Radio Times

Michael Kitchen has two facial expressions: one is a comedy impression of Prince Charles, the second looks like he's found an ulcer on his gum. He says his laconic catchphrase - "My name is Christopher Foyle and I'm a policeman" - in the strangulated fashion of someone with heartburn, and his minimalist movements suggest he fears knocking his trilby off on the doorframe of his Wolseley police car. He doesn't so much speak his lines as squeeze them out through gritted teeth.

Contrasting with the angst of Kitchen is the bumptious eagerness of Honeysuckle Weeks as driver Sam - a woman who could pick out a murderer while steering a car one-handed and knocking up a plate of brawn with the other. Replying "jolly good, sir" to her boss's weekly requests to stay out of the investigation, she nevertheless consistently manages to endanger herself and confront the killer in a thrilling standoff, leaving Foyle to smile wryly because she's such a game gel.

The pace of Foyle's War is so slow that you can hear your own hair growing during the gaps in conversation; by the end of it you could just as well add your own name to the list of the dead. Yet there's something compelling, almost hypnotic about Christopher Foyle. It might be the hidden pain hinted at behind the short-back-and-sides or it could be the sheer straightness of the edge of that hat. For me, it's the surprise that Anthony Horowitz has seemingly created a detective whose quirk is that he solves crimes against the nagging throb of a migraine, in a world where painkillers are rationed.

And it's refreshing to see that despite the ever-present threat of scene-stealing old stagers like Robert Hardy and Edward Fox, who are wheeled on whenever the script demands an imperious buffer to trumpet the prejudices of the age, Foyle and Sam succeed with their winning combo of pinched inhibition and Enid Blytonesque tenacity.

In Foyle chronology, the war is coming to a close and so the end of the series is fast approaching. Is it too much to hope for a Foyle's Suez Crisis or a Foyle's Profumo Scandal? We could have annual Christmas specials - only ones that feel like they last all year. Bliss.

i love foyles war because i yhink it makes you in the year of the war so who ever loves wching them i agree strongly

To not have a 'Foyles War' series in one form or another would be ITVs biggest blunder... a bit like the Luftwaffe bombing London. RjP. Essex UK.

I love foyle,s war , I have never written on any blog or to any thing like this but I just love it ,Kitchen is Brilliant - the other support roles also superb , keep going with this , its great ,axe lots of the other rubbish ot TV these days - i,ll keep watching if you keep making - gona order DVDs , as i missed a few episodes ,and only caught it by accident while flicking - Cheers all concerned -Anthony Horowitz and Greenlit and Kitchen are Awesome

DCS Foyle is in my heart and head. I am officially addicted to the series after having watched every season. The writing and acting are superb. I've got a crush on Michael Kitchen. His style is subtle and low-keyed. Love how sometimes he's mild-mannered and thoughtful, but when confronting a villain his eloquent words or withering glances can vanquish the strongest opponent. Every episode ends with a clever twist. Love supporting actors too. Great ensemble cast. This series could continue after VE Day through the cold war.

Please don't take Foyles War off the series are so good and true to the time it portrays. There is lots more to write about and all we have seen proves what abrillien twriter the author is. So please don't disappoint a very large audience.

I remember the war my Dad a senior policeman of whom Foyle reminds me so much. The acting is so true to times time. by all the cast

Please oh please, quench a desperate public need for the ongoing Foyle episodes as a policeman, lawyer or King of England. Whatever keeps Michael Kitchen as Foyle would suit me just fine. IT takes forever for quality entertainment to surface - usually just in time for a network executive to axe it. Preferring to keep us on a strict regiment of brain pablum Three cheers to all of the cast, production and hangers on!

Great series but a little anoying when ever the story involves someone from the Royal Navy because there has yet to be an accurate item of uniform. The worse case of poor research was when a Naval Officer wore a moustache! I thought everyone knew only "full sets" have ever been allowed in the navy. And, there are many other such mistakes in naval uniform. The producers should have got a proper advisor.

Foyle's War is simply superb. I requested and received DVDs of all five series and my family and I are enjoying watching "a Foyle" every other day. Great way to share a birthday present everyone enjoys. My 22-year old daughter was initially sceptical, but no longer. In fact, she became somewhat annoyed when my husband and I watched "a Foyle" without her. She watched the same episode one Saturday afternoon when my husband and I were out shopping so that she coudl "catch up" with us. While it is tempting to request more "Foyle" programmes, I would want them only if they did not degenerate into the mindless, sexually-explicit-and-unnecessary-to the-plot-line detective shows now on.

Speaking as an American....this is about the only thing decent on. I like the idea of Mr. Foyle becoming a lawyer (for the prosecution of course). The plot possibilities are endless.

Greetings from Australia. We love Foyles War here. Please keep him investigating. There must be plenty of postwar stories that could be solved by Christopher and his team.

It is excellent - unfortunately missed Saturday 26 July episode and download available - how sad!

My mother thinks that Foyle has a secret double life, and will be revealed as a Masterspy.....

Scriptwriters take note!

I worked in the British aircraft industry all through the so called cold war,;working for most of that time on the Avroe Vulcan bomber .My employment coming under the strict rules of the Official Secrets Act.Suggest a new series be produced under the heading of''Foyle's Cold War'', Food for thought.On one occasion,we had a visit from the mysterious men in black ;who were ,with the benifit of hind sight , believed to have been Russian spies.Could be worth Foyle's investigation; dont you think ?

FW is magnificent - that's the only word fot it. Michael Kitchen is utterly superb - easily the best TV cop since John Thaw as Jack Reagan in the Sweeney.

Me thinks they went through WW2 a bit too quickly - they surely could have spun it out a bit longer. Look at MASH - they made Korea last like the 100yrs war!

And talking about TV detectives - why has no-one ever filmed the brilliant DCI Alan Banks books by Peter Robinson ?

And why aren't the Foyles War stories available as books?

Does anyone know the name of Foyle's hat.

what a joke this story is based on pc bullcrap the very idea that a German prisonern would be walking around England is rediculous!

I'm also a great fan of Foyles War - Michael Kitchen makes Foyle a most sympathetic character, and is well partnered by Honeysuckle Weeks and Anothony Howell - it is excellent and hope it continues for a long time to come.

Top drama. Beautifully photographed and acted.

foyles war and michael kitchen are by far the most magnificent series and actor ever produced by itv since my dear friend lesley anne down and simon williams appeared in upstairs-downstairs

What about Foyle's Law???

That should cover all eventualities.

But please - can the writers continue to keep Foyle, and everyone else, out of bed? It is absolute bliss not to have the cliched complications of 'romantic interest' sub plots. This is the best detective drama since Morse, and for many of the same reasons - excellent writing and first class performances. It was also the only war time programme ever with which my late father could find no fault. Flawless and fabulous.

Keep the repeats coming of this excellent series until we hear if a new series has been commissioned…

Keep the repeats coming of this excellent series until we hear if a new series has been commissioned…

Im' an american that loves the english actors and the plot

I agree with all the previous comments and David Brown's excellent blog, but were you not a teensy bit bored with the last episode? We normally view this sedate drama in silence but were yelling at the screen on Sunday to "get a move on!" When was a body going to appear? However I am with everyone else in asking Michael Kitchen to consider coming back in Foyle's Anything, to keep more reality shows off our screens on Sunday night and give us something to sit back and enjoy.

I can't believe tonight's episode will be the last. Sunday's are made for programmes like FW. I am sick and tired of reality shows, cookery shows and property related programmes. At least with FW you got real talented actors, intelligent scripts, great locations and good story lines. Please, please, please producers bring Foyles anything back to Sunday nights.

by Passways

It would be sheer madness to close down Foyle's War ! don't ITV realise what a unique TV detective he is ? unlike Wexford & Midsomer ,he's not hampered by a nosy wife who keeps telling him what to do......he just gets on with the case , and SO convincingly , along with a great team around him. Anthony Horowitz has got bags of scope for a whole lot more,Berlin airlift;Korean War;Profumo; Boothby ;I could go on.I was a schoolboy in London during the war so I know how superbly accurate the locations and props for this series have been..........PLEASE THINK AGAIN ! !

How brilliant can those in charge at ITV be, allowing a temporary itinerant and obviously incompetent executive to destroy the best quality programme they've had for years. At least they've got rid of him. Is his successor intelligent enough to make every effort to do "Foyle's Peace"?

ITV are in talks with Anthony Horowitz and Greenlit in order to revive the series. Foyle's War being axed was the fault or one man: Simon *bloody* Shaps and now ITV realizes that he blew up their goldmine! Well, I hope they come to an agreement, but reading the papers, it's all in the hands of Michael Kitchen himself. And he doesn't seem someone to change his mind.

Why are they axing this great series? They are rushing through the final years of the war as if they want to get rid of Foyle. Could we have Foyle's Peace please, as the immediate post-war years were very hard and I am sure there was plenty of work for the police