Unusual crime-fighting duo return

ITV has confirmed that Robson Green (Wire In The Blood) and James Norton (Happy Valley) are about to begin filming the second series of period crime-drama, Grantchester.

The six-part series – which is based on The Grantchester Mysteries by James Runcie – will see James and Robson reprise their roles as charming, crime-fighting clergyman Sidney Chambers, and his partner in crime, Police Inspector Geordie Kensington respectively.

Tessa Peake-Jones (Marchlands) will be returning once again as Sidney’s indomitable housekeeper Mrs Maguire. Morven Christie (From There To Here) will be back as Sidney’s glamorous friend Amanda and Kacey Ainsworth (EastEnders) will return as Geordie’s wife Cathy.  Al Weaver (Sherlock) will also reprise his role as curate Leonard Finch, and not forgetting the gorgeous black Labrador Dickens, who will also return.

In 1954 murderers were still hanged.  And in this new series Sidney and Geordie have to face up to the consequences of becoming such an accomplished crime fighting duo.  For Sidney, in particular, as the vicar in a small village this becomes increasingly difficult.

In the final episode of the last series, Geordie was shot on duty.  A year on, he appears to have put this behind him. But underneath his carefree exterior there are new feelings of vulnerability, and this puts a strain on his relationship with Cathy, and his friendship with Sidney.

Sidney is still single and Geordie makes it his mission to find him a woman.  But the handsome vicar clearly still only has eyes for Amanda – whom we last saw when she was about to marry Sidney’s rival Guy.

Grantchester is a Lovely Day and MASTERPIECE co-production for ITV, and will be directed by Tim Fywell (Happy Valley, Masters of Sex) and David O’Neill (Death In Paradise, Law & Order: UK). Lead writer is Daisy Coulam (EastEnders). John Jackson (Being Human) and Joshua St Johnston (The Enfield Haunting) will also write for the series.

Lovely Day’s Managing Director Diederick Santer, said: “We were delighted with the response to Grantchester and are so pleased to be making a second series. All our key characters are returning, we’ve got some terrific new stories, and we’re looking forward to taking further Grantchester’s unique mix of character, crime, humour and emotion.”

ITV by Director of Drama Steve November, said: “James Norton and Robson Green have become a popular crime solving duo and it’s great to see them return to ITV. The new series promises six new episodes filed with mystery, intrigue and character driven plots, with lots of twists and turns. Whist the drama is set in a beautiful, picturesque village, we’ll be delving deeper and darker than before.”

Grantchester will be filmed in London, Cambridge, and Grantchester, the picturesque Cambridgeshire village for transmission on ITV in 2016.