Grantchester Season 2 Press Kit

GRANTCHESTER RETURNS TO ITV THIS MARCH The information contained herein is strictly and wholly embargoed from all press, online and social media use, non-­‐commercial publication, or syndication until 00.01 Tuesday 23rd February 2016 Press Release ............................................................................................................................ Pages 3 -­‐ 4 Interview with James Norton ................................................................................................... Pages 5 -­‐ 8 Interview with Robson Green ................................................................................................. Pages 9 -­‐ 12 Interview with Neil Morrissey ............................................................................................... Pages 13 -­‐ 14 Episode 1 Synopses ..................................................................................................................... Pages 15 Episode 2 Synopses ....................................................................................................................... Page 16 Episode 3 Synopses ....................................................................................................................... Page 17 Episode 4 Synopses ....................................................................................................................... Page 18 Episode 5 Synopses ....................................................................................................................... Page 19 Episode 6 Synopses ....................................................................................................................... Page 20 James Runcie’s Grantchester books .............................................................................................. Page 21 Press contact: Sarah Woonton – 020 715 73066/ [email protected] Picture contact: Patrick Smith -­‐ 020 715 73044 / [email protected] 2
GRANTCHESTER SERIES 2 James Norton and Robson Green return to Grantchester and Neil Morrissey also joins the cast
James Norton (Happy Valley, War and Peace) reprises his role as Sidney Chambers, the charismatic, charming, crime-­‐fighting clergyman, and Robson Green (Strikeback, Wire In The Blood) returns as his partner in crime, Detective Inspector Geordie Keating, in the second series of Grantchester, produced by Kudos. Neil Morrissey also joins the cast as Harding Redmond, a resident of Grantchester and grieving father whose teenage daughter Abigail (Gracie Brooke) is found dead in suspicious circumstances. Heartbroken and desperate to get to the bottom of what happened to Abigail, Harding accuses Sidney of having an inappropriate relationship with her. Sidney is determined to prove his innocence but will Harding’s accusations change the way the villagers feel about him? Tessa Peake-­‐Jones (Marchlands, Only Fools and Horses) dons her housecoat once again as she plays Sidney’s indomitable housekeeper Mrs Maguire. Morven Christie (Hunted, From There To Here) is back as Sidney’s glamorous friend Amanda and Kacey Ainsworth (EastEnders, The Wright Way) returns as Geordie’s wife Cathy. Al Weaver (Southcliffe, Sherlock) also reprises his role as curate Leonard Finch, not forgetting the gorgeous black Labrador Dickens, who also returns. Other cast appearing in series two of Grantchester include Claudie Blakley (Lark Rise To Candleford, The Driver), Nigel Planer (The Young Ones, Episodes), Andrew Knott (Black Work, The Driver), Seline Hizli 3
(Land Girls, Appropriate Adult), Nicky Henson (Downton Abbey, Vera Drake) and Oliver Dimsdale (Harley Street, He Knew He Was Right), Lorne McFadyen (Shetland), Paul Nicholls (Law & Order: UK, The C Word), Tanya Franks (Broadchurch, EastEnders) and Nick Brimble (War and Peace, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves). In 1954 murderers were still hanged. And in this new series Sidney and Geordie have to face up to the consequences of becoming such an accomplished crime fighting duo. For Sidney, in particular, as the vicar in a small village this becomes increasingly difficult. In the final episode of the last series, Geordie was shot on duty. A year on, he appears to have put this behind him. But underneath his carefree exterior there are new feelings of vulnerability, and this puts a strain on his relationship with Cathy, and his friendship with Sidney.
Sidney is still single and Geordie makes it his mission to find him a woman. But the handsome vicar clearly still has eyes for Amanda – whom we last saw when she was about to marry Sidney’s rival Guy (Tom Austen). The feisty secretary in the police station, Margaret (Seline Hizli), sets her sights on Sidney, but will she be able to take his mind off Amanda? The six new episodes have been filmed in London, Cambridge, and Grantchester, the picturesque Cambridgeshire village whose residents warmly welcomed the production team and embraced the drama being filmed in their community.
Grantchester, which attracted a series average of 6.6 million viewers and a 24% share when it debuted in October 2014, is based on The Grantchester Mysteries by James Runcie. The lead writer is Daisy Coulam (EastEnders, Death In Paradise), who was responsible for adapting the first series. John Jackson (Being Human, Lip Service) and Joshua St Johnston (The Enfield Haunting, Material Girl) also write for the series.
Grantchester is a Kudos production, and is executive produced by Diederick Santer (Cutting It, EastEnders) and produced by Emma Kingsman-­‐Lloyd (DCI Banks, Lip Service), both of whom were responsible for the first series.
The series is directed by Tim Fywell (Happy Valley, Masters of Sex) who also directed the first series, David O’Neill (Death In Paradise, Law and Order: UK) and Edward Bennett (Death in Paradise, Silent Witness).
Grantchester is a Kudos and MASTERPIECE co-­‐production for ITV and Endemol Shine International hold the international distribution rights. 4
JAMES NORTON IS SIDNEY CHAMBERS What response have you had from members of the public following series one of Grantchester? It’s been very positive and lots of people have been asking when there’s going to be a second series. There seems to be a real devotion to it, which is lovely. Generally if people have watched one or two episodes they’ve watched them all and they love it, which is fantastic. We feel blessed by the response and the Grantchester fans seem very loyal. They know everything about it and they love all the different elements from Dickens the dog to all the other characters. Robson and I have talked about how blessed we feel by the response. It’s testament to the show. It’s warm and affectionate and feels like a happy place that people want to return to. It’s got that bite but it’s also warm escapism. What was it like being reunited with the cast for series 2? It was lovely. For the last month of shooting the first series a lot of time was spent speculating as to whether or not there would be a second series. We only find out once the series has been aired, so there’s a strange moment when you say goodbye to everyone having finished filming because we don’t know if we’ll be seeing each other for a second series or not. We hoped so much that Grantchester would return. Me, Al Weaver who plays Leonard and Tessa Peake-­‐Jones who plays Mrs Maguire spent ages on set speculating and fantasising over what storylines could be written and where it might take us, so it was so lovely to return for series two. It’s reassuring how quickly it all comes back. You realise that all those relationships and interactions and dynamics are all bedded in. It’s a nice back catalogue of memories so the second series was so easy because you’ve got all these memories you created for the first series. What was it like returning to the real Grantchester village where the series is filmed? It’s lovely and feels like home from home. First time around I think the villagers initially were slightly wary but this time, for them to have gone through the experience of one series, watched and enjoyed it 5
and then have us back again, was great. It was lovely because they seemed really happy to have us back which makes such a difference. Our relationship with the village itself is so important to the show. When I stand up in front of the congregation most of them are the real villagers from Grantchester (they were invited to be extras) and they are the same faces from the first series. It’s so nice for me to see them again and to get to learn more of their names and have relationships with them as individuals – it helps it become more like a true village church in the 50s. We were very grateful and so touched that they were happy to have us back and visa versa. At the beginning of episode one, Sidney is accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a teenager. This is not the Sidney we know. Is this series a little darker than the previous series? That moment (of Sidney being accused), which is early on, sets the tone for this series. I think it will surprise people. Having spent the first series establishing all the characters and the relationships and allowing the audience to grew an affection towards those people, it feels that with the second series we’ve earned the right to thwart those relationships and threaten them and put them through their paces. Now the relationships are established we’re spending more time on the plot for each episode and also on the overarching narrative. Now we can also take more risks and be a bit darker. The writing generally feels like it’s got more of an edge to it. How has Sidney’s relationship with Geordie developed and how does it change in this series? Sidney and Geordie’s relationship is particularly threatened and thwarted. The audience have grown accustomed to their patter and their rhythm and their shorthand -­‐ to threaten that causes drama. What happens is we find ourselves at odds over an ethical dilemma. As always with Daisy Coulam’s writing it’s never black and white and is true to life. Geordie and Sidney find themselves with very different views on the death penalty -­‐ to such an extent that it calls into question their views of justice. Because they’re such strong willed obstinate men, their views on justice, which are at odds with one another, almost transcends their friendship. Hopefully, if we’ve done our job right, we’ll have people sitting on their sofa at home and one person will be on Geordie’s side and one person will be on Sidney’s side and it will spark debate. The beauty of Daisy’s writing is that it’s so sophisticated and provocative and it asks questions of big uneasy ethical issues like the death penalty, laws on sexuality and gender equality -­‐ all these things that were pertinent in the 50s but still have relevance today. Geordie makes it his mission to find Sidney a woman. How does that go? I think the opening line from Geordie is, ‘let’s say for a minute that I’m God and you’re Adam, how would I set about finding your Eve?’ There is this constant search for love for Sidney. It’s classic Sidney though, he’s hot blooded and he lives in the fast lane and that affects the way his romantic life is led as well. He’s constantly searching for love but we all know that deep down he’s in love with one person, Amanda, who is also in love with him but they can’t be together. Is there any chance for love to blossom for Sidney and Amanda? Sidney and Amanda are star-­‐crossed in the truest form. They just cannot be together. The sacrifices are too great. Although they are deeply in love and clearly meant to be together, because of the social division of the time they just can’t. So, with Geordie’s help, Sidney sets about finding love elsewhere! How does the dating go? Well there is romance for Sidney with Margaret. She’s a force of nature and she spins into his life because she’s a secretary at the police station and she takes control of him. I think that’s what Sidney needs – someone to stop him dithering and bumbling around in his romantic life. She’s a cool girl. She’s progressive and liberal and bright and she’s feminist. She’s Sidney’s match in a way. In another world, 6
in another life, if there was no Amanda and if Sidney was a genuinely free agent, I think they probably would have a fantastic relationship but his heart is elsewhere. He does give it a good go though. What’s Sidney’s relationship like with Mrs Maguire this series? Tessa and I are really good friends now. We’ve done two series of Grantchester and we did a film together, and we see each other socially. I just think the world of her. She’s such a gem both on and off camera. She’s such a good actress, but she’s also just a really good friend. It’s easy for us and we love working together. When Tessa and I, along with Al who plays Leonard, were first back filming in the vicarage there was just a lot of giggling and familiarity. We were back in the same rhythm very quickly. It’s lovely to see how they’ve developed the characters. We (actors) have all formed stronger friendships but also the characters have too. You start to see the reliance they have on one another. Both Mrs Maguire and Leonard rely on Sidney a lot. There’s a scene where someone says to Sidney, ‘we’re lost without you’, and Sidney doesn’t really realise the responsibility a lot of the time. It costs him a lot. The parish as a whole, as well as Mrs Maguire, Leonard and Geordie do turn to Sidney for support and reassurance and I think it costs Sidney a lot without him really knowing it. What’s been lovely in this series though is that it’s not black and white; it’s not always that everyone relies on Sidney – what became really clear this series is that Sidney relies enormously on Mrs Maguire and Leonard. Sidney is definitely as flawed as the rest of them and as we all do he needs a moral prop or a reminding of where his moral compass lies. In this series you’ll see Mrs Maguire and Leonard prop up Sidney when he needs them. In this series you dive into the river Cam, you’re smacked in the face, slashed with a razor blade and hit over the head with a paperweight, just to name a few. What’s it like filming stunts? I love stunts. The little boy in me is excited I get to run around and stage flight. It’s like a little boy’s dream. This year I was allowed to dive in the river. I wasn’t allowed to last year, so I was really happy. I spent hours trying to persuade Emma (Kingsman-­‐Lloyd), our producer, to let me dive in when we filmed series one. I said to her, ‘I spend my life jumping into rivers, I love wild swimming, I have books on the stuff, I go and swim in the river Cam in my own time anyway,’ but for insurance reasons I wasn’t allowed. This time I was allowed to and in the first scene of the new series Robson and I both dive into the river. It was great. Although it did go slightly wrong when Robson threw water on me and I ended up walking backwards and falling into the river. You could hear everyone on the bank gasp. It looked really quite serious because I disappeared and went straight off the bank and went under the water. Everyone was like, ‘oh my God,’ but luckily I came back up to the surface laughing -­‐ it was all fine. It was actually really good fun. Did you work out ahead of the swimming scenes to ensure you looked your best? When you’re working you have to keep yourself fit and healthy because otherwise when you’re doing six day weeks you just get ill, so I was trying to keep myself fit and healthy anyway. The night before the swimming scenes Robson and I did have quite a funny gym session though. It was very competitive, as you can imagine. At the same time though, I think it’s a balance. You want to look fit because Sidney and Geordie are both very active men so it would be ridiculous if we turned up with beer bellies. I think your responsibility has to be first and foremost to the story, so if you suddenly rip of your shirt and you’ve got this ridiculous gym body, then that’s also irresponsible because Sidney is a vicar and he drinks whiskey and he drinks beer and doesn’t go to the gym, so it was a balance. We did a little bit of gym but we didn’t overdo it. You’ve been labelled a heartthrob. How does that make you feel? 7
You can’t really engage with that properly. It’s weird but it’s flattering. It’s just great to have a positive reaction to the show. If Sidney ends up as a bit of a heartthrob and it brings more people to the show, then that’s fine. I have a great family who keep my feet very firmly on the ground. I was with my Great Aunt Grania recently and she looked at me in a slightly quizzical way and she said, ‘I can’t understand how you look so good on the telly because you’re perfectly normal in real life.’ It was really funny; I was like, ‘thanks!’ Neil Morrissey joins the cast. How are your characters connected? Neil’s been a great addition to the cast, as has Claudie Blakley who plays his wife. That’s another great thing about Granchester – we get incredible guest stars. Neil comes in and he is the father of a young girl, Abigail, who is very tragically a victim in the first episode. There’s a couple of people implicated for her death and as her father Neil’s character, Harding, is totally devastated and also angry and he’s out for revenge. Sidney has quite a fraught relationship with Neil’s character and there’s a lot of drama and it’s fun to play. Neil’s such a good actor and it was great working with him. Over the years I’ve binged on Men Behaving Badly and his other work so it was brilliant acting opposite him. Nick Brimble is also in this series and as a kid I gorged on Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, in which he played Little John, so I was totally star struck. It’s so lovely having these people joining us on set. Your dad was an extra in the first series. Where there any cameos from him this time? Yes, although I think his scene has been cut! I had to tell him and he was gutted! But he’s had so much press from appearing in various dramas that I think he can retire now as the country’s most famous supporting artiste! He lives in Yorkshire so he had to get up at about 4am to get to set for 7am, so he was absolutely shattered. In one of the scenes I was doing a very serious sermon to the congregation and all the regular villagers were there and were very attentive and diligent and there was one guy who was fast asleep with his mouth open -­‐ and it was my dad! I said, ‘dad, you cannot sleep through my sermon’. It was the shot when they were being filmed and he was fast asleep, so that was quite funny. He hasn’t heard the end of that! What’s it been like being reunited with Dickens the dog? Great. It’s the same dog again and he’s actually called Dickens in real life. He’s so good. He completes the Grantchester family. Less sausages were required this series now he’s learnt his craft! 8
ROBSON GREEN IS INSPECTOR GEORDIE KEATING What response have you had from viewers since series one of Grantchester? The response I’ve had from the first series -­‐ ‘Quality written all over it’, and, ‘Class’. There’s an incredibly charismatic lead in James Norton who’s compelling to watch, and relationships that mean something. Within the Grantchester community everybody cares about each other, they’re loyal to each other, they’re kind to one another. But there’s this terrible undercurrent of something uncomfortable -­‐ It’s charming with an edge. A word that keeps coming up with people who have talked to me about the series is that it’s charming and the relationships are likeable. If it weren’t for the body count people would want to move to Grantchester because they’re characters with great values and who have something to say. It’s an intelligent drama and it looks beautiful. They audience all go, ‘Oh, I’d like to be with those people; be around those people, and be part of their story.’ How did you feel about returning for a second series? I was with my mum at the garden centre when I got the call from the producer, Emma Kingsman-­‐Lloyd. My mum bought me a fig tree for my birthday and it died, so we went to get another one. Emma called and said, ‘what are you doing?’ and I said, ‘I’m choosing a fig tree in the garden centre with my mum!’ She went, ‘I’ve got some good news for you.’ And I went, ‘Oh, tell my mum!’ and handed over the phone. So my mum was the first one to find out, before I did, because I kind of knew what Emma was going to say. I was overjoyed that Grantchester was re-­‐commissioned for many reasons -­‐ my career, the fact I’m overjoyed that people still want to employ me, the fact that I was going to be working with James Norton again, with Al Weaver, with Tessa Peake-­‐Jones, as well as the talented crew. It’s a real team effort and, hand on heart, in thirty years, it’s the happiest working environment – it’s not even a 9
working environment – it’s just the happiest environment in which I’ve done my job. It’s just so enjoyable, and there was never a morning I woke up and thought, ‘I don’t want to go in today,’ which I’ve done on many dramas. Diederick (Santer), the Exec, and Emma, the producer, and everyone else says that it’s such an enjoyable show, and we’re not just saying it, it really is. Everyone’s happy. It’s fun every day. But also the opportunity has come along for us to do this drama and everybody’s prepped. Still today I don’t know how James Norton is actually doing it you know, because of the workload he has. But he does his prep, and he’s a great captain of a very, very steady and happy ship. You and James clearly get on very well. Do you tease and play tricks on each other? Yes! It’s both of us! I fluff more than James, I don’t know if it’s an age thing. Sometimes when I fluff -­‐ I don’t do it often, but when I do – it’s kind of strange, the effect it has on James. Something will happen, and there’ll just be a glint in his eye or my eye and we just go. And it’s unbearable because we start laughing and it’s very infectious. Then we get told off by the director because we have to be responsible and serious and focussed, and that makes us worse. We do tease each other. Imagine what it was like when we filmed the opening sequence, which involved taking our tops off and the swimming in the river! I’m trying to outdo this guy who’s half my age, and he’s basically an athlete in the gym, so that was quite comical. Did you prep for the swimming scenes? Yeah, of course. I keep fit anyway, but aesthetically it’s got to be pleasing to the eye for that opening scene. This idyllic backdrop, ‘welcome back to Grantchester’, the two leads are having a swim in the Cam. But yeah, there was many a battle in the gym. You and James have great chemistry off and on screen, but do their characters develop this series? How does the relationship progress? It’s strange, the characters and the relationship develop out of us being confident and friends with each other (off screen] now. James is a great mate. I was out with him last night and he said, ‘will you take me fishing?’ and I said, ‘of course! I don’t think you’ll catch anything, but you know….’ I’ll take him to some lovely rivers up North. I think the relationship develops because the shorthand is in place and we both understand what the relationship is. But in terms of the endearing off beat relationship that is in the series, the only way forward is to fracture that, ito jeopardise it. So the relationship you care about is fractured, and what you need to do throughout the story is work out how we’re going to get them back together again: that’s just the basic arc. What fractures the relationship is that they both hold very strong, deeply held beliefs, and the main one is how they deal with justice. Geordie is for capital punishment and Sidney sees through understanding and reasoning and he believes killing someone never solved anything because in the end it’s not closure, it’s revenge. Geordie’s view is that it is justice because you have to be compassionate not only about the victim but the loved ones of that victim. Sidney thinks about the carnage and the fallout from a destructive act. So those different views make them poles apart and it affects how they interact with each other, to the point where they fall out massively. Would you say this series is a little darker than the previous series? Yeah, you wouldn’t expect that from a member of the clergy, or from two best friends. But that’s what happens when you love a person, there’s the flip side, and it can manifest itself in quite destructive ways. There’s nothing demonstrative about their arguments. It’s like, ‘I don’t want to fall out with you, but I’m going to if you carry on like this. I love you as a friend, I love you as a person, I need you in my life, but if you carry on saying the things you’re saying it’s never going to work out.’ It’s that kind of debate. 10
I don’t mind saying it’s an absolute love story between two men who care for one another. Of two guys from different parts of the world like me and James are, really! And in the end we are but men and care for each other. I find him an incredible individual behind the lens and in front of it. It’s amazing because there were other names in the hat for the role of Sidney, with other names maybe it wouldn’t have worked. It’s worked out an absolute treat; it’s just one of those things. The friendship works in front of the lens and you can take risks and you can argue as well. We’ve had differences of opinion and it’s been quite heated at some points, but in a good way. I love the man and he’s an incredible actor and he’s a star in the real sense. You care about the relationship because that’s real life; those characters are real life. Neil Morrissey joins the cast of this series as well. Had you worked with Neil before? No, never before, but he’s such a talent -­‐ a great actor. He’s the ultimate professional and a naturally very funny man. He has great timing and all those attributes of a fine actor. He can sing, he can dance, he can act and he’s a joy on set and he just fitted in beautifully. Had you met him before? Yes I had, but only briefly. I met him in a dressing room in a theatre when he was up in Newcastle. His partner at the time was in a show. So I didn’t know him well but I instantly liked him. I’ve worked with Martin Clunes on Strikeback before, so we talked about Clunesy a lot, obviously, they’re good mates. Tell us a bit about Neil’s character and the relationship with your character. Well basically, the common ground he and Geordie have is that they’re both parents. There’s a murder and he’s the father of the victim and therefore he, throughout the series, is seeking justice. In a way Geordie sides with him. He suspects him at first then realises that he’s got to take Harding (Neil’s character) out of the equation. Geordie puts himself in Harding’s shoes. He thinks ‘if it was my daughter I’d want to string someone up too’. So Geordie and Sidney have common ground and common feelings, whereas Sidney can forgive people. He truly believes there is good in everyone. This difference of opinion starts to drive Geordie from Sidney. In series one Geordie was shot on duty. How has that affected him? He thinks he’s recovered, but in most PTSD individuals the past will come and manifest itself in strange ways. A gun is pulled on him in series two and he starts having flashbacks. He’s not sleeping and he starts to question his role in life. But also he’s never really talked about a massive part of his life, which was the forgotten war when he was in Burma, and all the carnage he saw there, and the destruction and the loss of loved ones. Combine that with the traumatic effect of being shot… he’s trying to seek help but he’s suffering in silence. It only comes in little spats. His role is never filtered with angst, it just comes out in beats and I think that’s good writing. Just suddenly a camera flash will go off and it sparks something in Geordie’s mind. He has a crisis of self, and Sidney recognises that, saying, ‘you’re not you anymore.’ It’s not this depressive thing though and there’s also a lot of comedy in the series -­‐ there are some very, very funny moments, especially when he’s trying to get Sidney a girl. How does is go when Geordie sets about finding Sidney a girlfriend? He’s playing matchmaker, but he’s getting women Geordie thinks are right for Geordie, not for Sidney! There’s a lovely opening montage where he’s kind of speed dating for Sidney and telling these women the pros and cons of being with this man: ‘there’s many pros you know, but if you don’t like jazz then forget being with this guy. But knock the jazz aside he’s a keeper!’ These women are auditioning for him, it’s just hilarious. 11
Do you think there’s part of Geordie that wishes he were the single guy? Of course, that’s another beautiful part of the relationship -­‐ they live vicariously through each other. Sidney wants what Geordie’s got: a family, security and cohesion. But Geordie looks at Sidney and sees this free spirit who’s out partying. A member of the clergy with women falling at his feet and he thinks, ‘well maybe if I were single, that would happen to me too.’ But it doesn’t. They’re both looking at glitter balls that don’t exist, but it’s lovely to play. How’s Geordie’s relationship with his wife Cathy? It’s fractured. It’s strained because of what he’s feeling about his place in the environment, in life, and having this crisis. He’s unable to talk to Cathy about it but he’s able to talk to Sidney, which is really interesting. I’ve always found that -­‐ the people you should really be telling your deepest, darkest feelings to, about life and everything, don’t generally tend to be family, it’s your friends. So in a way, Geordie uses Sidney as confession and tells him what he’s really feeling about everything. What was it like being back in Grantchester village and Cambridge? There are very few parts of the country that are so quintessentially English, and it is. The meadows are beautiful. It’s timeless really. It’s picture postcard. The backdrop of Cambridge and what it represents – the university and everything that is going on there or has gone on there. Grantchester itself is this place that I don’t think exists anywhere else in Great Britain. It’s just this type of idyllic, English village that should never change. It’s a place that makes me think I could live there, easily -­‐ the sounds and the smells and there’s no need to be staring at mobile phones. I’m reading a book called The Mark And The Void by Paul Murray, and so many times we’re walking round in places and we want to be somewhere else, because we’re on our phones. We want to be somewhere else whereas the important thing in life is when you go walking around Grantchester meadows, birdsong makes you feel good, the vegetation is alive, the colour makes you feel good, and just the sounds and the smells and the peace, it just makes you feel good. And that manifests itself. In the opening scene, we’re swimming in the Cam and the dog’s swimming along, the birds are singing, the sun is shining, and you think, ‘wow, does it get any better than this?’ That was a lovely day’s filming. We were blessed because it pi**ed down the day before and the day after! 12
NEIL MORRISSEY IS HARDING REDMOND Tell us about your character Harding Redmond. My character’s a farmer. He’s a hard working dude and he has a dedicated wife. It was a difficult time – 50s post war. He’s been fighting in the Second World War and he’s come back and things are starting to get a bit wayward for everybody. He’s got a teenage daughter, Abigail, and it’s difficult to keep his eyes on her all the time. His daughter is killed in episode one. For him and his wife she was their whole life. It turns their life upside down and throughout the series Harding desperately searches for justice. You have some pretty intense and emotional scenes. Was it difficult to film? It was very tough. In pretty much every scene my character is extremely upset and angry. It’s a small village so everyone knows everyone’s business. Everyone knows Harding and Harding knows everyone. He can’t go anywhere without tongues wagging. Not only is everyone talking about him but also there is suspicion on everyone because it’s not obvious who was the murderer, but Harding just wants to find justice. To him it doesn’t feel like neither the police or the authorities are doing very much about trying to help him. He turns to drink at one point. It’s very difficult for Harding. How did it feel to join the cast of Grantchester? The first series was great. I didn’t know what to expect and I was really nervous the first day I went on set -­‐ but what a welcome. Everyone was really sweet. All the regulars are just fantastic. It’s a great cast. I was sat in the make-­‐up chair on the first day and Robson came up to me, I hadn’t seen him for 20 odd years, and he put his hands on my shoulders and said, ‘I’m 50. What happened there?!’ and I said, ‘you’re alright, I’m 53!’ It was a really fun set to be on. I think when the subject matter is really difficult you have to find an outlet somewhere and it always tends to be humour – so we had a laugh! As soon as the cameras stop rolling we all burst into laughter. Robson’s naughty. He’s got that little glint in his eye and he’s trying to make you laugh the whole time. It’s anecdote city when we’re both on set because we’ve done so much. So there’s lots of story telling. 13
Did you enjoy stepping into the 50s for this role? Is your moustache real? It was great. I loved it. I love doing the period stuff. I grew a moustache especially. I turned up with a full beard as well and we talked about it and we decided to get rid of the beard and go for a 1950s moustache. I had to live with that for about four months when we were shooting. It looked good for the character but sporting a moustache completely out of fashion is a bit odd. I looked like an 80s porn star. What was it like filming in the village of Grantchester? It’s beautiful and has a high proportion of pubs to people, which is always going to please me. Whilst we were waiting for our scenes we’d sit in the pub. We weren’t allowed to drink of course, we’d have to have a cup of tea, but it was great. Had you worked with any of the cast before? I hadn’t worked with any of the regulars but I think James is just amazing. I’d worked with a couple of the guest stars before, but that’s always going to happen after nine years on Boon. Everyone in the world came and did an episode of Boon, so you keep re-­‐meeting people all the time, which is good. 14
SYNOPSES Episode One It’s 1954, and just outside the Cambridgeshire village of Grantchester, local vicar Sidney Chambers [James Norton] is enjoying a glorious picnic with his best friend, DI Geordie Keating [Robson Green], Geordie’s family, Sidney’s shy curate Leonard Finch [Al Weaver] and their grumpy housekeeper Mrs Maguire [Tessa Peake-­‐Jones]. Walking home, their happy day is cut short when DC Phil Wilkinson [Lorne Macfadyen] arrests Sidney – and the charge is sexual assault. Doting father Harding Redmond [Neil Morrissey] is the source of the accusation, horrified at the claims made in the diary of his teenage daughter, Abigail [Gracie Brooke], who has now gone missing, along with the diary itself. After being grilled by DCI Benson [David Troughton], Sidney sets out to prove his innocence, but not before the Archdeacon [Geoff McGivern] sends Sidney’s old friend Reverend Sam Milburn [Andrew Knott] over from the neighbouring parish to check up on him. Questioning Abigail’s friends at the village youth club, Sidney discovers she had recently spent time with local photographer Daniel Marlowe [Oliver Dimsdale]. Sidney and Geordie discover Daniel’s studio is empty – except for the lifeless body of Abigail. With Daniel missing, Sidney and Geordie talk to local teenager Gary Bell [Sam Frenchum], who had previously been accused by Abigail’s father of inappropriate behaviour toward her, as well as her family and friends. However, as more and more secrets begin to surface about Abigail’s life, it becomes clear that no one knew her as well as they thought. Only by finding her missing diary can Sidney and Geordie pinpoint exactly who was responsible for her death – but will the answer damage their friendship forever? 15
Episode Two Geordie and Cathy [Kacey Ainsworth] are on a mission to find Sidney a girlfriend – but nobody seems to be good enough for the choosy vicar. Geordie's plans are further thwarted when Sidney's old flame, Amanda Hopkins [Morven Christie] arrives in Grantchester while Guy is away on business. Geordie calls on Sidney for help following an apparent suicide at Sidney’s old Cambridge College. Valentine Lyall, a fellow at Corpus Christi, has been found dead: the result of a long fall from the spire of King’s College chapel. His wife, Mya [Lourdes Faberes], is consoled by Valentine’s star pupil, Kit Bartlett [Matthew Tennyson] who used to partake in daredevil climbs of the college buildings alongside his mentor. But both are convinced that Valentine was too happy and content for it to be suicide. Kit’s alibi is Russian Tutor, Professor Raban [Tim McMullan], who is mentoring a chippy student and wannabe Marxist called Rory Crompton [Josh Bolt] when Sidney and Geordie arrive to question him. They receive an even cooler welcome from Master Giles Montgomery [Nigel Planer] who remembers Sidney from his student days – and still resents him for an unmentioned past transgression. It appears to be a case of a night climbing misadventure until they discover a student witness who saw someone push Lyall to his death. Hastily burnt papers and unexplained bloody handkerchiefs lead Sidney and Geordie deeper and deeper into a web of espionage and secrets. Who is the mysterious woman watching them? Why is Geordie so unnerved by this case? And will police secretary Margaret Ward [Seline Hizli] finally be the woman to break Sidney's run of bad dates? 16
Episode Three After thoroughly modern Margaret’s visits to the vicarage start leaving Mrs Maguire’s nose out of joint, Sidney is hoping for a distraction – which arrives in the unexpected form of a young man sat alone in the church and covered in blood. The man is Theo Graham [Jeremy Newmark Jones], and he confesses to Sidney and Geordie that he attacked and killed his landlord, Eric Whittaker [Michael Shaeffer]. But when Sidney and Geordie call on the Boarding House that Eric ran, they find the alleged victim alive and well, along with his teenage daughter Joan [Rosie Day] and her step-­‐mother Vivian [Liz White]. Eric believes Theo is a fantasist. Back at the station, despite his protestations that Eric will come after him, Geordie sends the young man on his way. Hours later, however, witnessed by Sidney and Geordie, Eric is killed in a hit and run. Sidney comforts Vivian at the hospital, but back at the boarding house he finds her relationship with Joan to be strained – all the more so when Joan learns of her father’s death. When Theo arrives to claim his belongings, Sidney ends up chasing him from the boarding house, but the pursuit ends when Theo slashes Sidney with a knife. As Vivian tends to Sidney’s wounds, he becomes drawn deeper and deeper into the twisted emotional world of the boarding house. Who is Vivian trying to protect? What does seemingly shy and single boarder Raymond [John Voce] really want? And how far will Sidney have to go to uncover the killer. With Leonard distracted by secretive trips to the cinema and Geordie compelled to deal with a surprising shoplifter, who is watching Sidney’s back? 17
Episode Four As the trial of local teen Gary Bell approaches, Sidney and Geordie find themselves at loggerheads regarding his guilt – not even building a go-­‐kart together can get them to see eye to eye. Sidney's mind is taken off these matters when he finds the anxious Reggie Lawson [Paul Nicholls] at the graveside of his dead wife, Anna. Convinced that she still haunts his home and stable yards following her suicide he implores Sidney to come to his estate, Kingsbrook and perform an exorcism for him. Believing this to be a husband's desperate grief, Sidney goes with Reggie to investigate his claims. There he meets Reggie’s new wife Kitty [Eliza Hope Bennett], their housekeeper Mrs. Elton [Jenny Ogilvie] and Anna’s brother, Laszlo Herzl [Elliot Levey]. With Anna’s signature perfume still hanging in the air, a painting falling from the wall of its own accord and a horse fatally kicking out after being spooked, Reggie's fears seem to have some foundation, although Kitty is quick to point out their coincidental nature. After offering prayers and council, Sidney leaves hoping that his words have given Reggie some solace. But that night, Geordie summons Sidney back to Kingsbrook: Reggie has hanged himself in the exact same spot as Anna died. Meanwhile, the Redmond’s and Sidney’s parishoners are unhappy when Sidney stands as a witness for the defence in Gary’s case. Are his principles going to cost him his flock? With Sidney’s sister Jen [Fiona Button] throwing a party in London, it’s a chance for Sidney to escape and take Margaret out on his arm. But when Amanda shows up with Guy [Tom Austen], it's clear that his own feelings are still conflicted. At least investigating Reggie's death gives Sidney and Geordie a shared goal again. Why would Reggie take his life when his finest horse is set to triumph at the next race? And with an almost identical suicide to his late wife, why are some of the key details different? But is one shared case enough to get these best friends back on track -­‐ especially after Sidney takes the stand? Whatever the outcome of the trial -­‐ and the case -­‐ Sidney seems set on a course of action that threatens his friendship with Geordie... 18
Episode Five Sidney is the only friend Gary Bell has left as he waits for news about whether he will be offered a reprieve. Sidney is determined that whatever his fate, he will stand by his side – even if certain members of the village object. Meanwhile, Geordie and Phil visit the hospital where Rita Jones [Tanya Franks] recovers from the latest beating dealt out by her violent husband Eddie [Matthew Jure]. But with her children needing a breadwinner, Rita refuses to press charges. Rita's eldest son lets the two detectives into the hovel they call a family home. When they discover some recently stolen goods, it appears they finally have all they need to collar Eddie. But the man doesn't go quietly, fighting with Phil and winding up Geordie as he's carted to the cells. The next morning, Geordie’s wife Cathy calls on Sidney: Geordie didn’t come home last night. And when Sidney arrives at the station he finds his friend with his knuckles bruised, and Eddie, dead on a stretcher. When DCI Benson questions Geordie’s innocence, Sidney leaps to his friend’s defence. But Geordie has been behaving strangely of late, and no one else can verify his whereabouts when Eddie was killed. At the vicarage, Leonard and Mrs Maguire are at each other’s throats as an ill judged remark about Mrs Maguire’s love life, and the accidental loss of some sentimental postcards leaves both feeling raw and misunderstood. As Gary Bell waits to discover his fate, Sidney seeks to avoid a further injustice taking place. But as he digs deeper he finds himself questioning precisely whether he really knows Geordie as well as he thought. Could Geordie have beaten Eddie to death? Will Sidney keep the faith in his friend? And will Gary avoid the hangman’s noose? 19
Episode Six Sidney Chambers has given up. Following the difficult events of the past few weeks, he is drinking like never before, and even worse, seems to have entirely stopped caring about his responsibilities as a clergyman. With Mrs Maguire and Leonard both deeply worried about him, it is left to them to try and find a way to help their friend before it is too late. But with Geordie and Amanda seemingly unwilling to help, and with an attempt to remove Sidney from the vicarage seemingly gathering strength, things are not looking good. However, when old friend Reverend Sam Milburn returns to the parish, Sidney is thrown into even greater emotional turmoil. Claiming to be seeking forgiveness for his crimes, Sam’s return leaves Sidney torn. Is Sam really here to seek forgiveness? And is it even within Sidney’s gift to forgive him for crimes committed against others? Matters are complicated further when Harding and Agatha discover that Sam has returned to the village. With Harding making threats against his life, Sam flees. But when evidence of a struggle is later found, Sidney fears the worst may have happened – could Harding have murdered Sam? Meanwhile, as Leonard continues to wrestle with his feelings for Daniel, he also struggles to make sense of a life-­‐changing proposal from the Archdeacon. And a visit from Mrs Maguire leads to Amanda having a heart to heart with Guy. With Sam missing, Sidney and Geordie are forced, once again, to investigate a crime together. However, when they uncover a dark secret about Sam, Sidney’s fragile emotional state is pushed even further, putting even greater strain on the investigation. With tensions between the two of them at an all-­‐time high, will they be able to put their differences to one side for long enough to stop a murder being committed? 20
JAMES RUNCIE’S GRANTCHESTER BOOKS 21