ITV announces cast of ‘Grantchester’

ITV has confirmed the cast of new six-part crime drama, Grantchester, adapted from the James Runcie novel, ‘Sidney Chambers and the Shadow of Death’.

James Norton (Death Comes to Pemberley, Rush) will play the role of Sidney Chambers – the moral compass of the drama, and a charismatic, charming clergyman who turns investigative vicar when one of his parishioners dies in suspicious circumstances.

Written by Daisy Coulam (EastEnders, Casualty), the drama is set in Cambridge in 1953 also stars Robson Green (Reckless, Wire In The Blood) as plain speaking, over-worked Police Inspector, Geordie Keating.

Morven Christie (Hunted, Twenty Twelve) will play beautiful heiress Amanda Kendall, whose love for Sidney, although reciprocated, doesn’t have a future, as her father wants her to marry an aristocratic beau.

Tessa Peake-Jones (Marchlands, Only Fools and Horses) will play Sidney’s housekeeper, the indomitable Mrs Maguire who keeps him in check and does her best to keep his chaotic vicarage presentable and respectable. He also has gorgeous black Labrador puppy, Dickens, for company.

EastEnders Kacey Ainsworth will play Geordie’s loving wife Cathy.  Cathy is a busy mother of three with a fourth child on the way.

Sidney’s moustachioed curate, Leonard Finch, will be played by Al Weaver (Southcliffe, Secret State), whilst pale, interesting and stunning widow, Hildegard Staunton, is played by German actress Pheline Roggan.

Also joining the cast are Fiona Button as Sidney’s younger sister Jennifer Chambers, Ukweli Roach as Jennifer’s boyfriend, Johnny Johnson, Tom Austen as Guy Hopkins and Pip Torrens as Amanda’s aristocratic father, Sir Edward Kendall.

ITV by Director of Drama Steve November says:

“Daisy Coulam’s scripts are vivid and beautifully written with some wonderful characters at the heart of the stories. There’s an emotional truth and gravity to this series which makes it a very compelling drama.”

Executive Producer Diederick Santer said: “Grantchester is a real labour of love for me and Lovely Day.  Sidney is a charming, but complex character, a man of faith burdened by his past despite a distinguished wartime record, he’s funny, dashing and inquisitive.  He loves being a parish priest in the exquisite village of Grantchester, but somehow it’s not enough and he still finds time to fall in and out of love and solve crimes. James Runcie has created this brilliant character and this glorious world, which Daisy Coulam is now bringing to the screen in her wonderful and lavish scripts, and I can’t wait for ITV’s audience to get to know him too.”

The series is produced by Lovely Day, a sister company of Kudos. Producer is Emma Kingsman-Lloyd (DCI Banks, Life of Crime, Lip Service), executive producer is Lovely Day’s Diederick Santer (Cutting It, Jane Eyre, EastEnders).  The Lead Director for the series will be Harry Bradbeer (Prisoners’ Wives, The Hour, The Cops, This Life).

Grantchester begins filming this month (March 2014) in London, Cambridge and Grantchester and shooting will continue until June.