Grantchester is finally back on screens – and tonight there is a new vicar-turned-crime-fighter in town.
After two episodes of the fourth series, it's time for James Norton to wave goodbye to Grantchester and the residents to get used to a change.
Outlander and Call The Midwife actor Tom Brittney will make his debut in his first major ITV role as clergyman Reverend Will Davenport, who is the new partner of Geordie Keating, played by Robson Green.
Brittney said that he “couldn’t quite get his head around” his new role, labelling it “daunting”, before he let us into a few little secrets and fun facts...
He was so eager to land the role that he called his agent daily – but was convinced they made a mistake with the news
After being linked with the role and having a chemistry test with Green, Brittney admitted he wanted the role so badly he kept calling his agent every day for news over the “longest two weeks of his life”.
But, at the same time, he was so gobsmacked to land the part that he was convinced show bosses had made a mistake.
The actor told Standard Online: “It’s not something I ever thought I’d be doing but here we are. It was that [oh my God] moment. ‘Oh my God they’ve made a mistake, this is wrong’
“This is by far the biggest thing I have ever done in terms of role and exposure. You do, you get this flash of ‘no they’ve said the wrong name’.”
He didn’t watch the show when he got the part
Brittney explained that he shied away from watching James Norton in the ITV hit once he found out he would be joining the fold. And, although there is a pressure to become the loved character that Norton’s Sidney Chambers did, having a different role helps ease the worry.
“I knew how good he was and how much he meant to everyone but I tried to make my own mark,” he said.
He's worried his parents will miss James Norton on the show
Discussing his family’s reaction to the Grantchester role, Brittney joked that his mum and dad will actually be able to enjoy watching him in the drama.
“The biggest ones are my parents – they’ve seen my jobs before and they’ve been proud of me. There have been a couple jobs before they haven’t been able to see because they’re not the kind of material my parents like.
“This is the perfect job [but] hopefully they don’t go ‘we miss the old guy!’” he laughed.
His dream role would be James Bond – or a part in Bodyguard
As an actor, Brittney started out in films because they “inspired him with their wonderful format”. And, like many in the industry, he has one eye on the biggest job in film – taking over from Daniel Craig.
“Oh man, I’d love to play Bond. Fan all my life, love those films,” Brittney said.
However, the star admitted that there is “a lot of material on British TV” and would happily take over from Richard Madden in Jed Mercurio’s hit Bodyguard if the Scot wasn’t available.
He won’t be taking a spin on the dance floor or eating a sheep’s anus any time soon
Brittney ruled himself out of taking on any of the popular reality shows in the near future, branding himself “not famous enough”.
He said: “No! I don’t think I’ll be famous enough but I think I’ll stick with the acting. I seem to be okay at that. No wandering into dancing or jungles.”
Grantchester returns to ITV tonight at 9pm.
