Grantchester headed to ITV/PBS
Grantchester, set against the backdrop of the real hamlet of Grantchester, is the newest addition to an already stellar drama lineup over at ITV and could soon be a part of the PBS drama line-up. The six-part drama focuses upon the life of Sidney Chambers, played by James Norton (Death Comes to Pemberley, Happy Valley), a charismatic, charming clergyman who turns investigative vicar when one of his parishioners dies in suspicious circumstances. Based on the James Runcie novel, Sidney Chambers and the Shadow of Death, the series also stars Robson Green (Strike Back, Being Human, Reckless) as police inspector Geordie Keating. Public Television fans will no doubt also remember Green’s brilliant performance in the late 90’s series, Touching Evil.
Much like Father Brown, another brilliantly done series that comes to public television from the BBC, the relationship between Sidney Chambers and Geordie Keating is a bit of an unlikely partnership which quickly becomes a true friendship as each offers a different insight into the crimes they begin to unravel. One could easily draw the same conclusions about the early days of Father Brown and Inspector Valentine (Hugo Speer). Then, when Valentine was promoted and went to London, his successor, Inspector Sullivan (Tom Chambers), quickly became exasperated by Father Brown’s meddling and contradicting his findings, Eventually, however, he was won over as he began to recognize Father Brown’s efforts as being more helpful than meddlesome.
In the case of both Father Brown and Grantchester, intuitive crime solving meets the methodical police approach which makes for great telly.
