Dark Matter (12 Sep. 2010)
"Lewis" Dark Matter (original title)

An Oxford professor, also an amateur astronomer and recently renewed churchgoer, is found dead in the school observatory under suspicious circumstances.

Director:

Bille Eltringham

Writers:

Colin Dexter (inspired by the Inspector Morse novels of), Stephen Churchett (screenplay),

Stars:

Warren Clarke, Deborah Cornelius, Christopher Bowen

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Warren Clarke	...	Roger Temple
Deborah Cornelius	...	Dr Ella Ransome
Christopher Bowen	...	Professor Andrew Crompton
Sophie Ward	...	Isobel Crompton
Clare Holman	...	Dr. Laura Hobson
Robert Hardy	...	Sir Arnold Raeburn
Ruby Thomas	...	Kate Cameron
Diana Quick	...	Gwen Raeburn
Anthony Calf	...	Malcolm Finniston
Jonathan Cullen	...	Father Francis
Annabelle Apsion	...	Babs Temple
Andrew Hawley	...	Jez Haydock (as Andrew Hawyley)
Kevin Whately	...	DI Robert Lewis
Laurence Fox	...	DS James Hathaway
Bernard Lloyd	...	Ted Temple

Storyline

Professor Andrew Crompton, an amateur astronomer, is found dead in the university observatory after visiting a priest for confession. A note-book belonging to student Jez Haydock is found by the body and Jez's tutor, Gwen Raeburn, is quick to go through the dead man's belongings. The widow believed her husband was having an affair and obsequious porter Roger Temple names Ella Ransome, a G.P., as the other woman - and then she too is killed. Roger proves to be a manipulator though not a murderer but his father knows the identity of the killer. He's a retired porter, now in a home where he is regarded as senile and deluded but Lewis needs him to get to the truth.

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Plot Keywords:

astronomer | observatory | astrophysics | priest | reference to mozart | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 September 2010 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Lincoln College, Turl Street, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

ITV Studios

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

During the concert, the orchestra play the movements of Holst's "Planets" in the wrong order. We hear Mars, followed by Jupiter, followed by Venus. The correct order is Mars, Venus, Mercury, Jupiter.

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Quotes

DI Robert Lewis: [to Hathaway as a compliment] You're not so green as you're cabbage-looking.

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Soundtracks

"Mars, Jupiter and Saturn from The Planet Suite for Large Orchestra Opus 32"
Composed by Gustav Holst (1918)
Performed by The Billimore Ensemble
Arranged and Conducted by Matthew Slater

User Reviews

Typical and typically polished episode of the series

Andrew Crompton ,the Master of Gresham College,Oxford ,is an astrophysicist of no little distinction and when he is found murdered in the Oxford Observatory it ,naturally ,causes a stir within both police and academic circles.There is no shortage of suspects .These include the College Porter,Temple<( Warren Clarke ) a domestic tyrant to his long suffering wife but a toady to those in authority;then there is the distinguished classical composer ,Raeburn (robert Hardy) and his wife (Diana Quick),not to mention Jeremy(Andrew Hawley) the bright and personable working class student and protégé of the deceased ,and the up and coming conductor Finniston (Andrew Calf).Not to mention sundry others all with means ,motive and opportunity to do the deed.

Lewis and his Oxford educated sidekick Hathaway (played as always by ,respectively ,Kevin Whately and Laurence Fox)are assigned to the case and conduct their investigation among the "dreaming spires "of the University and its erudite denizens.The series -like its predecessor ,Inspector Morse ,has always utilised classical music for gravitas and Holst is deployed frequently in the episode.this is all about "civilised" murder and urbane detection ,ahaving little to do with the reality of crime in the real world but essentially heir to the academic mysteries of such writers as Michael Innes and Sayers.Polished ,professional and proficient and well acted by a cast of genre veterans this breaks no new ground but will please those viewers who like cosy mysteries,as an antidote to grittier fare like "The wire"