THE start date for the new series of Endeavour has been announced.

Series five of the hit crime drama, based on the early years of Oxford's Inspector Morse, will start on Sunday, February 4, at 8pm on ITV.

The producers have also announced that for the first time, this series will have six episodes instead of four.

Newcomers Game Of Thrones actor Donald Sumpter and Prisoners’ Wives star Emma Rigby will join Shaun Evans as the young Morse in the six feature-length films.

As always, most of the outdoor action has been shot over eight months in scenic bits of Oxford.

This series will also introduce a new detective character (played by Poldark's Lewis Peek) as a young policeman being mentored by the slightly older Morse.

Returning for the fifth series will be all the permanent fixtures including Dakota Blue Richards as PC Trewlove.