The star of the period detective drama reveals five secrets from the set

1 My detective character Geordie Keating, who solves crimes in Cambridgeshire in the 1950s with the help of vicar Will Davenport, has a simple wardrobe, including several versions of the same threepiece suit. There was a move to take me out of the ‘mauve’ suit, as my mother calls it, and into a grey one but the executive producer said, ‘Take it off, it makes you look too much like Robson.’ So back came the mauve suit.

2 Some of us did a pub quiz while filming the latest series. One question was, ‘What are the names of Geordie Keating’s kids?’

– and I didn’t know them all! We lost because of that. Tom Brittney, who plays Will, has also offered to bring his guitar to the set but there’s no sign yet of us becoming the new Robson and Jerome!

3 I was guilty of holding things upon set when my phone vibrated while Geordie and Will were investigating a dead body. It was in my pocket and there was a beep and a message saying, ‘Parliament in crisis’. I swear all the settings were correct, and the phone was effectively off, but the newsflash was obviously too important to be ignored!

4 Will’s vicarage is actually a house in Lemsford, Hertfordshire, and in front of it is a farm, not a high street like in the series. The real vicar of Grantchester actually lives in his vicarage, so it’s impossible to film there.

5 Fishing is a big part of my life and i’ ve been known to finish a scene, spot someone trout fishing in the River Cam and give them advice like, ‘You’re standing too far back, mate, step a little closer if you want to catch something.’ I was even given a week off in the schedule so I could go fishing.

Geordie and Will