Meet the cast of the Grantchester Christmas Special

It’s our first festive visit to Grantchester as Sidney Chambers and co gear up for a Christmas special.

But who’ll be coming to Christmas dinner in 1954? And what does the festive season hold in store for them?

No sign of a silent night for Sidney and Amanda in Grantchester’s Christmas Special Grantchester series 4 confirmed – but it’s set to be James Norton’s last Sidney Chambers (James Norton) Priest by day, crime-solving cleric by night, Sidney’s a former Scots Guards officer on a mission – and it’s not just religious. Christmas is his busiest time of year, leaving him little room to worry about his heavily pregnant former flame, who’s left her husband and moved back to the area.

From Happy Valley psycho killer Tommy Lee Royce to War & Peace’s Prince Andrei, we’ve seen a LOT of James on our TV screens of late. And he’s even popped up in Charlie Brooker’s Black Mirror too.

Geordie Keating (Robson Green) Policeman and family man, Geordie’s an overworked Detective Inspector whose methods of fighting crime are a little rough around the edges. He’s not really feeling the festive spire as Christmas rolls around – and when a new murder mystery brings back chilling memories, it’s even more difficult to make him feel cheerful.

Soldier Soldier star Robson, aka the Robson of Robson and Jerome, is probably best known for being one half of another famous duo but he’s popped up in many a TV series over the years. His CV boasts roles in Wire in The Blood, Waterloo Road, Mount Pleasant and Strike Back.

Leonard Finch (Al Weaver) Finch is a rather timid and naive former teacher who studied theology before joining the church. As Christmas approaches he’s taking charge of the Nativity, and he’s got BIG plans for the festive play.

If you’re a fan of Sherlock or The Hollow Crown you might have already spotted Al Weaver on your TV screen. He’s been in Secret State, Life in Squares (alongside James Norton), Channel 4 drama Southcliffe, and joined Nicholas Hoult on the cinema screen in 2015’s Kill Your Friends.

Mrs Maguire (Tessa Peake-Jones) Sidney’s staunchly religious housekeeper treats the priest as though he was her own son.

You’ll know her face well – it’s Only Fools and Horses’ one and only Raquel. Actress Tessa Peake-Jones isn’t just Del Boy’s lady love though, oh no. She’s also appeared in Casualty, Holby City, The Demon Headmaser, Midsomer Murders, Poirot, Marchlands and Doctor Who, to name but a few.

Amanda Hopkins (Morven Christie) Sidney’s long time friend turned one that got away was back to torment her pal in series 2, before she fell pregnant by her husband, Guy, whom she promptly left. Christmas 1954 finds her back in the locality, estranged from her other half, and heavily pregnant. Will she work things out with Sidney? It’d take a Christmas miracle…

Lost In Austen’s Jane Bennet appeared in Doctor Who’s Under The Lake in the most recent series of the sci-fi drama. The actress has also played both Hero and Juliet for the Royal Shakespeare Company and was 2012’s Head of Legacy, Fi Healy. This year, she put in a stellar performance opposite Christopher Eccleston in The A Word, and she’s soon to be seen alongside Line of Duty’s Vicky McClure and Thirteen’s Rick Rankin in upcoming BBC drama thriller, The Replacement.

Cathy Kesting (Kacey Ainsworth) Geordie’s wife and the mother of his children almost lost one of her beloved babies in series 1 and battled with her husband’s seemingly wayward nature in series 2 – will Christmas finally bring her a little bit of peace?

Geordie Keating’s missus would probably look more familiar with an iron in her hand and a husband on the floor, because she’s best remembered by many as EastEnders’ Little Mo – the Slater sister who whacked abusive husband Trevor across the head with the household item. She’s also had roles in numerous other TV series, including Rock & Chips, MI High, Casualty and Midsomer Murders.

Aunt Cece (Anna Chancellor) Now that she’s estranged from her husband, Guy, Amanda is seeking refuge with her aunt, Cece. And Cece’s taken a shine to Amanda’s handsome vicar pal…

Anna Chancellor is no stranger to a period drama, having served as Ms Bingley in the 1995 adaptation of Pride & Prejudice. She’s a household name in the UK, and not without reason, given the fact that her CV features roles in the likes of Kavanagh QC, MI-5, Hustle, The Hour, Pramface, Shetland, Dowton Abbey, Mapp & Lucia, Penny Dreadful and Silent Witness. Oh, and she popped up in a little film called Four Weddings and a Funeral too.

Albert Tannen (Julian Glover) The chief suspect in an old case, seemingly twisted toymaker Tannen comes to Geordie and Sidney’s attention when a new killing bears all the hallmarks of an unsolved murder.

If you’re a Game of Thrones fan you’ll have seen a LOT of Julian Glover, who played the show’s Grand Master Pycelle. The voice of Aragog in the Harry Potter films, this star of stage and screen is well known for his roles in Star Wars (General Veers), Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade (Walter Donovan) and for playing Bond villain Aristotle Kristatos in For Your Eyes Only. He even popped up in Doctor Who twice – once as Richard the Lionheart and again as Scaroth or Count Scarlioni.

Edward Kendall (Pip Torrens) <source media="(max-width: 320px)" data-srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2017/08/125040.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=131%2C199, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2017/08/125040.jpg?webp=true&quality=45&resize=262%2C399 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2017/08/125040.jpg?webp=true&quality=45&resize=393%2C599 3x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2017/08/125040.jpg?webp=true&quality=45&resize=524%2C799 4x" type="image/webp"> <source media="(max-width: 320px)" data-srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2017/08/125040.jpg?quality=90&resize=131%2C199, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2017/08/125040.jpg?quality=45&resize=262%2C399 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2017/08/125040.jpg?quality=45&resize=393%2C599 3x, 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From Poldark to The Crown, you’ve seen a LOT of Pip Torrens on TV this year. And that’s no surprise, given his extensive experience. You might have spotted him Black Mirror, Doctor Who, My Week With Marilyn, The Danish Girl and Outnumbered to name but a few.

LINDA MORGAN (Maimie McCoy) Jilted bride Linda has a troubled past, so she’s distraught when she’s robbed of her happily ever after…

McCoy has popped up in Doctors, Raising The Dead, Desperate Romantics and Oxford based crime drama Endeavour, but before she came to Cambridge for Grantchester she was probably best known as The Musketeers’ Milady de Winter.

KITTY (Faith Alabi) The seemingly shy and polite Kitty isn’t as quiet as she’d have Sidney and Geordie believe…

If you’re a fan of Drifters, Agatha Raisin or Chewing Gum you may have spotted Alabi on your TV screen before now.

LARRY SIMPKINS (Terence Maynard) Club owner Larry is a murky character – but is he capable of murder? That’s what Sidney and Geordie need to work out.

Yes, that is Coronation Street’s Tony you see before you. Maynard is a veteran of the small screen with roles in everything from Dream Team and Doctors to Waking The Dead, Judge John Deed, Holby City, Young Dracula, Merlin, Public Enemies and Spy to name but a few. You may also have spotted him in cinemas in films like Chasing Liberty, Reign of Fire and Edge of Tomorrow too.

Felix Davis – Enzo Cilenti The angry son of the murdered man doesn’t think his father should have ever considered marrying his bride…

If you’re a fan of Game of Thrones or Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell you may well have spotted Cilenti on your TV screen before. He popped up on cinema screens in Bridget Jones’s Baby earlier this year, playing Italian restaurant gem Gianni. You might also have spotted him in ITV’s Jekyll & Hyde, historical drama Rome and Prisoners’ Wives.

MARGARET WARD (Seline Hizli) Police secretary Margaret takes no nonsense from the boys and is always on hand to assist Sidney and Geordie.

Land Girls star Seline (she played Connie Carter) appeared in Luther back in 2015 but one of her earliest TV roles saw her playing second eldest daughter Mae to Dominic West’s Fred West in drama Appropriate Adult.

DC PHIL YOUNG (Lorne MacFadyen) The young policeman may be new to the force but he pulls no punches when it comes to solving crime.

MacFadyen landed his Grantchester role just two weeks after leaving drama school, and went on to star in ITV drama The Level. He’s also set to play Bobby Moore in the upcoming Tina and Bobby.

Meet the cast of the Grantchester Christmas Special

MARGARET WARD (Seline Hizli)

DC PHIL YOUNG (Lorne MacFadyen)

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