IT'S NOT just the usual suspects who will be appearing alongside Oxford's favourite detective when he returns to screens next month.

New Tricks' Phil Daniels, Game Of Thrones' Donald Sumpter and Prisoners' Wives actress Emma Rigby have all joined the cast of ITV's Endeavour for a star-studded fifth series.

The trio join the regular cast of the popular detective drama, including Shaun Evans who reprises his role as a young Inspector Morse.

The series, which is filmed in Oxford, is set to return with six feature-length films in February.

Daniels starred as Kevin Wicks in Eastenders for two years from 2006 while Sumpter will be reunited with fellow Thrones actor Anton Lesser, who portrays Chief Superintendent Reginald Bright.

Other guest stars include Call The Midwife's Robin Weaver, Game Of Thrones' Charlotte Hope, Mrs Biggs actress Caroline Goodall, Wolf Hall's Lily Lesser and Apple Tree Yard's Steve Elder.

Endeavour producer Tom Mullens said: "It's an honour to have so many great names joining us for the new series.

"And across the six films we have many compelling worlds to explore - from Hollywood glamour and Egyptian curses to espionage amidst European sporting events - which we hope will continue to excite and entertain."

The drama, penned by series creator Russell Lewis, begins with Detective Sergeant Endeavour Morse having finally passed his Sergeant's exams, as Oxford City Police merges into Thames Valley Constabulary.

It is the first Endeavour series to air since the death of Inspector Morse author Colin Dexter in March 2017.