Tag Archives: Sara Vickers Endeavour

THE ENDEAVOUR INTERVIEWS 2023: SARA VICKERS

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ENDEAVOUR: Marry me.

JOAN: That’s not funny.

ENDEAVOUR: It wasn’t meant to be.

JOAN: I know. You were being nice. I don’t want pity. I couldn’t live with that. Never mind what Dad would say…

– HARVEST (S4:E4)

An exclusive Endeavour interview with Sara Vickers

Interview copyright © Damian Michael Barcroft 2023

DAMIAN: Sara, I’m thinking back to when Russ told me he knew that Joan and Endeavour would fall for each other the moment she first opened the front door to him in FUGUE (S1:E2) and everything that has happened to your character since then including being taken hostage during the bank robbery, running away from home, being a victim of domestic violence, suffering a miscarriage and getting entangled in an on-again, off-again relationship during which she and Endeavour ultimately broke each other’s hearts. Even though she didn’t want his pity during that scene in HARVEST, do you think there might have been the briefest of moments when Joan considered saying yes to Endeavour when he asked her to marry him?

SARA: That moment in HARVEST really encapsulates the essence of why Joan and Morse haven’t got together. What he should have said to her was those three magic words, “I love you.” I think if he had, we would have travelled a different path. To be offered marriage out of the blue, in such an emotionally turbulent moment, left her, I think, unable to process the proposal. It was clumsy of Morse. And if he was serious, he should have followed it up, fleshed out where it came from.

DAMIAN: And I wonder if there was ever a moment’s hesitation before Joan accepted Strange’s marriage proposal?

SARA: We have talked a lot about this during the filming of season 9. The hesitation. The feeling of something being unfinished. With Morse being absent from Oxford, again, I think the decision to get engaged was definitely easier and a positive one. A step in the right direction. She desperately needed to move her life forward. Strange has given her the chance of a new future. But Morse is always in her thoughts. I know he would have been a part of the decision process for her. And I think you can definitely see that hesitation in episode 2. He’s always been an enormous pull for her. Shutting that door for good will be painful.

DAMIAN: After not seeing each other for some time, Endeavour speaks to Joan at Belmont Lodge, the halfway house for mothers and their children, in STRIKER (S8:E1) and Russ’ directions read: ‘Endeavour alone for a moment. Through the window, Joan up the garden for the moment with some of the kids. He could be looking out of the window of his own house at his wife and kids. It’s a thought that might have stung once, now it’s just a dull ache.’ Away from the aforementioned scene in HARVEST, to what extent do you think Joan ever seriously considered the possibility of marrying Endeavour and having kids with him, and at what point did she become more realistic and arguably mature enough to abandon any such dreams?

SARA: Every little look and moment they’ve shared have been thoughts of ‘could we?, should we….?’. And those thoughts for Joan, were always thoughts of ‘could we make this work for the long haul, marriage and kids.’ Even though she rebelled when she ran away from home, I think she ultimately wants what her mum and dad have, true love and a family. These dreams have become faded and less frequent however. As time goes on it is hard to keep yearning.

DAMIAN: During the same scene in STRIKER and in reference to vulnerable mothers, Endeavour observes that Joan is ‘Saving the world’ and she replies, ‘One woman at a time.’ Looking back over all these years now, what was most fun for you to play as an actor, the young and playful kind of cute girl next door figure that we met in the first series or the stronger and more empowered woman we have come to know in these last few series?

SARA: Hmmm, good question… I think I’ve been getting quite nostalgic for the early days. I loved the carefree girl next door…early 60s outfits, beehives – though I don’t miss the backcombing and buckets of hairspray! – and flirting and teasing Morse. There was a playful simplicity.

DAMIAN: I know from reading various drafts of the scripts over the years that certain scenes were cut and some of these involved Joan and Strange. One particular scene that I remember reading years ago was where she kisses him on the cheek as they say goodnight – in the version that made it to the screen it was after their date at the Masonic Lodge Ball in SCHERZO (S8:E2) and Strange says, ‘Blimey, I won’t wash my face for a week now’. Therefore, Russ must have been planning this storyline for a long time so although there were strong hints during series 8, at what point were you made aware of the collective romantic fates of Joan, Strange and Endeavour, and what was your reaction?

SARA: I think I was told by Shaun Evans in a read-through for an earlier season. Perhaps 4 or 5? At the time I couldn’t see how it was going to come about. My biggest concern was wanting to have an ending for Joan that felt organic and not rushed or too contrived. Scenes were cut between Strange and I, as dramaturgically, it was agreed it was moving too fast; we had to find that balance of making it fully fleshed out but also interesting story telling.

DAMIAN: Back in NOCTURNE (S2:E2) which was set in 1966, Joan and her friend go on a double date with none other than Endeavour and Strange! With the benefit of hindsight, do you think that Russ knew even back then that Joan and Strange would one day become romantically involved?

SARA: I think season 2 may have been a little early to know, as Russ had only just decided Joan and Morse were going to become emotionally involved. So I reckon that may have just been coincidence.

DAMIAN: And again, retrospectively, isn’t it quite interesting to recall your response and consider you were at least half right in answering a similar question I asked you previously regarding the possible future of Joan and Endeavour when you answered, ‘Well, we know there will be no white wedding.’? 

SARA: Well that was the biggest obstacle to the Joan and Morse romance, Morse’s fate was already set in stone. But it’s wonderful that the audience keeps willing them to get together even though they know how it ends.

DAMIAN: In addition to her relationships with both Endeavour and Strange, it might also be interesting to remember that Joan went out on a date with Peter Jakes in HOME (S1:E4). All three are obviously policemen who were under the command of her policeman father. What do you think a psychoanalyst might have to say about all this?

SARA: Haha! I think they would have a field day! She never ventured very far from her Dad’s workforce. But I guess there is something she likes about a policeman. She knows the positives and negatives of life as a policeman. And there is obviously something she admires about a man in that line of work.

DAMIAN: You once used the word ‘intrigued’ to describe Joan’s attraction to Endeavour and continued that, ‘She is not one for the ordinary and Endeavour appears to be everything out of the ordinary. They have something they can’t put their finger on. But surely that’s the best kind of attraction – the indescribable.’ In comparison, I’m intrigued to know how you would describe her attraction to Strange?

SARA: I think the intrigued, indescribable quality that Morse showed, started to feel to Joan like emotionally unavailable. Always putting his work first, or so it seems to her. We see him not appear at the pub in episode 2, UNIFORM. I think she knows that would be her life. Forever coming second. Strange on the other hand, is upfront and is there at the drop of a hat. In the season 8 finale [TERMINUS] when they can’t find brother Sam, he provides the support that Morse can’t. He’s there when she needs someone and there is something very powerful in giving your time.

DAMIAN: Discussing the character development of Strange over the years, Sean Rigby told me that in the 60s he was ‘very much trying to find himself [and that] he is very sure of where he wants to go in the world but is still unsure of his footing within it’ and in another interview with him regarding the 70s, said he was ‘Harder. Tougher. Self-assured. He’s his own man now.’ What effect do you think Joan has had on this harder, tougher and more self-assured Strange?

SARA: I think most positive romantic relationships only add to someone’s feelings of security and self worth which in turn bolsters confidence and a sense of ease in the world. Joanie would always be championing Jim personally and professionally. But the initial change in Strange was already in motion before she came on the scene, and was definitely a factor in why she started looking at him in a different way. I think Sean has charted that change in his character beautifully over the years. Watching his work in series 9, Strange is a different man from the early episodes. 

DAMIAN: And from “Brother Strange” to her own actual brother, Sam, what was it like being reunited with Jack Bannon once again?

SARA: So wonderful. He’s a joy to be around and a fabulous actor. We couldn’t have wrapped up the show without him. We reminisced about the early days of filming. We lived in the same area of London for the first few series so we used to get picked up together and have lovely chats. I missed him not being around these last few years.

DAMIAN: Can you describe your emotions and thoughts as you filmed your final scenes and said goodbye to the cast and crew you’ve worked with for over a decade?

SARA: Filming the final series was an altogether surreal experience. I had just given birth six weeks prior to my first day, so emotionally and physically I had been through significant changes. Having my baby with me on set was wonderful but as you can imagine didn’t allow me to dwell too much on the finality of it all. I’m sure this was a good thing as I would have been a teary mess!

DAMIAN: Looking back at all the episodes over the years, do you have a favourite or a particular scene that you are most proud of as an actor?

SARA: Oh goodness. So many moments I could pick out. Again, as I’m getting nostalgic about everything, I think I would have to go for the date with Jakes in HOME. That was when I found Joan. Her true character. And I think Shaun and I found something in that scene when Morse walks her home, that stood the test of time.

DAMIAN: My final question, if Joan was a real person and a good friend of yours in real life, what romantic advice would you have given her in 1965 when she first started flirting with Endeavour?

SARA: He’s never going to tell you what you want to hear. You either need to take the lead and be okay with that or cut your losses and save yourself years of heartache.

DAMIAN: Sara, in addition to Endeavour and Strange, Joan has also stolen the hearts of countless viewers around the world with your thoughtful, sensitive and perfectly charming performance. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts on Joan in this and previous interviews over the years.

SARA: Thanks so much Damian, it’s been a pleasure. I was given a wonderful gift the day I was cast as Joan Thursday. I will be forever grateful for the opportunity and for all the love and support the fans have shown her over the years.

Interview copyright © Damian Michael Barcroft 2023

‘It was the view I fell in love with… You can’t see from there. Come closer.’
‘This is as close as I get.’ PASSENGER (S5:E3)

THE ENDEAVOUR INTERVIEWS 2021: SARA VICKERS

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Interview copyright © Damian Michael Barcroft 2021

DAMIAN: Sara, I think I speak for many fans of Endeavour when I say that you were really missed during Joan’s secondment. How are you doing?

SARA: I’m doing really well. Life has changed a bit since we last spoke. I now have a little boy. He’s just turned two, full of fun and giggles and I couldn’t be prouder to be his mummy. I certainly missed my Endeavour family. Especially as I went overdue and was sat at home twiddling my thumbs while episode one was getting underway! But everyone sent lots of well wishes and they were always checking up to see how things were progressing.

DAMIAN: Did you still watch the last series even though you didn’t appear, and if so, how did it feel not to have been a part of it?

SARA: Hell yes! Wouldn’t have missed it. I actually loved not knowing the story, I got the full audience experience. It was definitely weird not to have been a part of it but it was heart warming to see her mentioned throughout the series. I guess the Thursdays are just integral to the fabric of the show.

DAMIAN: Dare I ask what you thought of the Violetta Talenti character?

SARA: I thought she was beautifully portrayed by Stephanie Leonidas. Sassy, untamed and passionate. Endeavour certainly had his hands full. I think she fulfilled his desire for something out of the ordinary. The dangerous, passionate affairs that rarely end well.

ZANANA (S7:E3)

DAMIAN: I certainly had much more sympathy for Violetta than Claudine from series five who I didn’t like at all. What are your thoughts about her?

SARA: I guess Claudine had a coolness about her. An air of sophistication that was a good match for Morse’s intellect. But she was clearly more ambitious about her work than her affair with Endeavour. I think perhaps Claudine didn’t capture your sympathy as her motives remained a little more of an enigma. Perhaps she fell victim to the fact that this is primarily a detective show so not all of the characters get the airtime to flesh out the whys of their actions.

Still falls the rain. COLOURS (S5:E4)

DAMIAN: It’s frustrating because we’ll never know for sure but to what extent do you think series seven might have turned out very differently had Joan stuck around?

SARA: That’s an interesting one. I reckon Jim and Joan’s Masonic ball may have made an earlier appearance and perhaps we may have seen the repercussions of that by now? But your guess is as good as mine.

There have been a number of scenes between Joan and Strange over the years that were not filmed due to either time constraints or actor availability. Thankfully, this lovely moment from COLOURS (S5:E4) made the cut.

SARA: Russ said he had plans for more political activism, women’s rights in particular. Also, perhaps the Morse and Violetta storyline wouldn’t have been able to grow and progress to the extent it did had Joan been on the scene. She may have muddied the waters a little. Her absence definitely gave Russ license to let Endeavour wander in a different direction.

DAMIAN: Over the last two weeks I’ve been posting my interviews with Russ and I was absolutely astonished that so many people on Twitter were commenting and coming up with their own theories about why Endeavour treats Joan the way he does. Isn’t it a wonderful testament to Russ’ writing and your performance that people care so deeply about Joan?

SARA: I am always so thrilled when people are rooting for Joan. I know people weren’t best pleased when she ran away from home. But hopefully she has made amends. When people empathise with her I feel like I’ve done my job, they get her. It’s not something you can set out to achieve, but if Russ and I have managed to get the audience to care, that’s the biggest achievement.

Their first goodbye. CODA (S3:E4)

DAMIAN: I think that one of the reasons Endeavour is such a great show is undoubtedly because Russ cares so much about all the characters and not just Endeavour and Thursday. Furthermore – wonderfully tender-hearted and magnanimous man that he is – Russ has said to me on numerous occasions that he is deeply invested in Joan’s journey but when I asked him about the character’s absence, it was obvious that he also cares deeply about the actors as well when he replied with the following:

‘I love writing for Sara. Loved what she did with Joan right from the off. She’s a fantastically sensitive and thoughtful actor. Everything you care about with Joan, you care about because of Sara. Her extraordinary skill and talent. She has to do and convey so much with great economy. But, yes — I am deeply invested in Joan’s character and story. I’ve loved what we’ve been able to do with her. It feels like she’s been on a long and often painful journey of self-discovery.’

DAMIAN: Isn’t that a lovely thing of Russ to say?

SARA: It’s so nice to hear this. Russ has written so many wonderful twists and turns into Joan’s life since we first met her. I think he hits the nail on the head with ‘painful journey of self-discovery’. She hasn’t had it easy. She’s had to navigate her way through a myriad of challenges and has still – just about – managed to find her feet.

Endeavour meets Miss Thursday for the first time in FUGUE (S1:E2)

DAMIAN: I also thought it was an excellent point that Russ makes about economy because the show is a detective series at the end of the day as you’ve said and so – rather regrettably at times – there isn’t always the room to explore all the psychology and motivation of each and every character. Therefore, I wondered if you were ever aware of this on set or felt an added pressure that you have to emote so much with relatively little screen time?

SARA: It is always more tricky coming in for smaller sections of filming, that’s the case for any job. The audience don’t spend as much time with Joan as they do Thursday or Endeavour, so you can feel a little pressure to state your case, so to speak. But this is something you actively have to fight against. You can’t give into the pressure of demonstration. Audiences are very astute at picking up characters’ thoughts and feelings even in just a look. It’s important to stay as truthful as possible and trust that what is captured tells the story.

‘It was the view I fell in love with… You can’t see from there. Come closer.’
‘This is as close as I get.’ PASSENGER (S5:E3)

DAMIAN: Again from my recent interviews with Russ, I’ve got another couple of quotes from him that I’d like to hear your opinion on with regards to why his relationships with Susan, Claudine, Violetta, and Joan always seem destined to end so unhappily:

‘Emotionally, at least, he is drawn to self-destruction. He’s a romantic, for whom love has to be indistinguishable from suffering. Small wonder given his personal history. Arrested development. He is forever reaching for the perfect/idealised woman — because the woman he idealised escaped him when he was twelve. So – one might argue, he sets his heart upon the unattainable, because there is comfort in the predictability of disappointment.’

‘Susan was too early. Claudine was never going the distance. Joan… He imagines declaring his feelings for Joan would be in some way being disloyal, and in some respect betraying the trust Thursday and by extension the family have placed in him.’

Morse River…
…Breakfast at Thursdays
“Oh, dream maker, you heart breaker” FUGUE (S1:E2)

DAMIAN: What’s your take on this, particularly the bit about Endeavour being disloyal or betraying the trust of the Thursday family?

SARA: I think this is a very interesting reading of the situation and explains a lot. There is definitely an element of not wanting to disappoint and betray. But can you imagine if they did get together? Fred and Win would be delighted, I’m sure. I think for Endeavour, this idea of betrayal is a convenient road block. He can then happily keep travelling down the road of self sabotage.

Coffee? ICARUS (S5:E6)

Russ, Shaun and I had a conversation before filming the new series. We joked about Endeavour and Joan going to get the weekly shop on a Sunday. We weren’t sure we could picture it. And it got me thinking, why? Well, perhaps Endeavour needs his love to be grand and messy. Operatic. Marriages aren’t like operas – thank God! They involve a lot of the mundane. Perhaps he can’t allow himself to give up the drama and the heartache. He could never give Joan the life she would want – marriage, kids – so to go there would always spell disaster.

DAMIAN: I suppose we’re back to the whole ‘if he can’t have her, he must hurt her’ thing that we discussed in our previous interview and as Thursday said of Endeavour at the end of series seven, ‘you look down your nose at everyone’ and ‘nobody’s good enough’. When you and Shaun talk through a scene before a take – particularly perhaps when he’s also directing – are there ever any concerns about making Endeavour just a little bit too mean and unlikable?

SARA: We both welcome the gritty exchanges that they share with each other. It shows things have evolved. Hurting the ones you love and all that. I think Joan knows it’s just another layer of armour, but nevertheless they can be very nasty and condescending. We always hope that in doing a scene that gets a little fiery, people can read the subtext, the hurt and longing. And no one is perfect. I think Shaun likes to embrace the uglier sides of Endeavour.

ZANANA (S7:E3)

DAMIAN: Wasn’t it interesting that when he wrote that letter at the end of the last series about proving Ludo was responsible for the “freak accidents” – including, of course, Bright’s wife – that after burning all his bridges with everyone else, Joan was the last and only person Endeavour could turn to?

SARA: I had no idea that was coming. I definitely got a lump in my throat and wanted to scream at the TV, “find her and declare your love!”. It made me think, Joan is his constant. Ever there, ever reliable and would be able to see past whatever difficult situation he found himself. I guess there is a strength in Joan that he feels he is able to lean on when everything else crumbles away. And I feel proud of that deep unshakable relationship we have been forging over the last decade.

DAMIAN: Sara, it’s always lovely to hear your thoughts on Joan – thank you so much.

SARA: A pleasure, as always.

Interview copyright © Damian Michael Barcroft 2021

THE ENDEAVOUR INTERVIEWS 2019: Sara Vickers

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If he can’t have her, he must hurt her…

Interview copyright © Damian Michael Barcroft 2019

DAMIAN: For the first few years at least, although it was always wonderful when Joan did pop up, she’d only make the occasional appearance opening the door for Endeavour and they’d flirt while he waiting for Thursday, that sort of thing, but now, well, you’ve become an integral part of the show and your character is now inseparable from the Morse mythology. To what extent were you aware of this, were there little clues in the scripts along the way or was it simply a lovely surprise?

SARA: I think at the beginning, there was no intention to have Joan as prominent a part of the show as she has grown to be (Russell may disagree with me here!). The Thursday family seemed to, in my mind, play the role of fleshing out Fred’s story, helping paint the picture of a family man. And for Morse, the Thursdays were a reminder of everything he was missing – family and companionship. But as the series progressed, there were clues that all the Thursdays were destined for bigger standalone stories. I remember very vividly reading one of the stage directions in HOME [S1:E4] where Morse walks Joan home, the stage directions eluded to a longevity between the characters. But nothing is ever a certain, things change, so every time I read the scripts, there is always an element of surprise.

DAMIAN: You mentioned in our previous interview that the directors of the early episodes often steered you towards light-hearted flirting and friendly teasing. I’m wondering if more recent directors now use words like melancholy, mournful and crestfallen?

SARA: Working with lots of different directors is a joy, they bring different energies and qualities to the world we are creating. There has been a bit of a leaning toward melancholy but I’d say it’s a natural progression due to storylines and character ‘baggage’ rather than a steer.

DAMIAN: Russ is very good at setting up grand and dramatic cliffhangers such as the one to series four where we discover Joan is pregnant. I wonder then, given it’s frequently the case that the opening to the following series is set months later, if you find it a little disappointing that you don’t get to explore the immediate aftermath of such scenarios as an actor?

SARA: I would have loved to have played some of those juicy moments!  

DAMIAN: I found the rooftop scene from PASSENGER (S5:E3) to be one of the most beautiful and powerful of any series of Endeavour. Can you tell me a little bit about shooting the scene with Shaun?

SARA: Jim [Field Smith, director] was wonderful to work with.The film he created was visually stunning and had real heart. I discussed the scene with Shaun first off. It’s always nice to make sure we are on the same page. Jim allowed us to be free with our thoughts and choices which worked for us as Shaun and I tend to just see what happens in the moment. It was a beautifully simple scene that just lifted off the page.

DAMIAN: It was just so beautifully written by Russ and the two of you played the scene to perfection but why do you think Joan then tried to set Endeavour up with Claudine?

SARA: As I’ve just said, Shaun and I tend to have quite a bit of chat before we tackle a scene. This sometimes involves us scratching our heads as to why they don’t just get together (yes, we can get as frustrated as the audience!). I remember reading the scene in the readthrough. I was sat next to Abigail Thaw, she turned to me and said, ‘she’s testing him’. That thought played on my mind. Would he be willing to go with someone else? Could he be happier with someone else? I think it goes part of the way explaining the Claudine situation. I also think it has to do with trying to make a fresh start, trying to move on. That doesn’t always mean it’s right or not fraught with emotion.

DAMIAN: Given that he’s only just left her up there on the roof seconds previously, do you think that Endeavour’s immediate attraction to Claudine when he lights her cigarette somewhat undermined his feelings for Joan then?

SARA: The fact that he instantly hooks up with Claudine, doesn’t bode well for Joan and Morse being star crossed lovers! But then we have to wonder why it’s so immediate and why it is indeed with Claudine. It screams of someone whose been burned. But then I reckon I’m pretty biased!

DAMIAN: And then when Claudine leaves him, we have the scene from QUARTET (S5:E5) where they are standing outside her flat and she invites him in for coffee. Was Joan really inviting Endeavour in for something more than coffee so soon after his break up with Claudine?

SARA: This one is certainly up for debate… In my mind, it’s come in for coffee and sort this out once and for all! I think his decision not to come in gives her the impetus to draw a line, which is why we then see her refuse his offer.

DAMIAN: There was another lovely scene which was cut but some of the dialogue was reused again for this latest series and will hopefully find its place this time but doesn’t it reveal Strange to be a much more sensitive, perceptive and insightful man than anyone gives him credit for?

SARA: Sadly this scene is again, cut from the series. We couldn’t film it due to my other commitments.

DAMIAN: In the scene from APOLLO (S6:E2) why do you think Endeavour is so mocking and seemingly resentful of Joan trying to better herself with a career and becoming more cultured?

SARA: We loved filming this scene, a new side of their relationship to explore. Russ’ stage directions read ‘if he can’t have her, he must hurt her’. But for Joan, it’s no less hurtful for that! Using his intellectual superiority is a low blow and fairly uninventive for Morse.

DAMIAN: What was Shaun like to work with as a director?

SARA: It was weirdly the most natural thing. Nobody knows our story better, so to have him in control was the easiest of transitions. I knew he would do a fantastic job, his sets were warm and inclusive, and his passion, creativity and drive was there in abundance. The only thing I missed was our chats between takes. Being number one on the call sheet and directing doesn’t leave much time for nattering.

DAMIAN: I’m obviously not asking for any details but how far ahead do you know what Russ has planned regarding Joan and Endeavour?

SARA: Well we know there will be no white wedding, no surprise there. Russ has hinted he’s already written the final encounter, but what happens between then and now is anyone’s guess.

DAMIAN: Thursday obviously loves Win and his kids deeply but I suspect he also loves Endeavour as a trusted fellow police officer, a friend and perhaps even a surrogate son in light of the death of Cyril Morse back in HOME (S1:E4), and yet while I suspect Win might approve, given Endeavour’s forlorn and morose nature, I wonder how Thursday would react if they ever became a couple?

SARA: I’ve always thought he would be nothing but pleased.  Morse is as dependable as they come and Joan’s energy could help balance out those darker moments.

DAMIAN: I asked in our first interview how you would describe Joan’s attraction to Endeavour and you said, ‘I think Joan is very intrigued by Morse. She is not one for the ordinary and Endeavour appears to be everything out of the ordinary. They have something they can’t put their finger on. But surely that’s the best kind attraction, the indescribable.’ I wonder if your view has changed at all since then and the extent to which recent character developments for both Joan and Endeavour have made their relationship more describable or perhaps exactly the opposite?

SARA: Their feelings are much deeper for each other due to all they’ve been through, but in that process, so much more complicated. Perhaps now, they know too much…

DAMIAN: Sara, thank you very much indeed.

SARA: Thanks Damian. Always a pleasure.