Buses on "Endeavour" - 27 Sept

[whole diary]

[Ralph Ayres]

Anyone else feel the use of what was obviously a London Routemaster on last night's episode was a missed opportunity?  (I trust I'm among friends here and can say that without risk of too much mockery.)  The average viewer may not have consciously noticed, but I'd expect somewhere like the Oxford Bus Museum would have been delighted to supply a couple of authentic vehicles which would have given the right provincial feel.  A bit odd considering the use of what I thought was quite an evocative recreation of a bus station of the time (cue someone saying they were nothing like that!).

The railway station last week was odd as well, looking more like the stable yard of a stately home than any station I've ever seen.

[eightonedee]

Rivet counters may have noticed over the years that while the first Morse correctly identifed himself as being from the Thames Valley Police, poor old Lewis thought he was from Oxfordshire Constabulary whe he got his own series and I think he confused all his colleagues as well!

[Marlburian]

An explanation here.

IIRC^▸ (if I recall/remember/read correctly) some Met police officers weren't happy about how "The Bill" portrayed their activities and blamed one real "incident" on the filming of a scene nearby.

And the Royal Navy declined to co-operate in the making of the submarine drama "Vigil", which has just ended - and no wonder: it was risible.  the actors weren't allowed to wear real RN rank insignia (and those of the Captain changed from episode to episode). Lots more wails on the Web.

[eightonedee]

Thanks for that.  Disappointed that TVP took that attitude.

[didcotdean]

I think pretty much all police forces have this rule now. Endeavor as a period piece escapes I guess, and covered the tension between the City and County forces and their amalgamation anyway in earlier series.

[Marlburian]

I watched my recording of the episode last night. Very disappointing. Obviously very Agatha Christie and increasingly implausible as the plot proceeded. I almost didn't bother with the last 20 minutes.

[Marlburian]

Today's Sunday Times "Comments" column includes a remark titled "Pedant's Corner" and directed at its sub-editors, pointing out a reference to a 377 locomotive - which "doesn't exist; it's either a class 37 multiple unit or a 377 locomotive"

"YOUSAY" (sic) - viewers' comments in the "Culture" supplement - is currently in a froth about London Transport Routemaster buses masquerading as Oxford City Transport buses in the latest episode of "Endeavour". There are also three criticisms of the episode (with which I agree), suggesting that Colin Dexter (the author of the "Inspector Morse" books) must be turning in his grave, that it "was the worst Agatha Christie plot she never wanted to write" and that it was "contrived, incredible to the point of farce".

[didcotdean]

Endeavour is not the only show that has done a "load of people trapped in a place with a murderer" recently; both Silent Witness and Midsomer Murders have had episodes with that kind of premise shown in the last couple of weeks. Production under covid protocols has driven this.

Still it shouldn't have been that difficult to get hold of a suitable AEC Regent.

[Red Squirrel]

Thanks for that.  Disappointed that TVP took that attitude.

I missed the beginning of this conversation, but for what it's worth: I find if you soak it in water with a little red wine, some vegetable bouillon and a bit of Compton's Gravy Salt then it tastes pretty good. The water doesn't need to be boiling.

[stuving]

Today's Sunday Times "Comments" column includes a remark titled "Pedant's Corner" and directed at its sub-editors, pointing out a reference to a 377 locomotive - which "doesn't exist; it's either a class 37 multiple unit or a 377 locomotive"

"YOUSAY" (sic) - viewers' comments in the "Culture" supplement - is currently in a froth about London Transport Routemaster buses masquerading as Oxford City Transport buses in the latest episode of "Endeavour". There are also three criticisms of the episode (with which I agree), suggesting that Colin Dexter (the author of the "Inspector Morse" books) must be turning in his grave, that it "was the worst Agatha Christie plot she never wanted to write" and that it was "contrived, incredible to the point of farce".

Just to tidy that reference up a bit: both are from collections of online comments (to sundaytimes.co.uk) reproduced in the print edition. The first is from a selection of such contributions beneath the letters to the editor, and as printed reads: "Pedant's Corner: either it was a a class 377 multiple unit or a class 37 locomotive - a '377 locomotive' doesn't exist. Paging subs ..."

[Ralph Ayres]

Just to be clear as the one who started this post, I deny being "in a froth" about the use of Routemasters, and have not resorted to writing to the Sunday Times to vent my spleen!