Foyle's War

Foyle's War is a British detective drama television series set during and shortly after the Second World War, created by screenwriter and author Anthony Horowitz (Midsommer Murders) and commissioned by ITV after the long-running series Inspector Morse came to an end in 2000. It has been broadcast on ITV since 2002. Simon Shaps, then ITV's director of programmes, cancelled Foyle's War in 2007, but numerous complaints and positive public demand prompted the next ITV director, Peter Fincham, to revive the programme after successful ratings in series five, which was broadcast in 2008.

On 12 January 2015, ITV announced that no more episodes will be commissioned due to the high costs of production and its intention to broadcast original drama commissions. The last episode was broadcast on 18 January 2015.

Overview

Description

The first six series are set during the Second World War in Hastings, Sussex, England, where Detective Chief Superintendent Christopher Foyle (Michael Kitchen) attempts to catch criminals who are taking advantage of the confusion the war has created. He is assisted by his driver Samantha "Sam" Stewart (Honeysuckle Weeks) and Detective Sergeant Paul Milner (Anthony Howell). From Series 7, it sees a retired Foyle working for MI5, navigating the world of Cold War espionage.

Foyles

Coordinates: 51°30′53″N 0°07′48″W / 51.5147°N 0.1301°W / 51.5147; -0.1301

W & G Foyle Ltd. (usually called simply Foyles) is a chain of book shops with seven locations but is best known for its flagship store in Charing Cross Road, London. Foyles was once listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the world's largest bookshop in terms of shelf area (30 miles/50 kilometres) and number of titles on display. In the past, it was famed for its anachronistic, eccentric and sometimes infuriating business practices; so much so that it was a tourist attraction. It has since modernised, opened new branches and established an on-line store.

History

The business was founded in 1903 by brothers William and Gilbert Foyle. After failing entrance exams for the civil service, the brothers offered their redundant text books for sale and were inundated by offers. This inspired them to launch a second-hand book business from home. Flushed with success, they opened a small shop on Station Parade in Queen's Road, Peckham, where they painted "With all Faith" in gilt letters above the door. In 1904 they opened their first West End shop at 16 Cecil Court and a year later were able to take on their first member of staff (who promptly disappeared with the weekly takings). By 1906 they were at 135 Charing Cross Road, by which time they were described as London's largest educational booksellers. At around this period they also opened branches in Harringay, Shepherd's Bush, Kilburn and Brixton. Not long later they moved into one of the buildings at 119 Charing Cross Road, where Foyles remained until 2014. Part of additional adjacent buildings that they also acquired in Manette Street was the site of the Old Goldbeater's House.

Honeysuckle Weeks

Honeysuckle Hero Susan Weeks (born 1 August 1979) is a British actress known for her starring role as Samantha Stewart in the ITV wartime drama series Foyle's War beginning in 2002.

Early life

Weeks was born in Cardiff, Wales, to Robin and Susan (née Wade) Weeks (who have since divorced), and grew up in Chichester and Petworth. Her parents named her after honeysuckle flowers because they were in bloom when she was born. She has a younger sister Perdita and brother Rollo, both of whom have also pursued careers in acting.

Weeks was educated at Great Ballard School, Sussex, Roedean School and Pembroke College, Oxford, where she read English (graduating with upper-second class honours). She also spent time studying art in Italy. As a child she was a member of the Chichester Festival Theatre. From the age of nine, Weeks studied at the Sylvia Young Theatre School at the weekends.

Aged 11, Weeks was flown to the United States and cast in the DreamWorks feature A Far Off Place being directed by Steven Spielberg. However, when Spielberg dropped out of the project, Weeks' role was re-cast with Reese Witherspoon.

Foyle's War (series 2)

Series 2 of the ITV programme Foyle's War was first aired in 2003; comprising four episodes, it is set in autumn 1940. Series 2 was broadcast in the United States on PBS on Mystery!, on 18 and 25 July, and 1 and 8 August 2004, as Foyle's War II, and on Netflix as of April 2014.

Episodes

"Fifty Ships"

Cast and Characters

This episode introduces Foyle's former love, Elizabeth Lewes, whom he had intended to marry but was declined permission by her father some 20 years ago. Later, true to his word, in "The Eternity Ring" (Series 7, Episode 1), Foyle returns from America after confronting Paige.

Background and Production

The title refers to the Destroyers for Bases Agreement, under which the United States traded 50 U.S. Navy destroyers to the U.K. in exchange for land rights in certain British colonies. The agreement was a reversal of the U.S.'s isolationist policy and a precursor to the much more substantial Lend-Lease programme. The episode also reveals the darker side of the war effort: those willing to profit in wartime at the expense of their countrymen.

Foyle

Foyle can refer to: