Filming has been completed for Grace season 4, with John Simm and the rest of the cast set to return to ITV1 for more dark and sinister cases sooner rather than later.
That will come as good news to fans of the hit crime drama, especially after the climactic ending to Grace season 3.
In another exciting piece of news, ITV1 have also confirmed that Robert Glenister (Sherwood) will feature in the fourth series!
Based on the bestselling novels by Peter James, the crime show follows the exploits of DS Roy Grace, who has been haunted for over a decade by the disappearance of his wife Sandy. In recent years he's found happiness with forensic pathologist Cleo Morey (Zoe Tapper), but will that happiness last?
That's one of the many questions we hope will be answered in the fourth series of this detective drama, which is filmed in Brighton and the surrounding areas.
“I’m so pleased to be back on set, filming series four of Grace," said John Simm in an official statement. "Four of Peter James’ Roy Grace novels are being adapted for this series and Grace fans will be pleased to know the stories are as dark as ever with lots of twists and turns.”
Here's everything we know about the next instalment so far...
* SPOILERS FOR GRACE SEASON 3 AHEAD *
Grace season 4 release date - when is it on ITV1?
Filming began in Brighton in April 2023 and in September John Simm confirmed shooting had been completed with an Instagram post captioned "That's a wrap on Grace season 4".
With all three previous seasons hitting ITV1 in the spring, the fourth series is expected to follow suit, which would give Grace season 4 a release date of Spring 2024.
How many episodes are there in Grace season 4?
The fourth season of this ITV1 detective drama will be longer than any of the previous series and contain four episodes.
Grace season 4 plot - what happens?
With Grace's girlfriend Cleo Morey discovering she's pregnant and his estranged wife Sandy seemingly trying to prove that he's also the father of her child, it's fair to say the detective could have his hands full in the fourth series!
An official synopsis from ITV reads...
"The first film in the new series is called Dead Man’s Time. A vicious robbery at a secluded Brighton home, draws Grace and Branson into a puzzling enquiry when thousands of pounds worth of beautiful antiques are stolen from the house. As Grace digs deeper into this mysterious crime, he unearths a web of ancient grudges - a web which leads him down a dark, murderous trail through the world of Brighton antiques, in a race against the clock, to untangle who is at the heart of this robbery, and bring Gavin Daly the answers he has been desperately chasing for many years.
"In episode two, Want You Dead, Grace and Branson investigate a case where nothing is truly as it first appears. When an unidentified victim is found dead in curious circumstances, the post mortem reveals more questions than it does answers. As Grace works to identify the body, hoping this might provide some crucial clue as to the killer’s motive, he soon has another death on his hands when a second victim shows up in central Brighton, discovered in similarly bizarre circumstances."
"You Are Dead is episode three in which Grace and Branson are thrown into what is possibly their most disturbing and high-profile case yet, when an unsettling discovery of skeletal remains is unearthed by workmen digging up a path in central Brighton. Meanwhile, across the city that same morning, a victim is snatched in broad daylight. With no witnesses and no sign of who took her, Grace starts to suspect whether the victim’s fiancé is lying to the police.
"The final episode in the series is Love You Dead. When a known Brighton burglar is found dead in his car, in gruesome circumstances, his wife claims that he had turned over a new leaf, but all the evidence points to the fact the victim may still have been up to his old tricks and was breaking and entering on the night he was killed. As Grace and the team work to hone in on the circumstances leading to the victim’s death, Roy receives a call from a US police contact about a crime abroad which bears the hallmarks of a mafia hit. The police are keen to trace a woman they believe to be from Brighton, who could be in danger. As Roy scours the city to help find her, it becomes apparent he isn’t the only one looking for this mysterious woman."
ITV will have adapted 12 of Peter James' 19 Roy Grace novels after the end of season four, which means we could have a couple of seasons yet to come at least — and potentially a spin-off series based on Sandy!
"I'm writing Sandy's story as a standalone novel at the moment," James told journalists in a recent interview. "It's from her perspective from the day she leaves him and the real reason that she leaves him."
Grace season 4 cast — who's in it?
John Simm will return as DS John Grace and Richie Campbell will return as DS Glenn Branson. Others confirmed to return include...
* Craig Parkinson (Line of Duty) as DS Norman Potting
* Zoë Tapper (Liar) as Cleo Morey
* Laura Elphinstone (Line of Duty) as DS Bella Moy
* Brad Morrison (Dinosaur) as DC Nick Nicholl
* Sam Hoare (The Capture) as ACC Cassian Pewe
Clare Calbraith is also expected to return as Grace's estranged wife Sandy and in exciting news, ITV1 have confirmed that season 4 will also feature renowned TV star Robert Glenister (Sherwood, Hustle).
With John Simm recently moving to Brighton, where the drama is filmed, it seems likely he could be playing the detective for many years to come!
"Moving here has really helped me get into the world of Grace," he told us in a recent interview. "We film all over Brighton, Hove and the surrounding area, so I know where I am a bit more now! We didn't move here because of Grace, it was just a weird, happy accident, but it’s great not to be traveling or staying in hotels all the time, which is what my life usually is. I lived in London for so long that it feels like we've moved on holiday!"
Grace season 4 trailer
There's no trailer for this one yet, but we'll be sure to post it here as soon as it lands!
