Endeavour star Shaun Evans is in great spirits as he flips between acting and directing scenes

Filming is underway for the newest season of Endeavour – the Inspector Morse prequel series.

And filming in Oxford on Sunday saw star Shaun Evans acting in and directing scenes,

The eighth season got back to work after a COVID-19 delay recently, set to air later in the year.

Back to work: Endeavour star Shaun Evans was in great spirits as he flipped between acting and directing scenes on location in Oxford for the new series

Shaun, 41, was in high spirits as he chatted to the rest of the cast and crew on the historic Oxford streets before putting on a stern display in character for the scenes.

He wore his Inspector Morse costume – a dark trench coat over a shirt, tie and slacks.

He donned a mask when off-camera, seen hanging out by the equipment and chatting to the crew.

There were actresses on set, in 1970s ensembles, looking stoney-faced in the gritty scenes. 

Mean girls? There were actresses on set, in 1970s ensembles, looking stoney-faced in the gritty scenes

Mean girls? There were actresses on set, in 1970s ensembles, looking stoney-faced in the gritty scenes

Gritty: Shaun, 41, put on a stern display in character for the scenes

Gritty: Shaun, 41, put on a stern display in character for the scenes

Filming: The eighth season got back to work after a COVID-19 delay recently, set to air later in the year

Filming: The eighth season got back to work after a COVID-19 delay recently, set to air later in the year

In character: He wore his Inspector Morse costume - a dark trench coat over a shirt, tie and slacks

In character: He wore his Inspector Morse costume – a dark trench coat over a shirt, tie and slacks

Down time: He donned a mask when off-camera, seen hanging out by the equipment and chatting to the crew

Down time: He donned a mask when off-camera, seen hanging out by the equipment and chatting to the crew

Director hat: Filming in Oxford on Sunday saw star Shaun acting in and directing scenes

 Director hat: Filming in Oxford on Sunday saw star Shaun acting in and directing scenes

Another actress was seen strutting along in a mini-skirt, passing by a flaming barrel 

Shaun plays the titular character, a younger incarnation of the legendary Inspector Morse, made famous by the late actor John Thaw, who played the role from 1987 until his death in 1999.

Shaun told PBS about the delay in the current series last year: ‘The world’s such a strange place at the moment. There is a plan for there to be a season eight – we should have been shooting that now, really.

‘But already it’s been pushed back until next year, which, to be honest, I think is a blessing.

Fiery: Another actress was seen strutting along in a mini-skirt, passing by a flaming barrel

Fiery: Another actress was seen strutting along in a mini-skirt, passing by a flaming barrel

Back in production: Filming is underway for the newest season of Endeavour - the Inspector Morse prequel series

Back in production: Filming is underway for the newest season of Endeavour – the Inspector Morse prequel series

Shaun plays the titular character, a younger incarnation of the legendary Inspector Morse, made famous by the late actor John Thaw, who played the role from 1987 until his death in 1999

Shaun plays the titular character, a younger incarnation of the legendary Inspector Morse, made famous by the late actor John Thaw, who played the role from 1987 until his death in 1999

Vintage: Shaun told PBS about the delay in the current series last year that 'the world’s such a strange place at the moment - there is a plan for there to be a season eight'

Vintage: Shaun told PBS about the delay in the current series last year that ‘the world’s such a strange place at the moment – there is a plan for there to be a season eight’

Shaun said: 'Already it’s been pushed back until next year, which, to be honest, I think is a blessing. First and foremost, we’re very lucky to have the opportunity to return and do any more, especially at this late in the game. 'So the fact that it has been pushed until next year only gives us more time to perfect [it], which can only be a good thing'

Shaun said: ‘Already it’s been pushed back until next year, which, to be honest, I think is a blessing. First and foremost, we’re very lucky to have the opportunity to return and do any more, especially at this late in the game. ‘So the fact that it has been pushed until next year only gives us more time to perfect [it], which can only be a good thing’

‘First and foremost, we’re very lucky to have the opportunity to return and do any more, especially at this late in the game.

‘So the fact that it has been pushed until next year only gives us more time to perfect [it], which can only be a good thing.

‘But yes, in short, there will – fingers crossed, God willing, all being well – be a season eight!’

Indeed there is, as the hive of activity in Oxford demonstrated on Sunday.