ITV Grace new series updates: Baby heartbreak and 'traumatic' beginning
John Simm returns for a brand new series of ITV drama Grace, and fans are gearing up for a 'traumatic' beginning.
ITV drama Grace is back for an all-new series, with John Simm reprising his role as DS Roy Grace. He has already teased a "traumatic" start to the new episodes, explaining during an appearance on The One Show: "It's a little bit further in time and sadly you discover that Roy and Cleo have lost their baby so it's a pretty traumatic start."
He went on to tease: "They are also dealing with a son that they didn't know they had, who I think from the end of last series they confronted the hospital so they are dealing with that, so it's quite a traumatic beginning."
Series five of the drama, which premieres tonight, includes four feature-length episodes inspired by Peter James' novel Dead If You Don't, Dead At First Sight, Need You Dead, and Find Them Dead. Four different directors will take the lead on each adaptation.
The author himself said: "When the first episode of Grace aired in 2021, it was a dream come true. It is both heartening and astounding to me that we're already at series five!
"The continued success of Grace is a testament to the outstanding cast headed by John Simm, and crew and, equally importantly, the fans, who have loved and devoted their time to these characters both on the page and now the screen. It is also a testament to just how faithfully ITV has adhered to both the characters and stories in the novels."
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For fans looking to get their next Grace fix, the long-running series has not only transition from page to screen, but also to the stage. On Friday (April 4), author Peter James revealed that one of his novels, Picture You Dead, has been adapted to a stage play, starring a whole host of familiar faces.
This includes recently axed Coronation Street star Peter Ash - who will be playing all venues from February 6 to May 17 - before he is replaced by Ore Oduba - who will be playing all venues from May 20 to July 26. Both actors will be playing the role of Dave Hegarty.
Fiona Wade, who starred on ITV's Yorkshire soap Emmerdale will also join the cast alongside George Rainsford, who has appeared in Call the Midwife and Casualty, who will return as DSI Roy Grace.
Grace has been recommissioned for a sixth series
Following the positive feedback from the first episode, ITV have announced that Grace is returning for a sixth series. Taking to Instagram, the official ITV account shared a snap of John Simm and Richie Campbell posing in character.
They captioned the post: “Grace is returning for a sixth series! John Simm will reprise his role as Detective Superintendent Roy Grace for four stand alone films.”
The flagship channel went on to reveal that the ITV show is set to begin filming in a matter of months, adding: “Filming is expected to begin in Brighton this summer”. Commenting on the good news, Rickie penned: “Cat’s out of the bag!!! Can’t wait for everyone to see Series 5.”
Fans beg author James Peter to make a cameo appearance
The first episode of the fifth series has come to an end after a gripping two-hour special. It's fair to say fans loved the return of the feature-length film and flooded to X/Twitter to shower the show with praise online.
One user penned: "Great start to the new series of #Grace" as another agreed: "#Grace great to have this back". Following the show's debut, author Peter James took to Instagram to reassure fans that more twists and turns are yet to come.
He told his loyal fanbase: "I am heavily involve [in the show], so I can assure you fans of the books that you are in safe hands." It was at this point that fans of the crime novellist begged him to make a cameo in the ITV series this year.
One fan penned: "Peter, you need to start making cameos in the episodes... I love the books and the series is fantastic! It would be such fun to try and spot you!" Another agreed: "This is a brilliant idea" as a third echoed: "We'd love to see you strutting around the police station!"
Crime series cross-over
Eagle-eyed fans spotted a familiar face in the debut episode of the ITV crime drama Grace. Halfway through the show, viewers were introduced to football stadium owners Kipp Kavinda (played by Abhin Galeya) and Dr Zara Kavinda (Maya Sondhi).
The actress plays the role of a concerned mother who's son has been kidnapped, but viewers couldn't help but scratch their heads over where they might have seen her before.
It turns out Maya had previously appeared in Line of Duty, playing PC Maneet Bindra. But this isn't the only crime drama she has starred in. The brunette beaty, hailing from Birmingham, is also the creator and writer of D.I. Ray - a two series BBC show which hit the airwaves back in 2022.
It didn't take long before fans flooded to X/Twitter to share their suspicions online. One user penned: "Oh, isn't that her who got killed in Line of Duty as a policewoman? #Grace" as another agreed: "Is that #Brummie Maya Sondhi in #Grace?"
Grace fans hit out at ITV bosses for missing character
As the first episode of the ITV show nears its end, fans couldn't help but mourn the loss of Norman Potting (played by Craig Parkinson).The detective became a firm favourite with viewers for his blunt demeanour and old-school cop outlook.
At the end of series four, DS Potting developed a close connection with DS Bella Moy (Laura Elphinstone), and eventually shared some worrying personal news to her. He revealed that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer and broke the news to the whole team in teh final episode.
Craig confirmed the sad news with a heartfelt post on Instagram last year, which read: "After a happy few years, I've made teh decision to hand in Norman Potting's detective badge. The new season of Grace (series four) begins on ITV on 1st September but it will also be my last.
"It's been a wonderful experience taking this character from page to screen and updating him for a new audience." And it's fair to say his absence was missed by fans, who flooded to X/ Twitter to share their disappointment at this absence online.
One user penned: "So looking forward to this. Though I will miss Norman #Grace #RoyGrace." Another agreed: "I'm missing Nortman #grace" as a third echoed: "I hope they explain where Norman is (and hopefully nothing to do with the cancer) #Grace."
Odd Doctor Who connection
Grace fans left viewers are convinced they've spotted a subtle hit to one of Johnn Simm's previous TV roles in the ITV crime drama, Grace. As DS Roy Grace (played by John Simm) and DI Glenn Brandson (Richie Campbell) delve into the gang behind the planted bomb in the football stadium, Brandson reveals that the terrorist group is aptly called "Dalek".
Loyal fans of the ITV show will remember that Simm played The Master back in 2007. He shared the screen with the 10th doctor, played by David Tennant where he took over Britain posing as fictional Prime Minister Harold Saxon.
He later took over the country by holding the doctor captive, only to be swindled by his companion Martha Jones (Freema Agyeman), and Captain Jack Harkness (John Barrowman). The subtle reference wasn't lost on loyal Doctor Who fans, who flooded to X to share their suspisions online.
One user penned: "Dalek. Subtle reference to John Simm's role as The Master in Dr Who [cry-laughing emoji] #Grace." Another quipped: "#Grace Dalek? I thought Doctor Who was on next week [laughing emoji]."
Fans spot major Grace script change
Eagle-eyed viewers spotted one major change in the ITV show following the introduction of one huge new character. On Sunday (April 6), DS Roy Grace returned to the long-running show with his onscreen partner Cleo Morey.
The show opens with Cleo dealing with the “devastating loss” of Roy’s baby, pulling her away from professional life”. But the couple face a further shake-up following the introduction of Roy's long-lost son Bruno (played by Finn Guegan).
However, loyal fans of the Peter James anthology couldn't help but call out one glaring script change between the books and the TV show. One fan pointed out: "In the books, Cleo and Roy have a son. Really don't understand why they needed to change that #grace."
Another agreed: "So do they talk about Bruno then? (If you know, you know) #Grace." A third echoed: "I remember them having a son but not losing a child. Why change it so much #Grace?"
EXCLUSIVE: Real life Grace location hit with major blow
Despite it's huge popularity, ITV's gripping detective drama Grace hasn't resulted in a surge in property prices in Brighton despite being set in the popular seaside town. One year after the fourth series wrapped, fans finally got to see the popular TV show return to our screens.
But having 5.6million people using the show as a shop window has done nothign to entice buyers to move to the area. Speaking exclusively to Express.co.uk, Kieran Carter of Sawyer and Co. Sales and Lettings in Brighton says the market is hugely in decline.
He told us: “It [The TV show Grace] hasn't had any effect on any house prices around here. The market is what it is. It has been in a slow, gradual decline for the last two years in this city, 2023 and 2024 and right now it's sort of plateaued at the bottom.
"Grace has got nothing to do with the property market here. It's not affected it in the slightest,” he confirmed.
Grace fans call out huge blunder minutes into new series
Fans of the ITV crime drama struggled to focus on the two-hour special after spotting one obvious blunder just minutes into the show. The programme follows DS Roy Grace who attends a football match with his son Bruno.
The game is set in Priestfield, Gillingham's stadium - which is actually located miles away from Brighton. A mystery woman was told to plant a bomb in the crowded stadium connected by a mobile phone. And the little-known fact wasn't missed by fans online.
One user penned: "That's the Priestfield, Gillingham's stadium. No way near Brighton [cry-laughing emoji] #Grace #ITV. Another eagle-eyed viewer chuckled: "Someone's built a new East Stand! #Grace" as a third echoed: "When Plough Lane gets a new tier overnight #grace #itv #afcw."
Meanwhile, others poked fun at the likeliness that a terrorist would have been able to enter a football stadium unnoticed without a ticket and with full phone signal.
A fourth pointed out: "The most unrealistic part so far is anyone having signal in a football stadium, took me 75 minutes to send a picture at the Emirates last week #Grace." Another added: "There's a bomb alert and they have let someone in withoug a ticket. Sounds likely! #grace."
Grace series 5 cast
The new jam-packed series brings four two-hour stories to captivate fans, with John Simm and Richie Campbell reprising their roles as the DS Roy Grace and DI Glenn Branson.
Other returning cast members include Zoe Tapper as Cleo Morey, Brad Morrison as DC Nick Nicholl, Laura Elphinstone as DC Bella May, Sam Hoare as Cassian Pew, and Rebecca Scroggs as Ari Branson.
In the first instalment of the crime drama, titled Dead If You Don’t, child actor Finn Guegan joins the cast as Grace’s son Bruno. The ITV drama marks his most significant role to date, following appearances in Apple TV+’s Silo and films Here and Christmas Karma.
Pre-episode spoilers
Zoe Tapper has explained that Cleo is dealing with the “devastating loss” of Roy’s baby, pulling her away from her professional life. She explained: “Cleo’s work is so intrinsic to who she is as a person. With Roy returning to work, they're processing their grief separately. She feels alone."
The pair are also set to be faced with the arrival of Roy’s long-lost son Bruno, played by Finn Guegan, who throws another spanner in the works.
