GRANTCHESTER’S Robson Green has confirmed his future on the hit ITV drama after being left ‘in bits’ by co-star’s shock exit.
Change doesn’t sit well with Robson’s gruff DI Geordie Keating, but we get a glimpse of his softer side in the second episode of this new six-part series, when vicar Will Davenport leaves the village for a new posting.
And Robson reveals that there was no shortage of emotion in real life as his good pal Tom Brittney filmed his last scenes as Will, five years after replacing James Norton (Rev Sidney Chambers) in the hit drama.
“Tom’s a very close friend, and when that day came to say goodbye to him, there was no acting required – we hadn’t even started the scene and we were in bits,” says Robson, 60.
“It was a really tough day to film, but it’s a beautiful scene, a beautiful goodbye.”
“I could not stop crying and I did not want to stop,” adds Tom, 34.
“We did a take, and it was a good take, but I maybe messed up a line on purpose so I could do another one, just one more.”
This is Grantchester’s ninth series, but Robson hasn’t tired of it.
“I’m very blessed that I can do other stuff,” he smiles.
“I do documentaries and I do other dramas – why would I want to leave? I never take one second of Grantchester for granted.”
After more than 30 years as a TV star, Robson felt well qualified to tell Rishi Nair – who debuts as the new vicar in the third episode – that he was joining one of the happiest workplaces around.
“I envy the journey that Rishi’s got ahead of him,” he says.
“He – and Tom – will look back on this, this journey, this experience, with such fondness and love and joy.
“I said to Rishi: ‘Just enjoy it. Enjoy the experience, because there’s going to be times when it’s not going to be as good as this.’”
“I passed on the same tips that James [Norton] passed on to me,” he says.
“‘You’ll find an easier way to get into the costume as it goes on, you’ll laugh at Robson’s jokes like you haven’t heard them 100 times, and you can hide your phone in the top pocket.’ They worked for me!”
Grantchester returns for a new series on Wednesday, January 8 at 9pm on ITV1. The Sun’s TV Mag is available for free every Saturday, only in The Sun.
