Grace season 3: Release date, cast and latest news
When does John Simm's Grace return to ITV?
Fans of ITV detective drama Grace have been waiting patiently since the season 2 finale left them on tenterhooks, dropping a big cliffhanger just as the season came to an end.
Well finally, their wait is almost over, as Roy Grace and his partner Glenn Branson return to solve more cases in Brighton.
The series is adapted from the Roy Grace series of novels by Peter James, with eight books having now been translated to the screen. However, the team still certainly has a way to go, as there are currently a whopping 19 books in the series.
But when does the new season start airing, which books are being adapted this time, and who from the cast is back for season 3?
Read on for everything you need to know about Grace season 3.
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When will Grace season 3 be released?
It's official – less than a year after Grace season 2 arrived on ITV, season 3 will air weekly from 8pm on Sunday 19th March on ITV1 and ITVX.
There will be three episodes this season, meaning fans can expect to see the last episode air on Sunday 2nd April.
Author of the Grace books Peter James recently teased that fans will see a resolution to the plot surrounding the disappearance of Roy's wife Sandy in the future, with the first episode of this season featuring flashbacks to their relationship.
James said: "One thing that John [Simm] and I discuss a lot is Sandy and her disappearance. It will ultimately resolve, and I think the audience will love it."
Which Roy Grace books does season 3 adapt?
Grace season 3 continues the trend of adapting one novel from Peter James's Roy Grace book series per episode, with the team continuing to adapt them in the order in which they were released.
This year's season contains three episodes, adapted from the following books:
The synopsis for Dead Like You says: "A chilling event at the Royal Edward hotel on the night of Assistant Chief Constable, Alison Vosper’s leaving do forces Grace and Branson into a difficult position when they must investigate all hotel guests, including high ranking East Sussex police attendees.
"Something about the incident is causing a deep unease in Grace - he knows he’s seen this before. Has a sinister offender from Grace’s past dubbed the Brighton Prowler resurfaced or is this a copycat? As the attacks continue, Grace is convinced it’s the same man - and delving into the past may be the key to saving the next victim."
The synopsis for Dead Man's Grip says: "Grace and his team are called to the site of a tragic road traffic collision involving three vehicles: an articulated lorry, a car and a blue pickup truck.
"An unexpected discovery at the scene, found on the victim, soon suggests there could be far more to this particular accident than meets the eye, sparking an unsettling chain of events which leads Grace and Branson on a tense, desperate game of cat and mouse through the city of Brighton to save an innocent life before time runs out."
Meanwhile, the synopsis for the final episode, Not Dead Yet, says: "A rising music star, Gaia Lafayette, receives the opportunity of a lifetime, and the same night that she excitedly announces to her devoted fans that she and her band are headed to LA, a shocking turn of events leads Grace and Branson to believe someone may be trying to harm her.
"With a perpetrator on the loose, Roy must deduce who of Gaia’s fanbase may be concealing sinister intentions. Meanwhile, a grisly discovery on a remote Sussex pig farm puts Roy under serious pressure, forcing him to split his team in order to investigate two impossible lines of enquiry."
Grace cast: who is back for season 3?
Grace season 3 of course sees John Simm and Richie Campbell return as DS Roy Grace and DS Glenn Branson respectively, while other main cast members including Craig Parkinson, Laura Elphinstone and Zoë Tapper are also back.
One member of the team whose situation remains unclear is EJ, after what happened to her in Looking Good Dead. We haven't had any updates on her condition since then, and it's unclear if she will be appearing in season 3.
Meanwhile, Rakie Ayola is at least back in some capacity as ACC Alison Vosper, after she announced that she'd been appointed to a new role at the Met in London at the end of season 2, although how big her role is remains to be seen.
In her place, Cassian Pewe has been assigned as the new ACC, but he won't be played by James D'Arcy as he was in season 2. Instead, Sam Hoare has stepped into the role.
Simm said of the recasting: "We are hoping that the new Cassian will slip seamlessly into the fold. As an actor Sam absolutely did. From day one he was brilliant. He’s such a lovely guy. He’s perfect for Cassian. I would say that he is Roy’s main adversary."
The main cast list for Grace season 3 is as follows:
- John Simm as DS Roy Grace
- Richie Campbell as DS Glenn Branson
- Craig Parkinson as DS Norman Potting
- Laura Elphinstone as DS Bella Moy
- Zoë Tapper as Cleo Morey
- Brad Morrison as DS Nick Nicholl
- Sam Hoare as ACC Cassian Pewe
- Alexander Cobb as Kevin Spinella
- Rakie Ayola as ACC Alison Vosper
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Grace season 3 trailer
You can watch the full trailer for Grace season 3 right here, now.
You can purchase the Peter James Roy Grace books being adapted for this season, Dead Like You, Dead Man's Grip and Not Dead Yet, on Amazon now.
Grace season 3 starts airing at 8pm on Sunday 19th March on ITV1 and ITVX. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what’s on.
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