ITV confirms future of beloved crime drama before new series even hits screens
ITV has shared an update on fan-favourite period crime drama Grantchester which is slated to return to screens for its ninth series in 2025.
The broadcaster confirmed Grantchester has now been renewed for a tenth series following the success of its dramatic eighth season, which aired earlier this year.
Grantchester has been renewed for another series
Series 8 of the ITV drama brought a number of tumultuous events to the Cambridgeshire village of Grantchester.
As Robson Green’s character DI Geordie Keating contended with a number of crimes in the area, his friend and colleague Will Davenport (Tom Brittney) struggled with his mental health, drug abuse and recovery, before eventually celebrating the birth of his son with Bonnie (Charlotte Ritchie).
This season of the drama, which was pushed back from 2023 to 2024, proved as popular as ever.
And ITV has treated fans with the news that the series has been renewed for a tenth season while they wait in anticipation for the ninth series.
Series 9 is expected to air in early 2025, which means it would be late 2025 or early 2026 before series 10 of Grantchester makes it to the screen.
And the show is set to go through some major changes before that happens.
Will Davenport will say goodbye to Grantchester
As Grantchester fans know, Tom Brittney’s time on the drama is coming to an end in series nine. He began starring on the show as vicar Will Davenport in 2019.
But series 8 began teeing up his exit as Will was repeatedly put through the ringer. However, the finale left him in a pretty happy place, which means fans are still completely in the dark about his exit storyline, which is expected early in series 9.
Speaking about his time on the show, Tom gushed: “I’ve had the most incredible time playing Will Davenport for the last five years. I got to solve crimes with my best friend, and work with the best cast and crew I could ever ask for.”
However, he added that it was time for him to move on: “I’ll miss it more than anything. But it’s time for the baton to be passed, as it once was to me, and I’m so excited for Rishi to join the Grantchester family.”
When Tom departs, Hollyoaks alum Rishi Nair will take over as the new vicar of Grantchester. His character’s name will be Alphy Kotteram.
Rishi Nair will play new vicar Alphy Kotteram
Rishi has begun filming his scenes for the upcoming ninth season of Grantchester and has been spotted on set alongside Robson Green.
Speaking of his upcoming role, Rishi said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to be joining Grantchester. The welcome and support I’ve received from everyone has been overwhelming.
“The success of the show and the reason we are here for a ninth season is a testament to all the people that have previously worked on it. I’m really excited to get started and cannot wait for the Grantchester fans to meet Alphy and to see all that’s in store for him.”
Robson spoke about this changing of the guard — or vicar — and said: “I feel so blessed to be embarking once again on this thrilling journey with the beloved series, Grantchester. The anticipation is palpable. However, amid the exhilaration, a tinge of sadness lingers for all of us as we are bidding farewell to my close friend and remarkable actor Tom Brittney, whose portrayal of the charismatic Will Davenport will be sorely missed…
“Yet, we are all delighted in welcoming the incredibly talented Rishi Nair to the Grantchester family! With his exceptional skills and magnetic presence, I have no doubt that Rishi will be captivating the hearts of millions not only in the UK but also across the globe.”
What will series 9 be about?
Following the twists and turns of series 8, things have settled down in Grantchester when series 9 begins.
“It’s 1961 and life is good for Will and Geordie. The families are always together, from Sunday lunches to planning summer holidays and with honorary Grandparents Mrs C and Jack, and adopted uncles Daniel and Leonard, it’s one big happy family!,” the ITV synopsis teases.
But then everything changes.
“When Will is approached with a life-changing offer, can he leave Grantchester and Geordie behind?
“As Geordie struggles with personal loss and ever-growing family conflict between Cathy and teenage daughter Esme, he has no one to turn to. But when he arrests an intruder breaking into the Vicarage, he may find his days of working with a Vicar are not over.
“Reverend Alphy Kotteram has an instinctive distrust for authority and absolutely no desire to get involved in murder investigations. But Alphy and Geordie will discover they have a lot more in common than they first think, and Alphy will find that in Grantchester, murder is never far away.”
Returning cast members for series 9 include Charlotte Ritchie as Bonnie, Al Weaver as Leonard Finch, Tessa Peake-Jones as Mrs C, Kacey Ainsworth as Cathy Keating, Oliver Dimsdale as Daniel Marlowe, Nick Brimble as Jack Chapman, Bradley Hall as DC Larry Peters and Melissa Johns as Miss Scott.
Series 1 to 8 of Grantchester are available to stream on ITVX. Series 9 is coming in 2025.