‘People will always have a taste for the macabre…’

The continuation of last year’s hit detective drama Grace, starring Doctor Who’s John Simm as Detective Superintendent Roy Grace, sees him continue to deal with the emotional fallout of his wife’s mysterious disappearance, years earlier. But crime never stops, and in three standalone episodes, dealing with everything from the illegal trade of organs to snuff movies, Simm’s hardworking Brighton-based detective brings crime writer Peter James’ chilling stories to life – though this series, he finds time for a little romance with new mortuary technician (Cleo Morey, played by Zoe Tapper). John tells us more…

Coming back this series, how precarious is troubled Grace’s position?

He’s in the doghouse, because of using a medium on his previous case. He’s waiting for the result of a trial and that could go either way… pretty precarious.

There’s a new love interest, isn’t there?

Yes, he falls in love with a colleague! But his wife’s disappearance is hanging over him. It’s been six, seven years – we don’t know where she is, or what’s happened – though we do find that out, eventually.

Is it refreshing, to see that new side to Grace?

He’s almost, dare I say, happy?! It’s quite sweet. But he still feels more comfortable on a crime scene than a date. And it’s not a usual courtship – there are meaningful looks exchanged over dead bodies…

You’re dealing with such dark subject matter…

You are, but these awful things happen. As an actor, it’s probably best not to think about it too deeply. We try not to! And I’m quite squeamish at the best of times…

There’s a lot of running about – how was filming this, physically?

Well, it’s harder for me than the younger cast! In episode two, he’s chasing someone over the roof of Brighton train station! There’s a lot of fighting, too. I don’t mind it at all, but I’m cracking on a bit – the knees are a bit creaky!