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Inspector Morse voted UK’s favourite TV theme

Brits choose crime theme drama, composed by an Australian, as their all time TV fave.

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British TV viewers have voted Inspector Morse as their favourite TV theme.

The dark and gothic theme, voted winner by Classic FM’s TV Music Countdown listeners, was composed by Australian Barrington Pheloung for the 1987 John Thaw crime drama.

Pheloung’s widow, Heather Pheloung, said: “Thank you to everyone who voted for the Inspector Morse theme and Lewis theme. I am sure Barry would have been overjoyed and honoured that the Inspector Morse theme has been chosen as the UK’s number one favourite TV theme of all time. It is such incredible news. I know he would have been quite humbled to be receiving this accolade given the many great, iconic TV themes that have been written for UK television.

“For Barry, writing music was a way he could bring joy and love to people, his music came from the heart, and composing music and bringing it to life with his colleagues and friends was his passion. The huge success of Inspector Morse, followed by Lewis and then Endeavour, allowed him to do what he loved in life, which he was always very grateful for. Barry regularly listened to Classic FM, and for him to receive the support and love from the Classic FM listeners is very special, and it makes me think of Barry with a lovely, beaming smile on his face. Barry’s children and I are so very proud of him.”

  1. Inspector Morse
  2. The Onedin Line
  3. Downton Abbey
  4. Game of Thrones
  5. Wolf Hall
  6. Band of Brothers
  7. Van der Valk (Eye Level)
  8. Brideshead Revisited
  9. Pride and Prejudice
  10. Poldark
  11. Blue Planet II
  12. Harry’s Game
  13. Doctor Who
  14. The Lone Ranger
  15. Poirot
  16. Peaky Blinders
  17. The Vicar of Dibley
  18. Miss Marple
  19. Thunderbirds
  20. Lewis

Source: Radio Times

8 Responses

  1. I love the Onedin Line theme….but then I am a Classic FM listener and a fan of Russian composer especially…..It does evoke the ocean to me….calming….
    Last year I binged the whole series on YouTube….enjoyed it even more the 2nd time around….👌💖

  3. Unfortunately the current free to air rights holder of Inspector Morse removes the end credits which removes the theme from the broadcast as the Morse theme generally only runs at the end of the show.

    2. Because it’s a Classic FM poll voted for by Classic FM listeners. Granted Doctor Who is there, but the majority are clearly more traditional instrumental pieces, they’re not really going for high-octane. See: Howard Goodall’s ‘The Lord is My Shepherd’ for The Vicar of Dibley.

      I think it’s been mentioned, but Channel 7 consistently cutting off the Morse credits is a crime. It’s such a beautiful, mournful piece of music that is so important to the tone and mood of the show, it really takes something away leaving it out.

  5. No ‘Z Cars’? And ”The Onedin Line’ theme was an extract from the Spartacus Suite by Aram Khachaturyan, quite a departure from it’s original intent.

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