YOU may think Oxford has its fair share of tea rooms, but apparently not enough for one of the city’s most famous detectives.

Det Insp Robbie Lewis , otherwise known as actor Kevin Whately, was spotted filming ITV’s Lewis in Thame this week.

Rumsey’s Chocolaterie in Upper High Street was transformed into an Oxford cafe, to the bemusement of local residents.

Mr Whately and fellow actor Laurence Fox, playing Det Sgt James Hathaway, attracted crowds as they filmed.

Thame resident Hazel Bleay, 81, a big Lewis fan, seized the opportunity to get her picture taken with the actors and to give them copies of her book, Memories of Bygone Oxford Shops.

She said: “I showed them both my book and got a lovely kiss off them both, they were so friendly.

“I love Lewis, I used to love Inspector Morse , ever since the first episode which was set in Jericho.

“It was great, I’m chuffed to bits.”

The filming was for the seventh series of Lewis, which is widely expected to be the last series of the Inspector Morse spin-off.

This was the first time the show has been filmed in Thame.

ITV spokesman Kate Bain said the decision to film in a different location would have been based simply on the appealing nature of the shop interior.

Lewis, although set in Oxford, has been filmed in various places, including North London and Uxbridge, she added.

Thame has also been used as the setting in episodes of Midsomer Murders.

Waiting to have her picture taken outside was Thame resident Sarah Tack, who said: “I’d love to meet them both. This is so lovely for the town.”

Other residents were even more lucky, getting to appear as extras.

Drama student Lucy Saunders, 21, spends her summers working in the cafe and asked if she could waitress in the scenes as well.

She said: “It’s going brilliantly, it’s not something I expected to be doing this summer at all.

“I’m waitressing in the background, taking orders and giving out cakes.

“There are a lot of people outside asking for autographs and both Kevin and Laurence seem really friendly.”

Fellow coffee shop assistant Lynsey House, 22, said: “It’s really odd to see somewhere you know so well looking different, they’ve changed all the menus, the awning and things like that.

“Everyone working on this seems quite jolly, so it’s a nice way to spend the day. We just wait for our cue and then waitress in the background.

“I’m looking forward to seeing ourselves on the TV now.”