips his hat, but I can't tell if he just goes on or .....

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[–] letess 10 years ago

Actually methinks the same and it would have been corny to include in the final scene - however, just the fact that it was in the periphery or the landscape was the last thing we see. And then the smirk. The only thing open ended for the viewers is that Foyle continues on with the secret service, I would assume, and is godfather to Sam and Adam's baby. More stories there but never to be told.

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[–] letess 10 years ago

How old is pensioned off age? How old was Smiley? I thought Hilda and Foyle to be around the same age and there was no sign of Hilda retiring. And I thought Foyle always wanted to be in the secret service but they told him to go back to being a detective. It's just that Foyle seems to solve cases that would otherwise go unsolved. The way it ends is Sam quits but he continues.

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[–] peterpicture 9 years ago

Kitchen would make a great George Smiley

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[–] morn1960 10 years ago

I've just started watching and I am a great fan already.

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[–] johnwwwatson 9 years ago

Dear Mr Horowitz,
After you have enjoyed some rest, do feel welcome to bringing Foyle back as a detective solving non-war crime in the city. Plenty of creative license there.
Until then, thank you.

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[–] LlllPppp 8 years ago

+1

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