Grantchester season 8 cast: Meet the characters in ITV drama
Everything you need to know about the cast of Grantchester.
ITV drama Grantchester returns to UK screens for its 8th season, with lead crime-solving duo local detective DI Geordie Keating and Reverend Will Davenport tasked with solving a string of murders.
But this season has gotten off to the rockiest of starts for the vicar, who has been plagued with guilt and a lack of faith that will be explored further in this week's episode as another murder rocks the small village.
We know Tom Brittney is leaving the series, but is this why his character decides to exit? We'll just have to wait and see.
Although we've come to know and love Geordie as the series constant over the years, will he be on the beat for much longer?
"[Geordie faces] a defining moment when he realises his shelf life has expired," said Robson Green. "He's closed for business, he needs to move on and leave this place that he loves, and has given his life to, because he can't compete with [DCI] Elliot [Scott] and his entourage.
"Elliot's got people in his pocket who are far more powerful than Geordie. It's a very painful moment for Geordie and great to play as an actor. We'll have to see if he can find a way around it."
Alongside the two leads, a raft of familiar faces are back for the latest season of the show plus episode guest stars.
Read on for everything you need to know about the cast and characters in Grantchester.
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Grantchester season 8 cast
- Robson Green as Geordie Keating
- Tom Brittney as Will Davenport
- Charlotte Ritchie as Bonnie Evans
- Kacey Ainsworth as Cathy Keating
- Tessa Peake-Jones as Mrs Chapman
- Nick Brimble as Jack Chapman
- Al Weaver as Leonard Finch
- Oliver Dimsdale as Daniel Marlowe
- Melissa Johns as Miss Scott
- Bradley Hall as Larry Peters
- Michael D Xavier as Elliot Scott
- Isaac Highams as Ernie Evans
- Skye Lucia Degruttola as Esme Keating
Robson Green plays Geordie Keating
Who is Geordie Keating? A gruff police detective and best friends with Will. Geordie is making a go of things once again with formerly estranged wife Cathy, with whom he has four children. In season 8, his job is at risk as retirement looms.
Where have I seen Robson Green before? One half of '90s singing duo Robson and Jerome, Green's television CV includes prominent roles like Dr Tony Hill in Wire in the Blood and Dave Ticket in Soldier Soldier; more recently he played Teddy in BBC One drama Age Before Beauty. He's also fronted numerous fishing programmes, including Robson Green: Extreme Fisherman.
Tom Brittney plays Will Davenport
Who is Rev Will Davenport? A motorcycle-riding vicar who previously replaced James Norton's Sidney Chambers as Grantchester's resident sleuthing man of the cloth.
In season 5, Will's (self-imposed) vow of celibacy was broken (with a nun, no less). Following that, he was far more sexually liberated, but has since settled down with Bonnie. Will's now learning how to be a dad as he co-parents her son Ernie, and the couple are expecting their first child together.
Where have I seen Tom Brittney before? You might recognise Brittney for his role as Lieutenant Jeremy Foster in the time-travelling series Outlander. He has also appeared as American Tyler Mitchell in the BBC’s Lottery drama The Syndicate, and as Roger Lockwood in UnReal.
Charlotte Ritchie plays Bonnie Evans
Who is Bonnie? Cathy's niece, who was widowed when we first met her and a single mother to Ernie. In season 7, Bonnie and Will tied the knot.
Where have I seen Charlotte Ritchie before? She plays Alison in the BBC comedy series Ghosts, George in Feel Good, and Nurse Barbara Gilbert in Call the Midwife, and has starred in Dead Pixels, Fresh Meat, Siblings, Raised by Wolves, and McDonald & Dodds.
Kacey Ainsworth plays Cathy Keating
Who is Cathy Keating? George's wife. "In the domestic realm, Cathy and Geordie are on a more equal footing, which is good, because they’ve had quite a lot of ups and downs," said Ainsworth of the couple.
"Cathy is quite assertive at wanting her own independence but not at the expense of anyone else. However, she gets a job opportunity that she feels she can't turn down, but the problem is that she doesn’t want to upset anyone."
Where have I seen Kacey Ainsworth? The actress played Little Mo in EastEnders, and has previously starred in Holby City’s police spin-off Holby Blue. She also played the gentle-natured Miss Gullet in the revamp of popular '90s children’s show The Worst Witch.
Tessa Peake-Jones plays Mrs Chapman
Who is Mrs Chapman? Formerly Mrs Maguire (she married again in season 3), Mrs Chapman is a devout housekeeper to Rev Will Davenport and fiercely religious. She has no qualms about ruffling feathers when she deems it appropriate.
Where have I seen Tessa Peake-Jones? The actress is perhaps best known as Raquel Turner in legendary sitcom Only Fools and Horses, but Peake-Jones has also starred as Sue Bond in Doctors, Sheila in Unforgotten and Imelda Cousins in Holby City.
Nick Brimble plays Jack Chapman
Who is Jack Chapman? Mrs C's husband. The pair grew up together in Grantchester, and he went on to work in India after the war, becoming a successful businessman.
Where have I seen Nick Brimble before? You might recognise him as Little John from Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves starring Kevin Costner. He also appeared in A Knight’s Tale with Heath Ledger.
Al Weaver plays Leonard Finch
Who is Leonard Finch? A friend of Will's and former curate who previously kept his sexuality a secret. Season 6 saw a dramatic reversal of circumstances for him when he was outed following a seaside holiday with boyfriend Daniel.
Where have I seen Al Weaver before? Weaver has starred in Colette, Peterloo and The Hollow Crown, and recently played James Edwards in the Mike Bartlett series Press.
Oliver Dimsdale plays Daniel Marlowe
Who is Daniel Marlowe? Leonard Finch's boyfriend.
Where have I seen Oliver Dimsdale before? He played the Prince of Wales in Downton Abbey, Peter Eaton in White House Farm, Mr Keen in Mr Selfridge, and Louis Trevelyan in He Knew He Was Right.
Additional cast includes:
- Isaac Highams (Foundation) as Ernie Evans - Bonnie's son
- Skye Lucia Degruttola (Humans) as Esme Keating - Geordie and Cathy's eldest daughter
- Melissa Johns (Coronation Street) as Miss Scott - police secretary
- Bradley Hall (The Singapore Grip) as DC Larry Peters
- Michael D Xavier (Gentleman Jack) as DCI Elliot Scott
- The younger Keating children are played by Rubie-Rose Fearfield, Rose Allen and Carter-Jae O'Neil
Grantchester season 8 guest stars
Episode 1
- Shaun Dingwall (Top Boy, Noughts & Crosses) as Ron - a mechanic who trains young bikers
- Elliot Norman (The Great Escaper) as Jimmy - Ron's son
- Antonia Rita (Casualty) as Stephanie - a motorbike enthusiast
- Jayden Reid as Carl - a biker
- Charlie Suff (Grace) as Tom - a thug who's part of a motorcycle gang from New Market
- Narinder Samra (Casualty) as Keith Pruitt - an ex-convict and alcoholic who's staying at Leonard's halfway house
Episode 2
- Dean Weir (The Royals) as John Mitchell - the man struck by Will's motorcycle
- Laura Rogers (EastEnders) as Jackie Mitchell - John's partner
- Luke Nunn (The Last Kingdom) as Ray Mansfield - he owns The Mirage bar with his brother
- Oliver Huntington (Happy Valley) as Paulie Mansfield - Ray's brother
- Rachel Harper (Casualty) as Dot Parsons - Ray's girlfriend, who works at a laundrette
- Jake Neads (Smothered) as Milton Bedwin - a friend of Ray, Paulie and Dot's
- Santo Tripodi (Strike Back) as Alfio Cappobianco - one of the men living at the half-way house
- Narinder Samra (Casualty) as Keith Pruitt - another resident at Leonard's halfway house
Episode 3
- Jeff Rawle (Hollyoaks) as Dr Abbot - a college fellow
- Simone Lahbib (EastEnders) as Martha Williamson - she applies to be a housekeeper at Leonard's halfway house.
- Jemima Rooper (The Inheritance) as Josephine Hanlan - a cleaner at the university
- Kassius Nelson (Hollyoaks) as Sheila Delaney - the wife of a dead university porter
- Georgie Oulton (North Shore) as Marianna Roberston - a woman who stages a naked protest at the university
Episode 4
- Santo Tripodi (Strike Back) as Alfio Cappobianco - an Italian man who is staying at the halfway house
- Simone Lahbib (EastEnders) as Martha Williamson - a housekeeper working at the halfway house
- David Rubin (Vera) as Duncan - one of the men living at the halfway house
- George Brockbanks (Casualty) as Mikey Ellis - another man living at the halfway house
- Narinder Samra (Ackley Bridge) as Keith Pruitt - one of the men living at the halfway house who gets into a fight
- Jessie Bedrossian (Casualty) as Judith Evans - a woman who has been living at the halfway house for a while
Episode 5
- Denise Black (Emmderdale) as Miss Taylor - a counsellor who visits Leonard's halfway house
- Brian Bovell (Hollyoaks) as Bernie Palmer - the owner of a bar
- Hubert Hanowicz (The Crown of the Kings) as Mike Cotton - a man who's hospitalised after being poisoned
- Bernadett Swann (Oltári csajok) as Anna Cotton - Mike's wife
- Lily Carr (The Buccaneers) as Debbie Stephens - the niece of a doctor who dies via poisoning
- Aleah Aberdeen (Saltburn) as Sharon Anderson - a barmaid
- Narinder Samra (Ackley Bridge) as Keith Pruitt - one of the men living at the halfway house
Episode 6
- Mark Benton (Waterloo Road) plays Sam 'Mac' MacKenzie - the police officer who finds Will
- Badger Skelton (Doctors) plays Jacob Wilson - a young boy who gets himself into trouble
- Audrey Kattan (A Small Light) plays Sadie Wilson - Jacob's younger sister
- Andrew Westfield (Coronation Street) plays Rob Wilson - Jacob and Sadie's uncle
- Carol Harvey (The Bill) plays June Wilson - Jacob and Sadie's aunt
- Karlina Grace-Paseda (Black Ops) plays a matron
- Narinder Samra (Ackley Bridge) as Keith Pruitt - one of the men living at the halfway house
Grantchester is available to watch on ITV and ITVX. You can order the Grantchester Mysteries books by James Runcie from Amazon.
Looking for something else to watch? Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on.
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