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Foyle's War becomes Foyle's Peace - much-loved TV show will have new series set in peacetime
Updated 02:41am on 24 Aug 2008
The final episode of Foyle’s War may have ended conclusively with the characters celebrating VE Day – but it seems the much-loved ITV1 drama is set for a post-war revival.
In an exclusive interview with The Mail on Sunday, star of the show Honeysuckle Weeks reveals that Foyle’s War has given way to a new series entitled Foyle’s Peace.
Honeysuckle, who plays driver Samantha Stewart to Michael Kitchen’s Detective Chief Superintendent Foyle, said: ‘I have the contracts so they’ve got quite far with it and, although I haven’t seen scripts, the idea is that it’ll be set after the Second World War.
Perfect Foyle: Honeysuckle Weeks will reprise her role with Michael Kitchen
‘You can flog a show to death, but my bank manager will be pleased – though I’m not doing it for the money. I’m doing it because I’d hate not to be in it if it was going ahead.
I’m very attached to the show and the people in it.’
And viewers were very attached to the prim, proper and ferociously loyal Sam, with 7.3million tuning in for the final episode in April in the hope that the stolidly single driver might seal her on-off romance with Foyle’s son, Andrew, played by Julian Ovenden.
But Honeysuckle has her doubts that Sam’s love life will prove more fruitful in peacetime: ‘I asked the writers to keep Sam without a husband so she could do her job. In those days, if she’d been married, she’d have had to give it up.
‘What I think will happen is Sam will become a spinster and set up a boarding house. But they haven’t told me the plot, so I don’t know.’
Foyle’s War was created in 2001 by author Anthony Horowitz and commissioned by ITV1 to fill the void following the end of long-running detective series Inspector Morse.
Set in Hastings, it ran to 19 episodes and featured Foyle’s attempts to catch criminals taking advantage of wartime confusion.
Details of the new show have yet to be finalised, but Michael Kitchen is expected to reprise his role and Foyle’s peacetime exploits are likely to feature Sam more prominently.
Yet, according to Honeysuckle, in spite of the popularity of her character, her fee will remain the same.
She said: ‘My fee is not going up one bit. I’m a bit nice. I think I should be more of a prima donna.
‘But they probably won’t be able to afford Julian Ovenden any more because he has made a huge hit series in America , so they’ll have to pay him an awful lot of money or Sam will probably get dumped again.’
Not that Oxford graduate Honeysuckle, 29 – who is married to 44-year-old antiques dealer Lorne Stormonth-Darling – has been short of work since Foyle finished filming last year.
Her diary is full until July 2009 and the actress has been relishing roles far removed from buttoned-up Sam.
Along with two upcoming films – one a romantic comedy with John Hannah – and an appearance in The Bill as a Polish gangster’s moll, Honeysuckle will be touring from next month as alcoholic wife Marion in Alan Ayckbourn’s relationship comedy Absurd Person Singular.
‘Sam is very jolly hockeysticks but I wished she’d been a bit sexier.
'She has not one feline quality. She’s more like a dog. You want to throw her chocolate drops,’ she said.
Reader views (14)
I LOVE THE SERIES. I DON'T THINK I HAVE EVER LOVED A TV SERIES MORE. I OWN IT ON DVD AND I WATCH IT FREQUENTLY. ACTUALLY I DON'T WATCH THAT MUCH TV TO BEGIN WITH. MOST OF IT IS GARBAGE IN MY OPINION, BUT WHEN "FOYLE'S WAR" CAME ON IT INSTANTLY APPEALED TO ME.
WORLD WAR II WAS INDEED BRITAIN'S "FINEST HOUR" AND THE OUTSTANDING ACTORS IN THE SERIES PROVIDE THE HONORS. I WISH MORE OF MY COUNTRYMEN (AND WOMEN) WERE MORE ADDICTED TO "FOYLE'S WAR" BUT I GUESS THERE IS NOT ENOUGH PROFANITY AND SUPER VIOLENCE AND SEX IN THE SERIES TO KEEP THEM INTERESTED. MOST AMERICANS I HAVE TALKED TO SEEM TO BE BORED OR LUKEWARM WHEN ASKED WHAT THEY THINK ABOUT THIS TRUE MASTERPIECE. ANYWAY, THAT'S THEIR PROBLEM ISN''T IT? PERHAPS I ASKED THE WRONG AMERICANS WHAT THEY THOUGHT. ANYWAY, I CAN HARDLY WAIT UNTIL IT RETURNS. I HOPE WHEN IT DOES, THAT THE PRODUCERS AND DIRECTORS WILL RE INTRODUCE IT BY DOING SOME "CATCH UP" RERUN EXTRACTS TO LET US KNOW (AGAIN) WHAT HAPPENED IN PAST EPISODES.
- Raymond, United States of America, 16/07/2010 18:02
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Superb. Its magic is still there. We where so engrosed the time went so quickly. Well done to all.
- Dave Kerr, spalding lincolnshire, 11/04/2010 22:36
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Foyle's War has been an education in itself, apart from being a great drama. Although growing up in the 50s and 60s I could feel this series to be wonderfully detailed and authentic. Well done and looking forward to more.
- Marie Phin, Tillicoultry, Scotland, 07/04/2010 15:27
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Honeysuckle is sweet as a lamb.
- Squiz, Islington, 04/04/2010 21:23
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4th April 201 and I have just watched what I lknow was the last episode of the last season, when peaced finally was declared. I must have missed it when it was shown previously and to hear that another series should be on UK tv next week - well I am absolutely delighted.
I found the characters of Foyle and everyone in the series to be engaging, entertaining and a joy to watch. I love the idea that Sam could marry Foyle's son. If something happens and they don't, well my fingers are crossed that the writer's will continue to do justice to each character as the new series continues.
- Sandra, London, UK, 04/04/2010 19:15
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Does anyone know when will this new series be on the air?
- Mark, York, UK, 24/02/2010 10:52
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My husband loves Foyles War so we are pleased that there is to be a revival post war.
- Pat Wright, Aberdeenshire, 07/01/2010 15:34
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Can hardly wait for the return. I understand it is already completed and will be out in 2010. Michael ktichen is absolutely the best but I wish we could hear some news about him more often. Honeysuckle is perfect and I am glad she communicates with the devoted public.
- N. O'Connor, London Canada, 29/09/2009 03:53
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Thank heavens this series is about to resume "in peacetime." Hurry Back!This series is widely missed by Americans.. all across r US. It reamins the best of shows.
- Betsy Dorman, westbury, ny usa, 29/09/2009 02:53
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I haven't seen the whole series of Foyle's war yet but am absolutely delighted to know that it will continue. As a baby born in 1937 I find the series so as it was back then. I came from Clydebank. I think Honeysuckle Weeks is perfect as Sam as is Michael Kitchen and everyone really. Just Brilliant TV.
- Jane Holmes, Oakhurst Australia, 29/09/2009 02:53
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What jolly good news. I have been in Foley's War withdrawals since the show ended. It is so refreshing to have a police show of such high quality without guns blazing and wild car chases between every commercial.
- Brian Duckworth, Santa Cruz, California, USA, 29/09/2009 02:53
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Great news. Foyle was British TV at it's best and we hated to see it end. The new show will be well received Down Under.
- David Evans, Blue Mountains, Australia, 29/09/2009 02:53
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Absolutely fantastic news ,we found it to be one of the best tv dramas ,the storylines ,the combination of some of britains finest actors, it was a winning combination so happy to hear that there is another series another set of dvds to add to my collection!
It is so lovely to sit down and watch wholesome entertainment without the smut and extreme violence seen in so many tv programmes today,although set in such a sad time.
Other similar programmes like heartbeat andThe Royal are being 'put to oneside' which is so sad, because what we are left with is just total rubbish.
So it will be interesting and very viewable to see Christopher Foyle in peacetime, what a marvellous way Michael Kitchen portrays him, I want to be just like that !
So heartiest thanks to all ,a special mention to Honeysuckle Weeks .....you are as lovely as your name and how you come over as 'Sam' is so funny and at the same time enchanting.
So with the greatest anticipation we await to see Foyle ,Milner and Sam grace our tv screens in such a delightful manner once more.....Thankyou !
- Kate Pointon, tamworth uk, 29/09/2009 02:53
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I hope she is right and this series continues on. In this country we have watched it on Public Television and it is the best of shows. I owe an awful lot to Masterpiece Theater for the tremendous British television shows over the past 30 years.
- Rich, San Angelo USA, 29/09/2009 02:53
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