He spent decades trying to keep Brit-ain’s most popular maverick detective in check.

But now, in his retirement, the man who played Inspector Morse’s boss is happy to let others take the strain.

For actor James Grout and his wife Noreen are the enthusiastic innovators of a new concept in social care – one which, if it catches on, could revolutionise the way the elderly are looked after across the West.

Mr Grout, who played Chief Supt Strange in the Inspector Morse TV series over the course of three decades, celebrated his 81st birthday last month and finds it more challenging to get about his home town of Malmesbury, Wiltshire.

So the couple have signed up to a new scheme to help more mature folk stay more independent in their own homes, while at the same time helping the housing crisis for younger, single people in rural areas.

A bit of added security

The scheme involves social care bosses at Wiltshire County Council acting like a dating agency. for younger people and older people. The scheme matches people who need help in their home with people who are prepared to give help in return for having somewhere to live.

For the elderly with a spare room, it gives them company and a bit of added security as well as someone to look after the house. For the younger person, it gives them somewhere nice to live in return for about 10 hours a week of housework.

The scheme has been running for a year in Wiltshire now, and the Grouts are one of just a handful who have taken to the idea. The Grouts opened up their home to Polish theatre nurse Ewa Gajda, who works at the Royal United Hospital in Bath. All three say it’s been a great success.

“I simply can’t work out why it’s not been a more popular idea,” said Noreen Grout, 81. “It really is a godsend and everyone’s a winner. It’s been so good I can only come to the conclusion that people don’t know about it, or don’t realise what it is, so that’s why I agreed to publicise it more.

“It does take a wee while to get sorted – there’s lots of paperwork and checks and there’s police checks and everything and it is a bit of work, but it’s all for reassurance to make sure both parties are going to be nice.

“Ewa started living here in July and she’s been an absolute boon. For old folk with rooms to spare, it would be so marvellous to have someone there helping out,” she added.

Homeshare, is another of the “outside-the-box” idea from Wiltshire social services after they started a social care revolution two years ago because they faced huge debts and an ageing population.

Susan Verity, the Homeshare co-ordinator at Wiltshire County Council, said: “Homeshare works because it is about both partners getting something they need and they both have something to offer. It is an equal partnership.

“It works on the basis of someone has a spare room in their home but needs some help around the house or simply some company or the security of another adult in the house at night. Someone else is looking for somewhere to live and is prepared to give some help around the house.

“We are looking to expand the scheme as it has been such a success – it allows people to maintain independence in their own lives giving them choice and control about how and where they live.

“It’s all part of Wiltshire County Council supporting people to live the life they want.”

Mrs Grout said: “It has been a real relief not to have to worry about keeping on top of things. I am now more relaxed and can spend more time with my husband.

, just being together and helping him as he has become less able around the house.“ I can’t recommend it highly enough.”

Ewa said: “I have nice accommodation to live in now, and they are very nice people – we get on very well.”

Anyone interested in finding out more about the Homeshare scheme can email homeshare@wiltshire.gov.uk or call the Social Care helpdesk on 01225 713001.