(Mammoth Screen-ITV crime drama, 2012-)

A 1965-set prequel to the hugely successful Inspector Morse. The pilot is poignant, although it's perhaps a little too much in awe of the great man its central character becomes in later life. From a bus enthusiast's viewpoint Endeavour takes liberties, and it's let down by its production values.

Episode 1.0 Pilot:
Unaccountably fails to feature a City of Oxford bus. Although it's great to see Reading Corporation 52 (CRD152C) on screen, this Neepsend bodied AEC Reliance looks wrong on route 7A to Woodstock (perhaps a nod to the Morse episode 'Last Bus to Woodstock'. In 1965 Woodstock was served by routes 42 or 44 from Oxford, not 7A:

The other bus interest is provided by Western National's Royal Blue liveried 2270 (253KTA), a 1962 Bristol MW6G/Eastern Coachworks, and wonderful it looks sweeping into Oxford:


Episode 1.1 Girl:
Opens with an aerial view of City of Oxford 166 (PWL413, a 1951 lowbridge AEC Regent III/Weymann, leading what I guess is again Western National MW6G 2270, then a closer look:


Episode 2.1 Trove:
A cheerful 1960s street parade, but in the background can be seen passing an Oxford Bus Company ADL E400MMC in Brookes Bus livery from 50 years later:


Episode 3.1 Ride:
In the opening to this episode, things go a little haywire. We start with repeated footage of lowbridge City of Oxford 166 from Episode 1.01, but we then move to interior footage not of 166,but a smiling conductress aboard the upper deck of 371 (FWL371E), a 1967 AEC Renown with Northern Counties body, the last Renown built:

We also see exterior footage of 371 ostensibly broken down, followed by interior views of both upper and lower decks:



Episode 3.2 Arcadia:
More partial views, this time of Ellen Smith CDK448C, a superb 1965 Harrington Grenadier bodied Leyland Leopard:


Episode 3.3 Prey:
Frustrating footage, this time of Whittle Coaches PUJ781, a 1957 Burlingham Seagull bodied Leyland Tiger Cub:


Episode 3.4 Coda:
This time I believe this is Red and White OAX9F, a 1968 Bristol RELH6G/Eastern Coachworks:

I can be more certain this is KGN433, a 1949 Duple Vista bodied Bedford OB, which really was a police bus, but with the Metropolitan Police:

This partial shows registration DNM981C which appears to be fictional. I believe this is 1964 built ETC760B, a Bedford VAS2/Plaxton, but I'd welcome confirmation:


Episode 5.02 Cartouche:
Another outing for City of Oxford AEC Renown 371 (FWL371E):


Episode 5.03 Passenger:
Good interior and exterior footage of City of Oxford 956,(956AJO), a 1957 AEC Regent V/Park Royal highbridger:


Episode 6.01 Pylon:
Footage inside and out of Hants and Dorset 904 (FEL751D), a 1966 Bristol MW/Eastern Coachworks. Although the fleetname panels on the front have been blanked to disguise its identity, the programme makers neglected to remove the HD seat covers inside:


Episode 8.03 Terminus:
Wins a prize for inappropriate use of an AEC Routemaster. Several scenes are shot aboard Sullivan Buses RML2272 (CUV272C), a 1965 stretched example. Bizarrely, it's turned out with two green stripes. This in no way resembles the superb City of Oxford livery of the time; it looks more like the colours of Mayne of Manchester:.

This appears to be a second Routemaster in the same livery, with the fake registration AUV364: