Chief Superintendent Strange is a key character in the Inspector Morse television series. Detective Chief Inspector Morse is a fictional character, who features in a series of thirteen detective novels by British author Colin Dexter, though he is better known for the 33 episode TV series produced by Central Independent Television from 1987–2000, in which he was portrayed by John Thaw. ...

Although Strange does not appear in every episode of Inspector Morse, he is present in the whole series (of 33 2-hour TV films) from beginning to end. The intervening episodes from which he is absent are few in number.

Strange is played by British actor James Grout. James Grout (born 22 October 1927 in London) is an English television and radio actor. ...

The character, holding the rank of Chief Superintendent, is the Divisional Commander for Oxford city, of the Thames Valley Police force. His relationship with the principal character, Morse, is at times turbulent. Strange is a traditionalist, a Freemason, and a stickler for rules and regulations. Morse is also a traditionalist, but not in the same conservative sense as Strange; likewise, Morse is not interested in Freemasonry, although he proves knowledgable on the subject, and in the 15th episode Masonic Mysteries proves his knowledge from the sublime (deep symbolism of masonry) to the less so (revealing to a junior traffic cop that he knows the masonic handshake, and that he is fully aware of which members of the local police are in the lodge); it is certainly true that the rules and regulations often frustrated Morse, and this led to disagreements with Strange. Oxford is a city and local government district in Oxfordshire, England, with a population of 134,248 (2001 census). ... Thames Valley Police is one of the largest Home Office police services in England and the largest non-metropolitan one, covering 2200 sq mi (5,700 km²) and a population of 2. ... American Square & Compasses Freemasonry is a worldwide fraternal organization. ... The Masonic Square and Compasses. ... Look up lodge in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

However, it is also clear that Strange has a deep respect for Morse, even if not always appreciating his methods. Despite often addressing Morse, somewhat dismisively, as "Matey", a clear mutual respect eventually shines through their relationship - in the final episode (number 33), in which Morse dies, Strange's attitude towards Morse might even be described as fond and affectionate.

Chief Superintendent Strange also showed a clear respect for and of Sergeant Lewis, Morse's loyal assistant, and ultimately gave Lewis strong encouragement to seek promotion to Detective Inspector - as indeed he had encouraged him earlier in the series to apply for a vacant Inspector's position in the Oxford traffic police. Robbie Lewis is the sidekick in the Inspector Morse crime novels by Colin Dexter and television series of the same name. ... The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is the branch of all British Police forces to which plain clothes detectives belong. ...