‘Grantchester’ now richer… and darker
THE popular British period crimedrama series, Grantchester, has returned for a third season. And our handsome vicar, Sidney Chambers (James Norton), is back to solve crimes alongside Robson Green, who is magnificently grumpy in his role as Police Inspector Geordie Keating.
In this six-part series, which is set in the 1950s, Archdeacon Gabriel Atubo (Gary Beadle) reminds Chambers that, as a clergyman, he must put duty above his own needs and lead by example – this isn’t easy to do, given his feelings for Amanda.
Meanwhile, Keating’s marriage to Cathy is still going strong. But is it strong enough to survive those sparks between Margaret and him?
And Mrs Maguire’s friendship with Jack (Nick Brimble) grows a little stronger.
As for what fans can expect from this new season, Norton says: “If you described Grantchester to someone and they hadn’t seen it, they might assume it simply has that cosy, nostalgic, crime story feel. But as anyone who has seen the show knows, it is so much more. It has so many more layers and is so much richer, deeper and darker than that.
“Series three is a very personal series. It’s perhaps less about the period, what defined the ’50s in comparison with now, and is much more about the inner turmoil and personal journey of Sidney and Geordie. It’s about guilt and conflict. The conflict between love and duty. It is shocking and it is dark, but in a slightly different, more personal way.”
As for his character’s relationship with Amanda, he said: “We last saw them in the Christmas special. We join Sidney and Amanda four months later and they are living in denial. Amanda’s baby is called Grace and, as we know, Amanda is no longer with her husband Guy (Tom Austen).
“Sidney has very clearly become this father figure with Amanda living separate to him in a little cottage in the village near the church. They are, in a way, living like teenagers. Stealing kisses behind the church and sneaking out for jazz nights with Mrs Maguire (Tessa Peake-Jones) babysitting Grace. It’s playful and fun.
“But they are resisting or denying the impending decision: if Amanda divorces Guy, she can’t marry Sidney, and she can’t have a relationship with Sidney unless he leaves the church. So it sets up this duty-versus-love conflict.”
Grantchester’s cricket captain is played by Peter Davison. What was it like working with him?
He says: “Peter is one of those actors who has such a great acting history. Someone I’ve admired for years. But what’s so wonderful is you would never know. He’s just a lovely, down to earth man. To have the opportunity to work with him was great.”
With any TV series, there has to be a new character who brings about a shift to the current dynamics. In this season, that person is Beadle.
Norton says: “When you have this dutyversus-love conundrum, the duty part very much is manifested in the church. At the end of series two with the Archdeacon being sent away in disgrace, it started to lay the seeds of Sidney’s doubts in the actual CHALK AND CHEESE: Robson Green (Inspector Geordie Keating) and James Norton (vicar Sidney Chambers) are back in the third season of the British period crime-drama, church. Archdeacon Gabriel arrives and is really charismatic. He provides this older brother-type mentor, father figure in Sidney’s life. He offers (sage) advice when Sidney is struggling. But it’s not enough. It’s not just Sidney’s love of Amanda that is eating away at him, it’s also his doubts within the institution of the church.”
Norton’s dad is a regular extra on the series, too. And his mum makes an appearance this season.
He said: “She is in series three of Grantchester with my dad as guests at a policeman’s ball. She was slightly terrified at how much she looked like my granny when she got the proper perm on and everything.”
Grantchester 3, episode 2 airs on ITV Choice (DStv Channel 123) at 8pm tonight.