Lewis (known as Inspector Lewis in the United States) is a British television detective drama made as a spin-off from Inspector Morse, and set in Oxford. Kevin Whately reprises his character Robbie Lewis, who had been Morse's sidekick in the original series, and is now the boss of DS James Hathaway (Laurence Fox). The show is currently airing a second series.
In "Inspector Morse" (1987), Morse and Lewis worked for the Thames Valley Police - this is the actual police force that is responsible for this part of the country. However in "Lewis" (2007), Lewis and Hathaway work for a fictitious force "Oxfordshire Police" because the producers were not allowed to use the name, uniforms or emblems of Thames Valley Police and could not film at St Aldate's Police Station. It is thought that this is due either to Home Office security restrictions in connection with the Iraq war or else to a lack of cooperation by a newly-appointed Chief Constable.
