As Lewis gears up for its seventh series, the detective wants to retire, reveals Kevin Whately... In the first of three new two-part stories, Lewis and Hathaway are investigating the murder of a clairvoyant... "When Oxford University researcher turned clairvoyant Reuben Beatty is killed, Lewis and Sergeant Hathaway (Laurence Fox) quiz other psychics to find out what happened – there are certainly a few batty characters about! I don't think Lewis believes in all that psychic babble." We also hear that Lewis finds love this series? "Yes, he does. While Hathaway heads to Croatia to help on a case, Lewis works more closely with pathologist Laura Hobson (Clare Holman). We've been teasing their relationship for a while and they finally end up getting together. Lewis is not the most cheerful of characters, but he's certainly a lot more perky when she's around." In the final episode, Lewis announces he intends to retire and Hathaway wants to resign. Why is this? "Lewis wants to spend more time with his family, so he encourages Hathaway to apply for a promotion to Inspector. But Hathaway's having his own career crisis and decides that he might be off too!" So is this really the last fans will see of Lewis? "I see it as more of a sabbatical in that we'll be taking a year off with a view to making more episodes of Lewis in 2014. A lot is resolved in the final episode of this series so it makes for a fitting conclusion." What will you be doing during your time off? "Well, I'll be playing a bit of golf and doing some radio plays, and I think Laurence is going off to work in America. Will I miss him? Like a hole in the head! No, I’m just kidding; he's good fun to work with and a great guy. I'll be interested to see how his career develops." You first started playing Lewis in Inspector Morse back in 1987. Will you miss playing him if this is the last ever series? "Well, he's been part of my life for a quarter of a century, so if I was never going to play him again of course I'd be sad. But I'll be happy not having to learn lines for a while." Lewis returns on Monday, January 7 at 9pm on ITV1
