Shaun Evans says ‘Endeavour’ should end next year.
The 39-year-old actor – who has played TV detective Inspector Morse on the prequel series since 2012 – thinks his run as the character should be over before the timeline clashes with John Thaw’s iconic stint, which started in 1987.
Speaking to Radio Times, he said: "This is our story and we shouldn’t be staying at the party too long.
"It’s difficult because it’s like planning your own funeral. Why would I not want to be earning this money?
"Why would I not want to be hanging out with these people who I love? But you have to be strict. We shouldn’t be milking it."
John Thaw – who sadly passed away aged 60 in 2002 – originally played Morse in the late 1980s and continued on the ITV drama until 2000.
Shawn admitted his final decision – which comes ahead of the new series, set in 1970 – will have to be made after talking to the rest of the cast and crew.
He added: "It’s something I want us to come to an agreement on as a team, because my decision will have a knock-on effect for everyone.
"I want to make sure that everybody feels, within reason, that we’ve finished it in a satisfying way."
Writer Russell Lewis revealed he’s already planned out the final storylines for the show, and he agrees with Shawn’s thinking.
He said: "I’ll do it for as long as they want me to, but I do know how it ends.
"We wouldn’t want to get to the point where you can see the join. I think we’ll bow out long before that."
Endeavour’s Shaun Evans says show should end in 2021
