If there’s one British TV programme that has managed to keep viewers hooked season after season, it’s Grantchester. This beloved period crime drama, set against the gorgeous countryside of 1950s Cambridgeshire, has been charming audiences since 2014 — and it shows no signs of slowing down. But let’s be honest: as much as fans love the mysteries, it’s the cast of Grantchester that truly makes the show what it is. Whether someone is tuning in for the very first time or has followed every Grantchester TV episode from the very beginning, getting to know the faces behind the characters is half the fun.
So, who’s starring in the new Grantchester series? What changed in the cast of Grantchester Season 9? And who exactly is carrying the torch in 2025? Let’s dive in.
What Is Grantchester? A Quick Look at the TV Programme
For those just discovering the TV programme Grantchester, here’s a quick catch-up. The show is a British period drama created by Daisy Coulam, adapted from James Runcie’s The Grantchester Mysteries novel series. It follows a crime-solving vicar who teams up with a local detective inspector to solve murders in a quiet English village — the kind of place where trouble always seems to find its way in, despite how peaceful it looks on the surface.
Grantchester first aired on ITV in 2014 and quickly became a staple of British television. It also gained a strong international following through Masterpiece Theatre on PBS. With 11 seasons confirmed across its run through 2025, the show has had remarkable staying power — and a lot of that comes down to the warmth, chemistry, and talent of its rotating cast.
The Lead Vicars: A Changing of the Guard
One of the most talked-about aspects of the cast of Grantchester is how the lead role of the village vicar has changed hands more than once. It’s a bold creative choice that has kept the show feeling fresh with each new Grantchester series.
James Norton as Sidney Chambers (Seasons 1–4)
When Grantchester first launched, James Norton stepped into the role of Reverend Sidney Chambers — a former Scots Guards officer who traded the military for the ministry and somehow also found a passion for amateur sleuthing. Norton brought a brooding, charismatic energy to the role that quickly won over audiences.
However, after the third series, Norton chose to step away from the show to pursue other acting opportunities. His departure left big shoes to fill, but the producers handled the transition with care, introducing a fresh character rather than recasting the role.
Tom Brittney as Will Davenport (Seasons 4–9)
Tom Brittney joined the cast of Grantchester at the start of Season 4 as Reverend Will Davenport, a former inner-city chaplain brought in as Sidney’s replacement. Where Sidney was thoughtful and restrained, Will was younger, more impulsive, and full of emotional energy — a different kind of vicar for a slightly changing world.
Brittney’s time on the show spanned several years and earned him a dedicated fanbase. However, when the ninth series was announced in July 2023, Brittney confirmed that it would be his final outing as Will Davenport. His farewell was emotional for cast and viewers alike.
Rishi Nair as Alphy Kottaram (Season 9–Present)
The newest addition to lead the cast of Grantchester 2025 is Rishi Nair, who took over as Reverend Alphy Kottaram following Tom Brittney’s departure. Nair is familiar to British soap fans — he previously played Sami Maalik on Hollyoaks from 2017 to 2021. His arrival brings fresh energy and a new dynamic to the show, and audiences have been curious to see where the new Grantchester series takes his character.
The Core Recurring Cast: The Faces You Know and Love
While the lead vicar role may have rotated, the heart of the cast of Grantchester has remained admirably consistent. Here’s a look at the characters who have anchored the show across its many seasons and countless Grantchester TV episodes.
Robson Green as DI Geordie Keating
If there is one name synonymous with Grantchester above all others, it is Robson Green. Playing Detective Inspector Geordie Keating, Green has appeared in all 67 episodes from 2014 through 2025 — making him the single most consistent presence in the entire run of the show. Geordie’s gruff, no-nonsense approach to policing sits in amusing and affectionate contrast to the more intuitive, spiritually-minded methods of whichever vicar he happens to be working with at the time. Green’s warmth and comedic timing have been a huge part of what makes Grantchester so watchable.
Tessa Peake-Jones as Mrs. Chapman
Tessa Peake-Jones has also appeared in all 67 Grantchester TV episodes, making her another pillar of the show’s ensemble. Her character evolved from the original housekeeper Mrs. Maguire into Mrs. Chapman, with the role growing more nuanced and emotionally rich as the series progressed. Peake-Jones brings a grounded, witty presence to every scene she’s in.
Al Weaver as Leonard Finch
Al Weaver has been part of the cast of Grantchester from the very beginning, appearing in 66 episodes between 2014 and 2025. His character, Leonard Finch, is one of the show’s most compelling and sensitive portrayals — a man navigating his identity and his faith in an era before the decriminalisation of homosexuality in England and Wales in 1967. Weaver’s performance has earned consistent praise from viewers and critics alike.
Kacey Ainsworth as Cathy Keating
Kacey Ainsworth plays Cathy Keating, Geordie’s wife, and has appeared in 63 episodes across the show’s run. Her role expanded significantly after Tom Brittney joined the cast of Grantchester, allowing her storylines more room to breathe and develop. Ainsworth brings real depth to a character who could easily have been sidelined, making Cathy one of the more memorable supporting figures in the series.
Oliver Dimsdale as Daniel Marlowe
Oliver Dimsdale joined the cast in 2016 and has appeared in 40 Grantchester TV episodes since. He plays Daniel Marlowe, a local photographer and the longtime companion and lover of Leonard Finch. Dimsdale brings a quiet, thoughtful quality to the role, and his chemistry with Al Weaver has been one of the show’s quietly powerful threads.
Bradley Hall as Larry Peters
Bradley Hall joined the show in 2019 and has since appeared in 45 episodes. His character, Larry Peters, grew from a supporting role into a recognisable and well-liked part of the Grantchester world. Hall’s easygoing screen presence has made Larry a welcome fixture in the village.
Nick Brimble as Jack Chapman
Nick Brimble plays Jack Chapman and has been a steady part of the ensemble across 42 episodes of the series. Jack’s relationship with Mrs. Chapman provides some of the show’s warmest domestic moments, and Brimble brings a reliable charm to the role.
Melissa Johns as Miss Scott
Melissa Johns joined the cast of Grantchester in 2021 and has appeared in 31 episodes through 2025. Her character, Miss Scott, added a spirited new dimension to the show’s supporting ensemble, and Johns has quickly become a fan favourite.
Notable Departures From the Cast
Over the course of 11 seasons, the cast of Grantchester has naturally seen some beloved characters come and go. Here are two of the most notable departures.
Morven Christie as Amanda Kendall/Hopkins
Morven Christie played Amanda, a significant figure in Sidney Chambers’ personal life. Her storyline was closely tied to James Norton’s time on the show, and when his chapter ended, Amanda’s arc wrapped up alongside it. Christie’s portrayal was memorable, bringing emotional complexity to a character who spent much of her time caught between desire and duty.
Charlotte Ritchie as Bonnie Davenport
Charlotte Ritchie joined the show in Season 7 as Bonnie, Will Davenport’s love interest and eventual wife. She departed during Series 9 alongside Tom Brittney, bringing their shared chapter of the show to a close. Ritchie is well known to British audiences from other popular series including Call the Midwife, Fresh Meat, and the BBC sitcom Ghosts. Her presence on the show was warmly received, and her exit was genuinely felt by fans of the Will and Bonnie storyline.
Where Is Grantchester Filmed?
One question that comes up just as often as questions about the cast is: where is Grantchester filmed? The good news for fans is that the answer is refreshingly straightforward — it’s actually filmed in Grantchester itself.
Grantchester is a real historic village located just a few miles south of Cambridge in South Cambridgeshire, sitting along the banks of the River Cam. The village’s thatched cottages, medieval church, and winding lanes require almost no set dressing to evoke the 1950s atmosphere the show is known for.
The Church of St. Andrew and St. Mary, a 14th-century Grade II-listed building, serves as the show’s primary church location. The exterior of the vicarage is filmed at the real vicarage next to the church — a building estimated to be around 300 years old — though interior shots are filmed at a separate old farmhouse property in the village of Lemsford, about an hour away.
The beautiful Grantchester Meadows along the River Cam have hosted countless romantic walks, serious conversations, and more than a few dramatic crime scenes across the show’s run. Nearby Cambridge also features regularly, with King’s College campus, King’s Parade, Trinity Lane, and Senate House Passage all appearing throughout various Grantchester TV episodes. Further afield, locations including King’s Cross Station in London and parts of Hertfordshire have also been used over the years.
The New Grantchester Series: What’s Coming Next?
Fans of the new Grantchester series will be pleased to know the show’s future is well in hand — at least for a little while longer. A tenth series was announced in June 2024, with a scheduled air date of January 2026. Then, in June 2025, ITV announced that Grantchester had been renewed for an eleventh and final series, giving the show a proper, planned conclusion.
The news of the final series was met with a mix of sadness and appreciation from fans. After more than a decade of mysteries, moral dilemmas, and moments of genuine human warmth, the creative team has clearly decided to end things on their own terms — which is the best any beloved TV programme can hope for.
With Rishi Nair now at the helm as Reverend Alphy Kottaram, the cast of Grantchester 2025 has a fresh but familiar feel: new enough to surprise, grounded enough to feel like home.
Conclusion: Why the Cast Makes Grantchester Special
When people talk about what makes Grantchester work, they almost always come back to the people on screen. The cast of Grantchester — both those who have stayed for the long haul and those who have passed through for a season or two — has consistently delivered performances that are warm, funny, thoughtful, and deeply human.
From James Norton’s brooding Sidney to Tom Brittney’s passionate Will, from Robson Green’s ever-dependable Geordie to the quietly extraordinary work of supporting players like Al Weaver and Tessa Peake-Jones, this is a show that has always understood that good mysteries need good people at their centre.
As the new Grantchester series moves toward its final chapters, there’s every reason to appreciate just how well this ensemble has served the show — and the audiences who have followed it for over a decade.
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