Murder-solving duo return to PBS in new season of ‘Grantchester’
Decades of British crime dramas set in idyllic country towns have taught us that there is usually something dark and mysterious hiding, even in quiet corners like County Cambridgeshire. The highly anticipated new season of “Grantchester” makes its North American premiere Sunday, July 10, on PBS. Make sure to check your local listings for more detailed viewing information.
If you, like PBS, are no stranger to a period drama, then you may already know that “Grantchester,” set in the town for which it’s named, depicts a series of investigations led by DI Geordie Keating (Robson Green, “Strike Back”) and his unlikely crimesolving partners during the 1950s.
The first four seasons of “Grantchester” saw Keating team up with local vicar Sidney Chambers, played by James Norton (“Happy Valley”), until he fell in love with a woman and, having lost faith in the church, chose to immigrate to America to be with her. His absence was filled in Season 4 when the series introduced the new vicar in town, Rev. William Davenport, portrayed by Tom Brittney (“UnREAL”). Davenport was quickly swept up in Keating’s proceedings and soon became his new right-hand man when local crimes took place.
The pair of investigators can’t do it all alone, though, as they would be nowhere without the help of the dutiful Mrs. Sylvia Chapman, played by “Unforgotten” star Tessa Peake-Jones. Mrs. Chapman keeps the church in good order while remaining deeply engrained in the fabric of her community.
The eagerly anticipated seventh season of “Grantchester” sees the town celebrate the summer of 1959 with, according to the PBS website, “wedding season in full swing.” Certainly, with romance in the summertime air, there is bound to be some drama brewing about the town.
After bringing memorable guest characters to life in series like “Outlander” and “The Five,” Brittney was more than ready for a leading role when it came time for “Grantchester” to welcome a new vicar. Brittney’s Davenport immediately butts heads with Keating over his investigative process.