The post-war period in Britain was marked by a combination of victory and harsh realities: the continuation of rationing, the return of soldiers facing unemployment, and cities devastated by the Blitz. This dissonance between triumph abroad and hardship at home created a unique, uneasy atmosphere.
As writer Anthony Horowitz puts it, “It was actually a very depressing period. People thought, ‘Why have we just had five years fighting the Germans when they are now better off than we are?’” The societal mood was weighed down by this sense of disillusionment.
For Foyle, a man of great honor, his involvement in the world of espionage was equally uncomfortable. As the series evolved, he found himself in a duplicitous world, one where truth was elusive, and every episode saw him uncovering secrets that many would prefer stayed buried. Horowitz, who developed the character, remarks, “Now he’s in a duplicitous world where nobody is quite telling him the truth and in every episode he’s uncovering things that people would prefer not to have uncovered, which creates an interesting tension.”
The shift in Foyle’s world to this “darker, more challenging” landscape was an opportunity to refresh the series, and it was this transformation that allowed the show to evolve creatively. “It gave me as a writer the opportunity to move into a very interesting, colder, darker, more challenging world, which was an extraordinary opportunity to refresh the whole series,” Horowitz explains.
The first episode of the new season begins with a nuclear bomb test, an image that encapsulates the dawning of a new, more perilous world order. Foyle’s return to London from America leads him into a new role with MI5, where he’s tasked with handling a case of treason and duplicity. Horowitz emphasizes the importance of opening with the bomb test: “The shadow of living under the nuclear bomb changed everything. Suddenly the Nazis seemed like small fry compared to the dangers that were coming into the world.” This reflects the broader theme of shifting threats and the changing geopolitical landscape that dominated the post-war world.
Horowitz is renowned for his thorough research, something that has informed both Foyle’s War and his other projects, such as Midsomer Murders and the Alex Rider novels. His research for Foyle’s War is extensive, with Horowitz noting, “For every episode of Foyle’s War I’ve written, I’ve read at least five books.” He takes pride in how the show has uncovered numerous true stories over its 12 years on British screens.
The return of Sam Stewart, Foyle’s former driver, to the series brings a sense of continuity and development. Sam is now married to Adam, who is involved in the post-war Labour Government. Actress Honeysuckle Weeks, who portrays Sam, is delighted to return to her beloved character, noting that Sam is “kind, decent and gets plenty of action and some great lines.” She also reflects on how much she has grown since her early days on the show: “I was just 21 when I started on Foyle’s War – and I’m decidedly older than that now and I’ve been married and had a kid.” Weeks also shares her admiration for Michael Kitchen, who plays Foyle: “He’s extremely kind and a great actor and I’ve learned so much from him.”
Whether Foyle’s War will return is still uncertain. Horowitz has said, “If we want to end on a high note then I should stop now,” hinting that these final three episodes could mark the end of the series. He is optimistic about their quality, adding, “These three episodes are significantly different and better than anything we’ve done before.” However, Horowitz is still unsure if he will continue the series, saying, “I haven’t decided whether I want to do any more… I’m thinking possibly not.”
This sense of closure and reflection on the series’ evolution underscores the creative ambition that has always driven Foyle’s War, as well as the broader themes of post-war Britain that continue to resonate.
