‘Grantchester’ character faces a ‘dangerous downward spiral’ in Season 8

We’ve got the first details on what to expect from the next season of Grantchester!

Based on the novels by James Runcie, the popular 1950s crime drama series has been running since 2014.

Its seventh season concluded earlier this year, leaving fans wondering if the emotional finale would be the show’s last ever episode.

Watch the Season 7 trailer here:

Luckily, we now know Grantchester will be back for another season and filming began in Cambridgeshire, England this summer.

It was also recently confirmed which of our favourite characters will be returning in the new episodes.

Fortunately, despite her busy schedule, one of the actors reprising their role is Ghosts star Charlotte Ritchie.

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.

She’ll be back as Bonnie in Season 8, although Grantchester creator Daisy Coulam has revealed that it won’t be smooth sailing for Will and Bonnie as they settle in to married life.

She told the Masterpiece Studio podcast: “Well, I suppose Will’s story in the next series is much more of a personal, quite an internal journey… He has quite a stretch in a way, [which] tears him away from Bonnie and makes the relationship slightly trickier.”

More positively, it sounds like there will be plenty of happiness for the new couple too.

Coulam teased: “I’ve just read some lovely scenes with them. They’re a dynamic duo, that’s what they are. [Bonnie] fits in, but she’s having to sort of slot into this slightly odd world of religion and services and, you know, WI markets and old ladies and, and she does a brilliant scene that Richard [Cookson] is writing at the moment, which is how she kind of navigates Will through that.

“You know, ‘That couple that just split up, don’t mention that,’ you know, she knows the gossip of the village and it’s sort of. So there’s a really nice dynamic between them which will be tested, of course, because, you know, nothing good can last…”

Well, that certainly sounds ominous!

The official synopsis for Season 8 reveals more story hints: “Will is the happiest he’s ever been, but his world will be rocked by a terrible accident. He’s always preached the word of a compassionate God – but how can he now, when his despair leads him on a dangerous downward spiral?

“Geordie has found a new contentment in his relationship with Cathy, but when they are both confronted with shocking announcements at work their happiness is threatened.

“As Mrs. C, Leonard, Jack and Daniel rally around, both Will and Geordie find themselves in unfamiliar, emotional waters and murder is always around the corner.”

“Exploring faith, forgiveness, and redemption,” we’re told to expect cases “exploring the lives of invisible women” and new crime mysteries ranging “from Speedway to spies.”

Meanwhile, it looks like Leonard could find himself battling the law again with his new vocation, but what is it?

Fans are warned that Season 8 “tests Will and Geordie to the limit.”

Charlotte Ritchie is currently back on our screens in the 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.