John Thaw 'hoped to return to TV'

John Thaw was discussing the possibility of going back to work only a week before he died, friends have revealed.

The 60-year-old star of Inspector Morse, The Sweeney and Kavanagh QC - whose roles made him a "national treasure" - died at his home in Luckington, near Chippenham, Wiltshire, yesterday with his family at his side.

He was diagnosed with cancer of the oesophagus last June, but was so determined to beat it that he was discussing new projects only last week.

His wife, actress Sheila Hancock, who is 69 today, said: "We have all been so grateful for the thousands of letters and messages from people wishing him well. Everyone has been wonderful during this difficult period and I would like them all to know how much their support and understanding meant to him and to all of us."

Tributes were led by Morse's creator, Colin Dexter, who said today: "He loved his work. He was a perfectionist, that's how I will remember him, giving 100 per cent.

"We met in 1986. I hadn't seen him before because I don't watch television. I felt I was extraordinarily fortunate in terms of the casting director who gave John the part of Inspector Morse. I have known many other crime writers who have been very ill-served by the choice of actor to play the great detective.

"I spoke to him only 10 days ago. He sounded optimistic and hopeful that he would soon be back to work. He loved TV and he loved acting."

Speaking about when they first discussed the role, Dexter added: "He said he thought he would enjoy playing Morse more than he enjoyed playing most things. He had so many characteristics in common with Morse: his love of music; his pessimism about the way the world was changing and his love of women."

ITV's director of channels, David Liddiment, said: "Throughout his distinguished career John understood the power of the small screen. He was the consummate television actor and caught the imagination of millions of viewers."

Television producer Ted Childs had tea with the Thaw and his wife only last week and discussed the possibility of working on another episode of Kavanagh QC. "John was as he has been throughout his illness - positive, funny and self-effacing," said Mr Childs, who worked with Thaw for nearly 30 years on Morse, The Sweeney and other programmes." Even in recent weeks, when he clearly wasn't very well, he was anxious to get back to work and had a great sense of humour."

He said Thaw was "quite a private person" who shied away from the limelight. "He wasn't somebody who was desperate for showbusiness recognition. He was very much a family man," he added.

Actress Sarah Lancashire, who starred with Thaw in ITV drama The Glass last year, said Thaw was a "national treasure" and would be "greatly missed". She added: "It was a privilege to have worked with John but an even greater one to have known him, albeit briefly, as a friend."

Clive Jones, the chief executive of Carlton, which made Inspector Morse, Goodnight Mister Tom and Kavanagh QC, said "He was one of the great actors of his generation. He was universally the viewers' choice."

Thaw landed his first film role in 1962 in The Loneliness Of The Long Distance Runner, but become a star in 1974 as hardman DI Jack Regan in gritty London cop series The Sweeney, with memorable lines like "shut it".

A spin-off film landed him the Evening Standard best actor award in 1977. His Sweeney costar, Dennis Waterman, said last night: "I'm too upset to talk."

Thaw played Morse for 13 years before the gruff, operaloving Oxford detective was killed off in November 2000. Thirteen million viewers saw the detective die in hospital after a heart attack.

John Thaw was born in Manchester in January 1942 and brought up by his father, a long-distance lorry driver, after his mother abandoned the family when he was seven years old. A rebellious teenager who took no interest in school, he was encouraged to apply for a place at RADA by a teacher who had spotted his talent.

Although he initially hated the college, on leaving he landed several theatre roles and played minor parts in TV series Z Cars and later as a military policeman in the ITV series Redcap.

Thaw's parents died from cancer and Miss Hancock suffered from breast cancer 13 years ago. The couple had one daughter, Joanna. He also had another daughter, Abigail, from his previous marriage and was step-father to Melanie, the daughter from Ms Hancock's first marriage. He was made a CBE in 1993.

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