‘Grantchester’ confirms returning cast: Who’s back in Season 8?
The next season of Grantchester is filming right now!
Based on the novels by James Runcie, the popular 1950s crime drama series has been running since 2014.
Its seventh season wrapped up earlier this year, with viewers left wondering if the emotional finale was to be the last ever episode of Grantchester.
Even actor Will Brittney, who’s played clergyman Will Davenport since 2019, commented: “If there were to be no eighth series, I think that would be a beautiful ending.”
Watch the Season 7 trailer here:
Fortunately, Grantchester has been renewed for another season and production began in Cambridgeshire, England this summer.
Executive producer Susanne Simpson said: “We are thrilled to bring Masterpiece viewers back to Grantchester for an eighth season. The talented ensemble cast and captivating storylines have made Grantchester one of our most beloved series. We can’t wait for fans to see it!”
ITV’s drama commissioner Chloe Tucker added: “With an incredibly talented cast and crew, and storylines that always deliver, Grantchester is a real treat for the audience.”
We can now confirm which cast members will be back in Season 8, with Robson Green and Tom Brittney once again leading the cast as DI Geordie Keating and Reverend Will Davenport.
They’ll be joined by returning long-term regulars Tessa Peake-Jones as Mrs C, Al Weaver as Leonard Finch, Kacey Ainsworth as Cathy Keating, Oliver Dimsdale as Daniel Marlowe, and Nick Brimble as Jack Chapman.
Also reprising her role in the new season is Charlotte Ritchie as Bonnie.
The former Call the Midwife star joined the show in Season 7 as Cathy’s niece, and her character married Will in the last episode.
It’s great to hear Charlotte Ritchie is back, as we’d been worried that her filming commitments for the next season of Netflix’s You might mean Will and Bonnie’s marriage would be very short-lived!
We’ve also got the first details on Season 8’s guest stars.
Among the upcoming special guests are Shaun Dingwall (Doctor Who, Maigret), Jeff Rawle (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Doc Martin), and Jemima Rooper (Lost in Austen, The Split).
Sadly there’s no news yet on whether Jemma Redgrave will be back as Will’s mother Amelia, or if Bradley Hall and Melissa Johns are reprising their roles as DC Larry Peters and Miss Scott.
Hopefully we’ll also see the return of Emily Patrick as Will’s hilarious socialite step-sister, Tamara Gurney-Clifford!
Charlotte Ritchie returned to our screens last month in a fourth season of Ghosts and you can watch the trailer here:
Six brand new episodes of the hit comedy series are now streaming on BBC iPlayer and airing on BBC One on Friday nights.
The eighth season of Grantchester premieres in 2023 on ITV in the UK and on PBS in the US.
Grantchester is available to watch on Amazon Prime Video.