There’s a new vicar inGrantchester, and he has some big shoes to fill if he wants to be a suitable replacement for Will Davenport (Tom Brittney). ABritish crime drama most viewers have probably never heard of,Grantchesteris an ITV detective drama set in the 1950s Cambridgeshire village of Grantchester. There, an overworked and exhausted Detective Inspector, Geordie Keating (Robson Green), solves crimes in the area.He teams up with a rotating cast of vicars, parish priests in The Church of England, to help him crack his cases.
Based onThe Grantchester Mysteries, a series of short stories by author James Runcie, the show first premiered on ITV in 2014.Grantchesterlater moved to Amazon Prime Video, where it gained even more acclaim and support over its 9 seasons. There have been some major cast changes along the way, as well. Geordie first worked with Reverend Sidney Chambers (James Norton) for four seasons, before he was replaced by Will Davenport in season 5. Now,after five seasons of Will, a new vicar is ready to aid DI Geordie.
Why Did Will Leave Grantchester?
Tom Brittney Wanted To Try New Things
InGrantchesterseason 9, Will decides that it is time for him to leave Grantchester and the vicar leaves town in good standing, though it’s bittersweet for everyone involved. He leaves in season 9, episode 2, sharing a tearful goodbye with Geordie. The men hug and tell one another that they love each other. When Will asks if he made Geordie proud, Geordie responds,
“Every day, son. Every day.”
Will’s reason for leaving happens to match the actor’s reasoning. Brittney decided that it was simply time for him to try something new. He said (viaTVInsider),
“I’ve loved it [the show], but I needed to stretch my legs as an actor. Also, I think Will’s journey needed to come to an end. He’s been through so many ups and downs that I felt like he needed some peace.”
It’s hard to argue with his wish. Brittney seems not only content with what he’s given to the show, but with how Davenport’s story arc has ended.
Who Is Rishi Nair, & New Vicar Alphy Kottaram
Alphy Kottaram Is A New British Indian Vicar At The Abbey
Grantchesterwastes no time bringing in a new vicar and in episode 3, Reverend Alphy Kotteram (Rishi Nair) speeds into town in a red convertible. As he tries to enter the abbey, someone calls the police on him, referring to the British-Indian Alphy as a “swarthy gentleman”. In the mostly white town, Alphy sticks out, and for the actor Nair, that needed to be a part of his introduction,
“It was important to me that was acknowledged. It wouldn’t be easy for Alphy. People would stop and stare. But we don’t want to make the whole season about that.”
Unlike the previous vicar, Alphy is not a cavalier boat rocker, but he also does not have a lot of trust in the police. As season 9 continues, Alphy and Geordie get to know one another, and Alphy comes to appreciate the older DI.This is perhaps Rishi Nair’s second-biggest role of his career, after his recurring part on the British soap opera,Hollyoaksas Sami Maalik. He’s also had smaller roles on shows likeCount AbdullaandTreason, and he appeared in the 2022 comedy-drama film,Brian and Charles, as Stephen Alderton.
What’s Next For Grantchester In Season 10
Geordie And Alphy’s Relationship Will Only Get Stronger
Grantchesterseason 10 began filming in July 2024 and though a release date hasn’t been set yet, it should be coming soon (viaPBS). When it comes to what to expect for season 10, the cast members have their own thoughts (viaPBS). Nair believes that Alphy will be fully settled by season 10. However, his glass-half-full outlook on life may be tested by the crimes he and Geordie have to solve. Green suspects that the relationship between Geordie and Alphy will grow into something extraordinary as a symbol of the melting pot aspects of Britain.
Grantchester
Cast
Grantchester is a British detective drama set in the 1950s, featuring James Norton as Sidney Chambers, a vicar who partners with Detective Geordie Keating, played by Robson Green, to solve crimes in a small English village. Based on the “Grantchester Mysteries” books by James Runcie, the series intertwines murder investigations with human stories of love, faith, and redemption.
