Fat Chance (27 Feb. 1991)

After a young woman aspiring to the priesthood dies while taking her exams, possibly from poison, Morse connects the death to a weight loss company.

Director:

Roy Battersby

Writers:

Colin Dexter (characters), Alma Cullen

Stars:

John Thaw, Kevin Whately, Maurice Denham

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
John Thaw	...	Chief Inspector Morse
Kevin Whately	...	Detective Sergeant Lewis
Maurice Denham	...	Lance Mandeville
David Gant	...	Geoffrey Boyd
Julian Gartside	...	Desmond Kelly
Caroline Ryder	...	Dinah Newberry
Zoë Wanamaker	...	Emma Pickford
Maggie O'Neill	...	Hilary Dobson
Sarah Carpenter	...	Victoria Hazlett
Una Brandon-Jones	...	Nadine Stacey
Arbel Jones	...	Jane Barnes
Nicholas Selby	...	Dr Corder
Eileen Dunwoodie	...	Mrs Gardam
Kenneth Haigh	...	Freddie Galt
Tilly Vosburgh	...	Irene Saunders

Storyline

Victoria Hazlett is a brilliant student who aspired to the priesthood in the Anglican Church. When she collapses and dies during an exam, the post-mortem reveals that she was likely poisoned, but the pathologist can't quite identify one of the substances found in her system. Victoria was a member of a group that advocated women priests and ran a shelter for women who required assistance in their life. Several members of the group feel that an anti-womens' group led by the Reverend Geoffrey Boyd is responsible, but there is little evidence. There is a link to a nearby weight loss clinic. Morse is quite attracted to one of the women in the group but is taken aback when he learns she lied to him about her whereabouts the night before Victoria died.

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Plot Keywords:

exam | weight loss | anglican | widow | supermarket | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 February 1991 (UK)

Filming Locations:

Goldcrest Elstree Studios, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Central Independent Television, Zenith Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min 104 min (dvd release)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

HERE BE SPOILERS After Morse has spent the night (off-screen) with Emma Pickford (Zoë Wanamaker), he comes into work in an unusually cheerful mood and we hear the famous Morse theme tune, for once, in a major key.

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Goofs

David Gant is credited as David Grant.

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Quotes

[last lines]
[at a party, Morse is offered either orange juice or a can of Leopard lager]
Chief Inspector Morse: I'll have the orange juice.

User Reviews

Not Morse's best, but still very well done!

As much as I like Fat Chance, I do think it is one of the weaker Morse episodes. I will say that this is probably the only episode that had a final solution that left me rather baffled. The pace of the episode was also slightly uneven, however there is a lot to recommend it. The main attraction of the series has always been John Thaw's performance as the title character, which is nothing short of outstanding, and even that word doesn't do justice to his performance. The episode does have an intriguing plot, excellent performances and an intelligent script, not to mention the immortal soundtrack. But for me, the highlight of Fat Chance was Morse's relationship with Emma Pickford, marvellously played by Zoe Wannamaker, and the episode ends wondering will Morse find his true love? Certainly not my favourite episode, but intriguing and well acted. 8/10 Bethany Cox.