Foyle's War (2002)
A meticulous British detective navigates wartime crime and Cold War intrigue across nine compelling series set in 1940s England and beyond.
Foyle's War - Series Information
- Original Title: Foyle's War
- First Air Year: 2002
- Last Air Year: 2015
- Created by: Anthony Horowitz
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Mystery, Drama, War, Politics, Crime
- Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode (120 minutes)
- Number of Seasons: 9
- Number of Episodes: 28
- Status: Ended
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- First Air Date: October 27, 2002 (Canada - 14+), October 27, 2002 (Germany - 12), October 27, 2002 (France - 12), October 27, 2002 (Australia - M), October 27, 2002 (Spain - 13)
- Networks: ITV1
- Production Companies: Greenlit Productions, Icon Productions
- Production Countries: United Kingdom
Foyle's War - Plot
As WW2 rages around the world, DCS Foyle fights his own war on the home-front as he investigates crimes on the south coast of England. Foyle's War opens in southern England in the year 1940. Later series sees the retired detective working as an MI5 agent operating in the aftermath of the war.
Foyle's War - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and get a sense of the wartime atmosphere that defines this acclaimed series:
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Foyle's War - Cast & Crew
Creator(s)
- Anthony Horowitz
Main Cast
- Michael Kitchen
- Honeysuckle Weeks
- Anthony Howell
- Ellie Haddington
- Julian Ovenden
- Jay Simpson
- Daniel Weyman
- Tim McMullan
- Jeremy Swift
- Geoffrey Freshwater
Writers
- Anthony Horowitz
- David Kane
- Michael Chaplin
- Rob Heyland
- Michael Russell
Executive Producers
- Jill Green
- Jim Reeve
- Nicole Finnan
- Anthony Horowitz
- James Flynn
Foyle's War - FAQs
Where can you stream Foyle's War online?
Foyle's War is available to stream on Acorn TV, AcornTV via Amazon Channel, Acorn TV on Apple TV, Spectrum On Demand, and WETA+. It can also be rented or purchased on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, and Google Play Movies. Free ad-supported viewing is available on KQED and Hoopla.
Who plays DCS Foyle in Foyle's War?
Michael Kitchen portrays Detective Chief Superintendent Christopher Foyle throughout all nine series of Foyle's War. His understated, morally resolute performance is widely regarded as one of British television's finest, earning the show a devoted international following over its thirteen-year run from 2002 to 2015.
Is Foyle's War based on a true story?
Foyle's War is not based on a specific true story, but creator Anthony Horowitz grounded every episode in meticulously researched historical events from World War II Britain. Real wartime crimes, scandals, and social tensions — from black-market profiteering to espionage — inspired the fictional cases DCS Foyle investigates.
How many seasons and episodes does Foyle's War have?
Foyle's War ran for 9 seasons comprising 28 feature-length episodes in total. Early series contained four episodes each, while later seasons were reduced to two or three. The show aired on ITV1 from October 2002 and concluded in 2015, spanning both the wartime and post-war MI5 chapters of Foyle's career.
Did Foyle's War win any awards?
Foyle's War received considerable critical acclaim and multiple award nominations throughout its run, including BAFTA recognition. Michael Kitchen's portrayal of DCS Foyle earned particular praise. The series was celebrated for its historical authenticity, intelligent scripts, and strong ensemble performances, cementing its reputation as a landmark British period drama.
What is Foyle's War about?
Set in wartime southern England from 1940 onwards, Foyle's War follows Detective Chief Superintendent Foyle as he solves crimes on the home front while World War II rages. Later seasons shift to the Cold War era, with the retired detective recruited by MI5, exploring espionage and post-war political intrigue.
Why did Foyle's War transition to MI5 storylines?
After the wartime storylines concluded, creator Anthony Horowitz reinvented the series by having the retired DCS Foyle recruited as an MI5 agent. This shift allowed the show to explore Cold War tensions, post-war moral ambiguity, and espionage, giving the character fresh dramatic purpose while retaining the series' signature ethical rigour.
Who created Foyle's War and wrote the scripts?
Foyle's War was created by Anthony Horowitz, who also wrote many of the episodes. Additional scripts were contributed by David Kane, Michael Chaplin, Rob Heyland, Michael Russell, and Matthew Hall. Horowitz served as executive producer alongside Jill Green, Jim Reeve, Nicole Finnan, James Flynn, and Ronan Flynn.
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