Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
New names could save Grantchester
ITV’S Grantchester could be saved from the axe if it “does a Death In Paradise” and replaces its leading actors, according to writer James Runcie.
The deceptively dark drama, starring James Norton and Robson Green as an unlikely crime-fighting duo, seemed destined to end after three successful series because Norton – who also stars in Happy Valley – is hot property.
But creator Runcie says the show’s six million loyal fans will not necessarily be left bereft.
Confirming there were no current plans for a fourth run, he said: “James Norton is in such big demand now that I’ve no idea if he’ll be available to film a new series.
“But Death in Paradise has replaced the leading man, and that’s still going strong, so if the worst comes to the worst…” His comments, made at the Harrogate crime writing festival, back up Robson Green’s thoughts from earlier this summer.
“The series can carry on most definitely. Whether I’m in it or James is in it, or whoever, is another question,” he said.
Robson, 52, stressed that channel chiefs were likely to fight to keep it going, because it’s one of their most popular series. He explained: “It is a secure entity now and it’s up there with the best of what ITV’S got to offer at the moment.”
Death In Paradise proved a big hit for BBC1 with Ben Miller as the lead, and continued to attract huge numbers when he was replaced by Kris Marshall for series three in 2013.
Now Marshall has quit to spend more time with his young family and Ardal O’hanlon will take over the reins in series seven.
In Grantchester, there is already an obvious exit plot for Norton’s character, vicar Sidney Chambers.
He spent most of the recent third run trying to decide whether or not to give up his faith in order to marry the woman he loves, Morven Christie’s Amanda. The series ended with him storming round to Amanda’s house and making love to her, indicating that he has chosen her above his calling. As a vicar in the 1950s, Sidney was banned from marrying a divorced woman. His decision to seemingly quit paves the way for a new clergyman to arrive. And Robson’s police officer character Geordie Keating could stay to help or be similarly replaced.