Tom Chambers takes on Inspector Morse

Taking on the iconic role of the titular crime-solver in Inspector Morse: House of Ghosts, when the production visits Newcastle Theatre Royal (Tue 3 – Sat 7 Feb 2026) Tom Chambers admits to being daunted at the prospect of following in the footsteps of John Thaw from the much-loved TV series. “But it’s a thrilling challenge,” he smiles, “and it’s a delicious treat for anyone who is a fan of Morse, like I was and indeed have been throughout the decades”

Reunited with director Anthony Banks after Dial M for Murder, Chambers says: “Morse is such a fantastic brand and we’re both really excited about the fact that the audience is going to see something that they won’t have seen on stage before.”

The ITV show has been hailed by Radio Times as the greatest British crime series of all time and it inspired the equally beloved spin-offs Lewis and Endeavour. In House of Ghosts a chilling mystery unfolds when a young actress suddenly dies on stage during a performance and Detective Chief Inspector Morse and his sidekick DS Lewis are called in to investigate, as what begins as a suspicious death inquiry takes a darker turn when they uncover a connection to sinister events in Morse’s own past at Oxford 25 years earlier.

As for why he’s both thrilled and daunted about heading the cast for the tour, Tom says: “The thrill for me is in the dialogue and the writing, the camaraderie between Morse and Lewis and their relationship – where you have that classic thing of him putting Lewis down but with a sense of irony or jest and sometimes despair. There’s a different kind of energy to the setting too because we’re back in 1987 where there are no mobile phones and it’s all analogue.” 

Born in Derbyshire, Tom attended the National Youth Music Theatre, studied at the Guildford School of Acting and came to fame as Sam Strachan on Holby City. His theatre credits include the musicals Top Hat and Crazy for You, as well as the thrillers Murder in the Dark and the aforementioned Dial M for Murder.

Asked why he feels murder mysteries are so popular, especially on stage, Tom muses: “We are curious creatures, aren’t we? We like a puzzle, we like a challenge and the stimulation that goes with it. And in the theatre, of course, everyone is in the same space, in the dark, watching the mystery unfold on stage.”

Inspector Morse plays Newcastle Theatre Royal Tue 3 – Sat 7 Feb 2026. Tickets can be purchased at www.theatreroyal.co.uk or from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 0191 232 7010.