THE first episode of new crime drama Grace will hit screens at 8pm on Sunday, March 14, ITV has confirmed.
The eagerly anticipated crime drama was filmed at locations across Sussex last year.
It is based on the international best-selling book "Dead Simple" by Sussex author Peter James.
The 120-minute screenplay marks the small screen debut of fictitious Detective Superintendent Roy Grace, played by John Simm, who is the star of many of James' most popular novels.
The story begins with the detective at rock bottom. He’s haunted by the loss of his beloved wife, Sandy, who disappeared six years ago, and so pours all his energy into investigating long forgotten cold cases with little prospect of success.
His unorthodox policing methods are called into question by his superiors, not for the first time, and he risks losing the job he loves most.
Grace will air soon on ITV
With so much at stake, his colleague Detective Sergeant Glenn Branson, played by Richie Campbell, asks him for help with a case.
It appears that a stag night prank appears has gone wrong when the groom, a successful property developer, goes missing. Branson calls upon Grace to unravel events that led to the mysterious disappearance just three days before the man was due to be married.
Grace will air soon on ITV
Grace pursues the case relentlessly, becoming unsettlingly close to the bride-to-be in the process, in a dogged drive for answers.
Russell Lewis, known for his work on Morse, Lewis, Murphy’s Law, Sharpe’s Peril and Kavanagh QC, was the man tasked with taking Peter James' fast-paced crime novel and adapting it for television.
He said: "Peter takes his readers on a thrill ride, and hopefully we’ve managed to capture some of that runaway rollercoaster feeling.
"It’s that slow crank up the incline to a dizzying view, and then a bowel loosening plummet into switchback and corkscrew, because once you’ve passed the point of no return it really doesn’t matter how loud you scream as you’re strapped into the ride until the car has come to a complete stop.
"So, without further ado, on behalf of us all… welcome to Graceland."
Grace was filmed on location in Brighton during 2020 with executive producers Andrew O’Connor and Paul Sandler for Second Act Productions, Patrick Schweitzer for Tall Story Pictures, Michael Vine for Vaudeville Productions, Russell Lewis and Peter James.
The first film, Dead Simple, is directed by John Alexander (Belgravia, Trust Me, Jamestown). A second Grace film, Looking Good Dead, directed by Julia Ford (Sticks and Stones, The Bay II, Safe) will air on ITV later this year.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel