‘Updating’ Roald Dahl? It’s the same old story… | David Mitchell

Good news for me: the series of ITV’s Endeavour that starts airing tonight will be the last. Hooray! I hate Endeavour. A lot. In fact, I would have italicised the word “hate” to emphasise the fact, if I hadn’t worried that it would look weird next to the italicised title of the programme. But please imagine it was italicised.

Just to qualify my hatred: I have never watched Endeavour and, having heard only positive reports, am convinced I would enjoy it. I haven’t watched it as a point of principle because, in my view, it shouldn’t exist. It shouldn’t exist because it spoils Inspector Morse.

I love. (Once again, please imagine that verb in italics and “Inspector Morse” said normally.) It is my contention that the very existence of is a desecration of the artwork that is because one of the main things that is brilliant about is the mysterious sense of the eponymous hero’s melancholy past. It’s only occasionally alluded to, but there is sadness there, disappointment, loneliness, injustice. This feeling lends incalculable depth and sympathy to the main character, just as a hint of long-boiled bones enriches a soup.