When people talk about Foyle’s War, they usually start with Michael Kitchen. His DCS Christopher Foyle is a masterclass in "less is more." But honestly? The show wouldn't have worked without the man standing—well, leaning—right next to him. Paul Milner, played by Anthony Howell, wasn't just a sidekick. He was the show’s moral barometer and its most tragic window into the reality of the British home front.
You probably remember how he started. A shell-shocked soldier sitting in a hospital bed, missing part of his leg and most of his will to live. It was Foyle who basically dragged him back into the world. But that recovery wasn't a straight line.
The Paul Milner Foyle's War Arc: More Than Just a Badge
Milner’s introduction in the pilot, "The German Woman," is pretty brutal. He’s a former policeman who joined the army, went to Norway, and came back in pieces. Literally. He lost his lower left leg during the disastrous Norwegian Campaign at Trondheim.
When Foyle visits him, Milner is ready to give up. He thinks he’s useless. Foyle, being Foyle, doesn’t give him a pep talk; he gives him a job. That dynamic defines their relationship for years. Foyle provides the anchor, and Milner provides the legwork—even when that legwork is painful.
But here is what most people forget: Milner almost blew it immediately.
In the second episode, "The White Feather," Milner gets sucked into the rhetoric of a pro-fascist group. You've got to remember the context of 1940. He was angry, disabled, and feeling abandoned by his country. He almost becomes the villain of his own story. It’s a gutsy bit of writing that makes him human instead of a "brave hero" caricature. Foyle pulls him back from the brink, but that shadow of doubt lingers.
👉 See also: The Entire History of You: What Most People Get Wrong About the Grain
The Tragedy of Jane and the Hope of Edith
Milner’s personal life was, frankly, a mess for a long time. His first wife, Jane, couldn't handle his disability. She was cold. She was embarrassed by his prosthetic leg. Eventually, she just walked out.
It’s one of the saddest subplots in the series. You see this man trying to maintain his dignity while his own wife treats him like a broken piece of furniture. When she eventually returns in Series 4 ("Bad Blood"), it leads to one of the show's biggest shocks. Jane is murdered, and for a hot minute, the police actually suspect Milner.
Watching him navigate that—the guilt of an unhappy marriage ending in blood—was heavy stuff.
Thankfully, the writers didn't leave him in the dark forever. His relationship with Edith Ashford (Caroline Martin) was the "happily ever after" he actually deserved. Edith was a nurse who knew him before the war. She didn't see a "cripple"; she saw Paul. By the time the original run of the show ended, they were married with a baby on the way.
Why Anthony Howell Left (And Why the Show Changed)
If you watched the later seasons—the ones where Foyle joins MI5 during the Cold War—you probably noticed a big, Milner-shaped hole in the cast.
✨ Don't miss: Shamea Morton and the Real Housewives of Atlanta: What Really Happened to Her Peach
Anthony Howell played Paul Milner from 2002 to 2010. After the episode "The Hide," which served as a series finale before the show was later revived, Milner was written out. He had been promoted to Detective Inspector and moved to Brighton.
It made sense for the character. Milner had finally outgrown Foyle's shadow. He was his own man. But for the fans? It felt wrong. The trio of Foyle, Sam, and Milner was the "holy trinity" of British period drama.
What made Milner so effective?
- Physicality: Howell didn't just limp; he showed the exhaustion of moving through a world not built for him.
- The "Everyman" Perspective: While Foyle was almost supernaturally wise, Milner was impulsive. He got angry. He made mistakes.
- Loyalty: Despite their occasional friction, his devotion to Foyle was absolute. He was the "loyal puppy" who eventually grew into a "bulldog" of his own.
The Brighton Promotion: What Really Happened with Paul Milner?
In the timeline of the show, Milner moves to Brighton to lead his own department. When Foyle briefly encounters him later, there’s a bit of tension. Milner has become a bit more rigid, a bit more "by the book" than Foyle ever was.
It was a realistic, if slightly depressing, look at how the student often becomes a different kind of master than the teacher. Milner had to find his own way of policing, and that meant stepping away from Foyle’s quiet, intuitive style.
Actionable Tips for Rewatching Milner’s Best Moments
If you’re diving back into the archives, don't just watch for the mysteries. Watch Milner. Here is how to spot the nuances:
🔗 Read more: Who is Really in the Enola Holmes 2 Cast? A Look at the Faces Behind the Mystery
- Watch his hands: In the early episodes, Howell plays Milner with a nervous fidget. He’s constantly adjusting to his "new" body. By Series 6, he’s still, confident, and grounded.
- Look for the "Foyle Look": Throughout the series, Milner starts picking up Foyle's habits. The way he stands, the way he lets a suspect talk themselves into a corner—it’s a subtle "passing of the torch" that happens over eight years.
- The "Bad Blood" Performance: If you only watch one Milner-centric episode, make it this one. The range of emotions—from grief to being a murder suspect—is Howell's best work in the series.
Where is Anthony Howell Now?
Since hanging up the detective's hat, Anthony Howell hasn't slowed down. You might have seen him in Mr. Selfridge or heard his voice in massive video games like Elden Ring (he’s the voice of Margit/Morgott, which is a wild jump from 1940s Hastings).
He remains a staple of British TV, but for many of us, he’ll always be the sergeant with the walking stick who proved that being "broken" by war doesn't mean you're finished.
Your Foyle’s War Watchlist for Paul Milner
If you want the "Milner Essentials," queue these up:
- The German Woman (S1, E1): The origin story.
- The White Feather (S1, E2): When he almost loses his way to fascism.
- Bad Blood (S4, E2): The tragedy of his first marriage.
- The Hide (S6, E3): His final regular appearance and his promotion.
Rewatching these episodes back-to-back shows a transformation that few TV characters get. He went from a man wanting to die in a hospital ward to a husband, father, and respected Inspector. That's the real victory of the series.
To truly appreciate the character, pay close attention to the silence between Foyle and Milner. Often, it's what they don't say to each other that carries the most weight. Notice how Milner stops asking for Foyle's approval and starts trusting his own gut. That's the moment the character truly becomes whole again.