FILMING for the second series of ITV’s hit crime drama Grace has officially begun in Brighton – and even royalty is excited!
The series, which is based on Peter James’ award-winning novels about Detective Superintendent Roy Grace, first premiered back in March 2021. Here’s everything we know about who’ll be returning to (and who’ll be joining) the show…
Who stars in the ITV drama?
John Simm
John Simm is returning as the leading man and titular character DS Roy Grace for series two.
The actor, who has also appeared in Doctor Who and Life On Mars, shared that he was “very excited” to be back on set in Brighton and that he was looking forward to moving on to the next two books.
He said, “they’ve been brilliantly adapted by Russell Lewis and we can’t wait to get started.”
Richie Campbell
Richie Campbell will also be reprising his role as DS Roy Grace’s partner DS Glenn Branson.
His role as the Detective is worlds away from one of his best known roles as comedic bully ‘Tyrone’ in 2011 hit parody film Anuvahood.
The 39-year-old’s has also had several small screen roles, ranging from his stints on The Bill, Waterloo Road and award-winning Channel 4 crime drama Top Boy.
Rakie Ayola
53-year-old Rakie Ayola is back for series two and is once again playing DS Grace’s boss, Assistant Chief Constable Alison Vosper.
The star won a BAFTA in 2021 for her role as Gee Walker in BBC1 drama Anthony.
Ayola is well known for her work in the theatre and famously starred as Hermione Granger in Harry Potter and The Cursed Child at the Palace Theatre in London’s glitzy West End.
Zoe Tapper
Zoe Tapper is a newcomer for series two of Grace and she’ll be playing Cleo Morey, a mortuary technician who reportedly takes a bit of a liking to Ayola’s character Alison.
40-year-old Zoe first found fame in award-winning 2004 film Stage Beauty, directed by Richard Eyre.
Since then, the English actress has become widely known for her work in BBC series Survivors and ITV supernatural drama Demons.
Arthur Darvill
Broadchurch star Arthur Darvill will also be joining the show in time for its’ second outing.
The 39-year-old Birmingham native also starred in Doctor Who for two years from 2010 to 2012, playing Rory Williams, a companion to Matt Smith’s eleventh doctor in the long-running series.
He’ll reportedly only feature in the first episode of Grace series two and will be playing a Brighton-based businessman and entrepreneur.
When is Grace on ITV and how can I watch it?
After first premiering in early 2021, Grace was an immediate hit and racked up more than 7 million viewers.
The crime series was recommissioned for a second installment in May 2021, with filming officially kicking off in Brighton and around East Sussex in autumn of that year.
Camilla, The Duchess of Cornwall, went to visit the set in November 2021 and spoke to the author of the novels that inspired the adaptation, Peter James.
Although preparation for series two is well underway, no official release date has been announced.
