What time is Grantchester series four on TV? When is James Norton leaving and who is replacing him?
We say goodbye to Sidney Chambers in the fourth season of the popular ITV drama
One of ITV's most popular running dramas, Grantchester is back with a fourth series in 2019.
However, it could be a bittersweet series for fans, as it’s set to be James Norton’s final appearance as Sidney Chambers, the man of God who is surprisingly talented at solving crime.
While Norton may be moving on, there's still plenty to be excited about when it comes to Grantchester series four – not least a new vicar arriving in the parish.
- Who is Tom Brittney? Meet the actor taking over from James Norton in Grantchester
- Grantchester’s new sexy vicar detective is a crime too far
- James Norton reveals why he decided to leave Grantchester
Find out everything you need to know about the new series below.
When is Grantchester series 4 on TV?
Grantchester series four has already aired in the UK, with British viewers tuning in January-February 2019 on ITV.
In the US, the fourth season will kick off on Sunday 14 July 2019 at 9/8c on PBS Masterpiece.
When is James Norton leaving Grantchester?
Yes, the reports are true: Grantchester series four will include James Norton's final appearance as Sidney Chambers.
"As excited as I am to be filming a new series of Grantchester, it’s also heartbreaking to be saying goodbye to Sidney Chambers," Norton said in 2018. "I’ve loved this experience, and particularly working with such an extraordinary cast and crew."
Norton's exit from the small Cambridge village promises to be an emotional one, with his co-star Robson Green admitting he cried "real tears" at bidding his friend goodbye.
"There wasn't acting required," he told RadioTimes.com. "James is an intelligent, charismatic, joyous person to be alongside, and it's hard to say goodbye to someone you've shared your deepest feelings and thoughts with.
"It was so beautifully written and so powerful on so many levels. It was very poignant."
Norton did show up in the series' opening episode which saw him come into contact with the Todd family hailing from Alabama. But Sidney is dissatisfied with life in the village and fed up with the pettiness of the church congregation – and his eye is caught by the engaging Violet Todd.
Life beyond Grantchester beckons...
Who is replacing James Norton in Grantchester?
Actor Tom Brittney is set to replace James Norton in future series and will join the cast of series four as new vicar the Reverend Will Davenport. The 28-year-old actor has previously starred in UnREAL, Outlander and Call the Midwife.
Will Davenport is an energetic man of the people according to ITV, “who channels his boundless energy into a quest for social justice. He is a man of God, but with the devil inside of him."
The new character will also bring a sense of generational change, according to creator Daisy Coulam.
“He’s much younger than Sidney, which instantly gives him a new characteristic because our new guy didn’t go through the war," she said in a recent PBS podcast interview. "He’s the face of modern Britain."
Norton gave his blessing to actor Brittney, saying, "All the best to the fantastic Tom Brittney in his role as the new vicar. He is a wonderful addition to the Grantchester family.”
"All the auditions were brilliant, but Tom had the thing we wanted," Green added. "He's so hardworking. He cares so much and just wants to get it right."
Who else stars in Grantchester series four?
Davenport will team up with Geordie Keating (again played by Robson Green) who “draws him into righting the wrongs of criminal Cambridge."
The returning cast includes Al Weaver as Leonard Finch; Tessa Peake-Jones as Mrs Maguire; and Kacey Ainsworth as Cathy Keating.
What happens in the new series of Grantchester?
In a PBS podcast the Grantchester creator Daisy Coulam said that the new series would bring some changes.
The series is set in 1956, a world after rationing, where Elvis has his first number one, Teddyboys are bringing new fashions to the streets, and life beyond the small hamlet is moving quickly.
“The world is changing, people are changing, and we decided to make that a theme of the series” Coulam said.
“Our theme is evolve or die. You have to move with the times or you kind of fade away. Our characters are all sort of struggling with that, really. Geordie Keating will be facing a world without his best friend, but in good crime tradition, he will still have a new best friend to fight crime alongside,” she added.
The new series will also see characters tackling themes such as homosexuality, racism and female equality.
However, not every character is happy to embrace change, with Green admitting the gruff Geordie struggling - particularly with his wife Cathy getting her own jobs and finding her own feet.
"Geordie really struggles," Green said. "He feels stuck in a different time and wants things to go back to the way they were.
"In this situation in the 50s, suddenly the wife can become the breadwinner. Cathy's broadening her horizons, but Geordie's feeling his wages should be good enough.
"Deep down, the main risk for him is that she's going to be meeting other men. Then he's getting peer pressure from work as Cathy can buy her own things and his colleagues are seeing that. That theme of her becoming liberated gets more prominent."One of ITV's most popular running dramas, Grantchester is back with a fourth series in 2019.
However, it could be a bittersweet series for fans, as it’s set to be James Norton’s final appearance as Sidney Chambers, the man of God who is surprisingly talented at solving crime.
While Norton may be moving on, there's still plenty to be excited about when it comes to Grantchester series four – not least a new vicar arriving in the parish.
- Who is Tom Brittney? Meet the actor taking over from James Norton in Grantchester
- Grantchester’s new sexy vicar detective is a crime too far
- James Norton reveals why he decided to leave Grantchester
Find out everything you need to know about the new series below.
When is Grantchester series 4 on TV?
Grantchester series four has already aired in the UK, with British viewers tuning in January-February 2019 on ITV.
In the US, the fourth season will kick off on Sunday 14 July 2019 at 9/8c on PBS Masterpiece.
When is James Norton leaving Grantchester?
Yes, the reports are true: Grantchester series four will include James Norton's final appearance as Sidney Chambers.
"As excited as I am to be filming a new series of Grantchester, it’s also heartbreaking to be saying goodbye to Sidney Chambers," Norton said in 2018. "I’ve loved this experience, and particularly working with such an extraordinary cast and crew."
Norton's exit from the small Cambridge village promises to be an emotional one, with his co-star Robson Green admitting he cried "real tears" at bidding his friend goodbye.
"There wasn't acting required," he told RadioTimes.com. "James is an intelligent, charismatic, joyous person to be alongside, and it's hard to say goodbye to someone you've shared your deepest feelings and thoughts with.
"It was so beautifully written and so powerful on so many levels. It was very poignant."
Norton did show up in the series' opening episode which saw him come into contact with the Todd family hailing from Alabama. But Sidney is dissatisfied with life in the village and fed up with the pettiness of the church congregation – and his eye is caught by the engaging Violet Todd.
Life beyond Grantchester beckons...
Who is replacing James Norton in Grantchester?
Actor Tom Brittney is set to replace James Norton in future series and will join the cast of series four as new vicar the Reverend Will Davenport. The 28-year-old actor has previously starred in UnREAL, Outlander and Call the Midwife.
Will Davenport is an energetic man of the people according to ITV, “who channels his boundless energy into a quest for social justice. He is a man of God, but with the devil inside of him."
The new character will also bring a sense of generational change, according to creator Daisy Coulam.
“He’s much younger than Sidney, which instantly gives him a new characteristic because our new guy didn’t go through the war," she said in a recent PBS podcast interview. "He’s the face of modern Britain."
Norton gave his blessing to actor Brittney, saying, "All the best to the fantastic Tom Brittney in his role as the new vicar. He is a wonderful addition to the Grantchester family.”
"All the auditions were brilliant, but Tom had the thing we wanted," Green added. "He's so hardworking. He cares so much and just wants to get it right."
Who else stars in Grantchester series four?
Davenport will team up with Geordie Keating (again played by Robson Green) who “draws him into righting the wrongs of criminal Cambridge."
The returning cast includes Al Weaver as Leonard Finch; Tessa Peake-Jones as Mrs Maguire; and Kacey Ainsworth as Cathy Keating.
What happens in the new series of Grantchester?
In a PBS podcast the Grantchester creator Daisy Coulam said that the new series would bring some changes.
The series is set in 1956, a world after rationing, where Elvis has his first number one, Teddyboys are bringing new fashions to the streets, and life beyond the small hamlet is moving quickly.
“The world is changing, people are changing, and we decided to make that a theme of the series” Coulam said.
“Our theme is evolve or die. You have to move with the times or you kind of fade away. Our characters are all sort of struggling with that, really. Geordie Keating will be facing a world without his best friend, but in good crime tradition, he will still have a new best friend to fight crime alongside,” she added.
The new series will also see characters tackling themes such as homosexuality, racism and female equality.
However, not every character is happy to embrace change, with Green admitting the gruff Geordie struggling - particularly with his wife Cathy getting her own jobs and finding her own feet.
"Geordie really struggles," Green said. "He feels stuck in a different time and wants things to go back to the way they were.
"In this situation in the 50s, suddenly the wife can become the breadwinner. Cathy's broadening her horizons, but Geordie's feeling his wages should be good enough.
"Deep down, the main risk for him is that she's going to be meeting other men. Then he's getting peer pressure from work as Cathy can buy her own things and his colleagues are seeing that. That theme of her becoming liberated gets more prominent."
