Tom Brittney felt mixed emotions when he discovered that Grantchester was ending
Former Grantchester actor Tom Brittney has recalled how he felt both heartbreak and pride when he found out that the ITV detective drama would be ending after its upcoming 11th series.
Former Grantchester star Tom Brittney felt a sense of heartbreak and pride when he discovered that the show would be ending.
The 35-year-old actor played the Reverend Will Davenport in five seasons of the ITV detective drama and explained that he felt mixed emotions when the channel revealed that the long-running show would conclude following its 11th series, which is expected to air in early 2027.
Brittney, who featured alongside Robson Green’s DI Geordie Keating in the 1950s and 60s set drama, told Radio Times: "Oh, I was both heartbroken, in the sense of like, it was one of the longest running shows I think that ITV had had in that way.
"And so I was very proud of the creators. Because I know after James Norton (who played Reverend Sidney Chambers) left, they were like, 'We'll try and get a new guy, it'll probably fail, but we'll try it,’ and so there's no pressure on me to try and keep it going. And then luckily, it did, and I did six or seven wonderful series of that, and I loved it. It will always be a special place in my heart."
Brittney also revealed how his fellow stars Norton and Rishi Nair (Reverend Alphy Kotteram) attended the wrap party last year to say farewell to the show.
He said: "And then Rishi taking over - I thought he was just brilliant, and I got to direct him a bit as well, which was just fascinating, seeing the person in your old job and going, ‘I used to do this.’ But he carried the show to a beautiful ending.
"I was actually at the wrap party at the end of last year to say goodbye, and me, James, and Rishi were all there, and it was a beautiful goodbye to a beautiful show that I think people will always remember fondly."
Brittney departed Grantchester during the show’s ninth season last year and said at the time that exiting the show had been the “hardest decision” of his life.
The Westies actor explained: "Well, it was one of... it was the hardest decision of my life.
"I’ve spent five or six years – and the happiest years of my career so far – doing Grantchester and playing a character which just has so much depth and complexity. It was just a happy place.
"But I think all good things have to come to an end, and it just felt like the right time to put a full stop, let's say, on Will's story and see where they took the story without him.
"Will had such a passionate and fiery start, and I think you saw him go through everything and come to a reasonably happy ending, as sad as it was to leave. But I think he left in peace, and that felt like a good place to end it."
