British Television Detectives Trivia Quiz

Answer: Morse

Chief Inspector Morse, played by John Thaw, is set in Oxford and the lovely architecture of the city enhances the viewers enjoyment. His assistant is a Geordie called Lewis, who is very down to earth, which is a contrast to Morse who has his head in the clouds. Lewis, played by Kevin Whately, went on to have his own series.

Answer: Helen Mirren

In the first series, it is Jane Tennison's first time leading a murder enquiry and she is subjected to a lot of sexist attitudes. However, her colleagues come to appreciate and respect her. The series was devised and partly written by Lynda La Plante.

Answer: Inspector Lestrade

Inspector G. Lestrade is described as a small man with dark eyes and a ratty type of face. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle named him after a fellow student at the University of Edinburgh, who he did not like. Lestrade comes to Sherlock Holmes for advice, and is included to showcase Holmes' cleverness.

Answer: Ruth Rendell

Chief Inspector Wexford appeared in twenty four of Ruth Rendell's novels, and on television George Baker played him in the series 'The Ruth Rendell Mysteries'. Reg Wexford was a family man with a wife called Dora and two daughters, Sheila and Sylvia.

Answer: Oxford

Inspector Thursday, played by Roger Allam, appeared in the series 'Endeavour' which told the story of the young Morse, played by Shaun Evans, when he first joined the police in Oxford. His mysterious first name was revealed at the end of the 'Morse' run to have been Endeavour. Thursday was Morse's boss and mentor.

Answer: The Second World War

Inspector Christopher Foyle was an older detective who kept crime at bay in the Hastings area during the Second World War. He was played by Michael Kitchen and his driver was played by Honeysuckle Weeks. Foyle was a widower whose only son was in the RAF and this added a dimension to the stories.

Answer: Brenda Blethyn

The series is simply called 'Vera' and Vera Stanhope lives only for her work. Sometimes she finds it difficult to understand that other members of the force wish to have private lives. 'Vera' is set in the north east of England and much of the action takes place in dour and gloomy venues.

Answer: No one, he has many different assistants

Jack Frost is assisted by many different young officers and their different personalities and how they interact with Frost is part of the interest of the show. Frost likes to use unconventional methods which keeps him at odds with authority in the shape of Superintendent Norman Mullett. Frost is played by David Jason and Mullett by Bruce Alexander. If you like David Jason, I have a quiz on line called 'David Jason on Television', perhaps you might like to try that.

Answer: Scotland

Detective Chief Inspector Taggart was played by Mark McManus for fourteen years, and when he died in 1994 the series continued under the same name. It concerned a group of detectives working in the Strathclyde area. It ran from 2nd July 1985 until 7th November 2010, and was one of the longest-ever series on British television.

Answer: 1960s

Martin Shaw plays Inspector George Gently who is a man who lives up to his name and finds his abrasive sergeant John Bacchus, played by Lee Ingleby, difficult to tolerate. The stories are loosely based on the books written by Alan Hunter.