Grantchester brings James Norton and Robson Green back to ITV to fight crime for another series, this time on Sunday nights.
What awaits our daring duo in their latest TV adventure? And who will they be investigating? Find out more about the cast and characters here.
Sidney Chambers (James Norton)
Priest by day, crime-solving cleric by night, Sidney’s a former Scots Guards officer on a mission – and it’s not just religious. Life has never been better for the vicar, who’s enjoying evenings out with old flame Amanda. But she’s got a baby – and an absent husband – now. Can Sidney keep doing the work he cherishes while seeing the woman he loves?
From Happy Valley psycho killer Tommy Lee Royce to War & Peace’s Prince Andrei, we’ve seen a LOT of James on our TV screens of late. He’s currently working on BBC crime drama McMafia, and he’s even popped up in Charlie Brooker’s Black Mirror too.
Geordie Keating (Robson Green)
Policeman and family man, Geordie’s an overworked Detective Inspector whose methods of fighting crime are a little rough around the edges. He’s been distant with wife Kathy of late, leaving her wondering if her husband’s eye is wandering. He’s become VERY friendly with police secretary Margaret – is there more to their friendship, though?
Soldier Soldier star Robson, aka the Robson of Robson and Jerome, is probably best known for being one half of another famous duo, but he’s popped up in many a TV series over the years. His CV boasts roles in Wire in The Blood, Waterloo Road, Mount Pleasant and Strike Back.
Leonard Finch (Al Weaver)
Finch is a rather timid and naive former teacher who studied theology before joining the church. Series two saw him struggling to come to terms with his sexuality before having his heart broken. Will Leonard stay true to himself? Or will church pressures force him to lie about what it really is that he wants?
If you’re a fan of Sherlock or The Hollow Crown you might have already spotted Al Weaver on your TV screen. He’s been in Secret State, Life in Squares (alongside James Norton), Channel 4 drama Southcliffe, and joined Nicholas Hoult on the cinema screen in 2015’s Kill Your Friends.
Mrs Maguire (Tessa Peake-Jones)
Sidney’s staunchly religious housekeeper treats the priest as though he was her own son – and that’s why she’s rather gruff with his beloved Amanda. Mrs Maguire has her own love life to worry about now too. She’s struck up a nice friendship with local man, Jack. But will she find room for him in her heart? Or is husband Ronnie still the only many she’ll ever love?
You’ll know her face well – it’s Only Fools and Horses’ one and only Raquel. Actress Tessa Peake-Jones isn’t just Del Boy’s lady love though, oh no. She’s also appeared in Casualty, Holby City, The Demon Headmaser, Midsomer Murders, Poirot, Marchlands and Doctor Who, to name but a few.
Amanda Hopkins (Morven Christie)
Sidney’s long time friend turned one-that-got-away was back to torment her pal in series two, before she fell pregnant by her husband, Guy, whom she promptly left. She’s since given birth to a baby daughter, Grace, whom Sidney has fallen head over heels for. Now all Amanda needs is a divorce – but will leaving Guy really be that easy? And even if it is, can she battle church law to be with her beloved vicar?
Lost In Austen’s Jane Bennet appeared in Doctor Who’s Under The Lake in the most recent series of the sci-fi drama. The actress has also played both Hero and Juliet for the Royal Shakespeare Company and was 2012’s Head of Legacy, Fi Healy. Last year she put in a stellar performance opposite Christopher Eccleston in The A Word, a role she’s soon to reprise for series two. Oh, and you also probably spotted her clashing with Line of Duty’s Vicky McClure in BBC drama thriller, The Replacement.
Cathy Keating (Kacey Ainsworth)
Geordie’s wife and the mother of his children almost lost one of her beloved babies in series one and struggled with her husband’s wandering eye in series two. When we catch up with her at the start of series three she’s still worried about her relationship with the police officer. Are her fears justified?
Geordie Keating’s missus would probably look more familiar with an iron in her hand and a husband on the floor, because she’s best remembered by many as EastEnders’ Little Mo – the Slater sister who whacked abusive husband Trevor across the head. She’s also had roles in numerous other TV series, including Rock & Chips, MI High, Casualty and Midsomer Murders.
Margaret Ward (Seline Hizli)
Fiercely intelligent police secretary Margaret takes no nonsense from the boys and is always on hand to assist Sidney and Geordie. But is support the only thing she’s been offering of late?
Land Girls star Seline (she played Connie Carter) appeared in Luther back in 2015 but one of her earliest TV roles saw her playing second eldest daughter Mae to Dominic West’s Fred West in drama Appropriate Adult.
DC Phil Young (Lorne MacFadyen)
The young policeman may be new to the force but he pulls no punches when it comes to solving crime. And he’s no fool when it comes to working out what his co-workers have been up to either…
MacFadyen landed his Grantchester role just two weeks after leaving drama school, and went on to star in ITV drama The Level. He also played Bobby Moore opposite Michelle Keegan in Tina and Bobby.
Archdeacon Gabriel Atubo (Gary Beadle)
Sidney’s new boss is eager to restore the church’s reputation in the community – and that’s bad news for the loved-up vicar and his soon to be divorced sweetheart.
Remember EastEnders’ Patrick Trueman had a son called Paul? Yup. That’s right. It’s him. Gary Beadle. The actor is probably best known for his stint on Albert Square, but you’ll also have spotted him in Absolutely Fabulous, Grange Hill, Silent Witness, Thieves Like Us, Doctors, The Sarah Jane Adventures, In The Heart of The Sea and The Interceptor, to name but a few.
Guy Hopkins (Tom Austen)
Amanda’s husband is back, and he’s regretting his decision to turn his back on his baby daughter.
Austen stars in E! drama The Royals as the dastardly bodyguard, Jasper, and also recently popped up in ITV drama Unforgotten. More devoted fans will recognise him from episodes of Misfits, Jo and Beaver Falls. And he’s soon to be seen in Bitter Harvest alongside Samantha Barks (Les Miserables), Max Irons (The White Queen) and Aneurin Barnard (War & Peace, Thirteen).
Hilary Franklin (Emily Bevan)
Hilary his hiding a dark secret – can Leonard convince her to share it?
You’ll probably recognise actress Emily Bevan as In The Flesh’s Amy Dyer, or The Casual Vacancy’s Mary Fairbrother. She’s been all over our TV screens in the past decade, with roles in Phoneshop, The Thick of It and Doc Martin. Oh, and she’s also popped up on cinema screens in films like St Trinian’s and Testament of Youth.
Geoff Towler (Peter Davison)
Village solicitor Geoff is captain of the cricket team and rules his family with a rod of iron.
You’ll know Peter Davison best as the Fifth Time Lord from Doctor Who, or as All Creatures Great and Small’s Tristan Farnon, but he’s had roles in numerous TV series down the years, such as A Very Perculiar Practice, At Home With The Braithwaites, The Last Detective, The Tomorrow People and Law & Order UK, to name but a few.
Ronnie Maguire (Charlie Higson)
Mrs Maguire’s missing husband has been keeping secrets and Sidney’s about to find out all about them
The man who gave us young James Bond novels and ITV’s Jekyll & Hyde and the Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased) revival is no stranger to TV screens. He’s probably best remembered for his work on The Fast Show as Ralph, the landowner master of Farmer Ted, Swiss Toni or the suits your sir tailor. Higson wrote for Harry Enfield’s Television Programme in the early 1990s, and penned many of the spin-offs, including Fast Show spin-off TV movie Ted and Ralph. Oh, and chances are you spotted him playing Ian Winterman, husband to Trish, in the latest series of Broadchurch too.
Cora (Lorraine Ashbourne)
Gypsy matriarch Cora is dearly loved by her family, so when tragedy strikes it’s not wonder they’re so eager to rally around her.
Lorraine Ashbourne could almost call the Royal Exchange, Manchester her theatrical home, given she’s played so many roles on its stage. The veteran actress has a decent TV CV too, with roles in Jericho, The Interceptor and Housewife, 49 to name but a few. Earlier this year she starred as DI Tessa Nixon in Unforgotten’s second series. And you might also have spotted her on the big screen in films such as Fever Pitch and Jack and Sarah.
Pal (Adrian Bower)
Pal is next in line to lead his family on their travels and is preparing for the wedding of his daughter, Luella
Mount Pleasant’s Greg will be well known to fans of The Last Kingdom as Lefroic, and if you loved Charlie Brooker’s crime solving spoof, A Touch of Cloth, you’ll probably recognize him as DC Des Hairihan too.
Luella (Alexa Davies)
Luella is about to marry Abraham, but is she really ready to go through with the wedding?
Alexa Davies has quite the comedy back catalogue, having played Aretha Garry in Caitlin Moran’s Raised By Wolves, Yvonne in Danny Baker’s Cradle to Grave and Kate in BBC4’s Detectorists. Most recently you may have spotted her in ITV Encore’s Harlots, playing prostitute Betsey Fletcher.
Freda (Candis Nergaard)
Freda catches Sidney’s eye when he visits the gypsy camp
Nergaard will be a familiar face for fans of E4’s Glue, because she played Kate in the mystery drama. You might also have spotted her in Call The Midwife, or in ITV’s The Interceptor.
Abraham (Ewan Mitchell)
Young Abraham is eager to marry Luella and follow in the footsteps of her father, Pal
Remember The Halycon’s very own Billy Taylor or The Last Kingdom’s Osferth? Yep, that’s why Ewan Mitchell looks so familiar. He’s played both.
Marcus Ruskin (Simon Lennon)
Local landowner’s son Marcus is a good friend of the family – but can he remain that way?
Love Our Girl? Then you’ll definitely recognize Simon Lennon because he’s played Brains in the army drama since 2014.
from Radio Times https://ift.tt/2lE2iWO
