The Great Grantchester Rewatch: Season 1

Christ on a bike: Grantchester, one of MASTERPIECE’s most beloved mystery series, will end this year with Season 11! And frankly, I’m not ready to say goodbye. 

As one of MASTERPIECE’s longest-running series, we’ve been invited into the sleepy Cambridge town of Grantchester where the likes of the Keatings, the Chapmans, Leonard Finch, and of course, the three notorious vicars Sidney Chambers, Will Davenport, and Alphy Kottaram feel like family after being mainstays on our televisions for a decade of summers and streaming year-round on Passport. Grantchester is both a refuge from Georgia’s summer heat and a peek into the societal and cultural changes that transformed 1950s and 1960s England, all with a backdrop of murder, intrigue, scandal and numerous trips to the pub to commiserate over it all.

While we await the last chapter of Alphy and Geordie’s stories (who did Alphy find on that doorstep at the end of Season 10?), we’ll be recapping all ten previous seasons of Grantchester in what we’re calling The Great Grantchester Rewatch. Roughly twice a month, I’ll be sharing a recap of a season, sharing what you may have missed (or want to rewatch along with me in order to refresh your memory), particular plot and character aspects that stand out, and a segment I like to call “Wait, I Know Them!,” highlighting other productions you may have seen Grantchester actors appear in.

And before we begin, I want to say to all of you who love this show, whether you’ve been watching since the first season aired on GPB all those years ago or you’ve stumbled upon it later on either on Sunday nights or Passport, thank you for following along on this journey. This blog series is for you, as a way we can celebrate the magic of Grantchester together before we return for the show’s last cases and learn the fates of our favorite characters.

Season 1

Speaking of returning, it’s been awhile since I’ve watched the Sidney Chambers-era of Grantchester. If it’s the same for you, were you also surprised to jump right into Sidney being the vicar of Grantchester and being hopelessly in love with Amanda? I suppose I’m used to the buildup we as viewers received with Will and Alphy, finding their footing in the village and uncovering their personal struggles throughout the first season or two they appear. Admittedly, I still need to read the short stories written by James Runcie that the series is based on (a great option to delve into this winter! Maybe a MASTERPIECE-themed reading list would be helpful), so it may be accurate to the original work. Nevertheless, we’re quickly introduced to the yearning Sidney, the stern Mrs. Maguire (she’s yet to become Mrs. Chapman!), the brusque Geordie, the meek Leonard and the caring Cathy, to name a few. Even Jack Chapman makes an appearance in Episode 3, something I’d forgotten: how early he was brought into the show, despite not being a regular member of the cast until Season 4. 

From the get-go, it’s clear that Sidney is a bit out of place in Grantchester. His deep affection for Amanda aside (and swallowing his pride when she announces at the end of Episode 1 that she’s engaged to Guy Hopkins), he’s obsessed with jazz and, try as he might, he’s not able to give up alcohol or romantic flings. The fact he tends to drown his sorrows works out for Geordie, who, albeit reluctantly at first, regards Sidney as both trusted colleague and friend (and drinking buddy. Anyone want to tally how much Geordie and each of his vicars have spent at the pub over the past ten seasons?). One he needs, as Season 1 is our first introduction to how Geordie, despite being devoted to his work, struggles with emotional and family dynamics: when the youngest Keating child hovers near death, he avoids home and Cathy in favor of what he knows he’s good at and can control: catching criminals in murder cases.

And it’s these struggles, from Sidney’s pining for Amanda (and choosing women he cannot bring himself to fully love) to Geordie’s reluctance to express vulnerability, that keeps viewers intrigued. I remember watching Grantchester for the first time and while I liked guessing who committed the crimes, I was far more invested in Sidney’s relationship with Amanda (and subsequently feeling awful for Hildegard and annoyed by the London jazz escapades, knowing neither situation would ever replace her) and Geordie’s juggling of his job and family than the murder of the week. Especially when the season finale had audiences terrified for Geordie’s fate after being shot, and Sidney’s combined shock and guilt regarding the situation (thankfully, Grantchester received a second season order and Geordie made a full recovery). 

That’s what keeps us coming back, I think: to find out how Sidney will fare knowing Amanda is now married and that he’s lost Hildegard (in the original stories, Sidney and Hildegard marry, by the way! I think it was a choice by showrunner Daisy Coulam to keep her vicars single for as long as possible) and how Geordie will balance recovery with the stress of work and family on his shoulders. Season 1 shaped what we can expect from the cast and the world they live in: it’s up to Season 2 and beyond to test their faith. In God, in society and in each other.

Wait, I Know Them! - Season 1

Considering this season introduces most of our core cast, this segment is a bit lengthier than others. But bear with me, you may find your next great watch: so many of your favorite actors show up in other British dramas and historical productions!

Main Cast

• James Norton as Sidney Chambers - While many might remember Norton as Grantchester’s original vicar, he went on to star in a TV adaptation of War and Peace and the Greta Gerwig production of Little Women, but MASTERPIECE fans might remember him as Henry Alveston in Death Comes to Pemberley, available to stream now on Passport.

• Robson Green as Geordie Keating - Beyond being half of the pop duo Robson & Jerome (with Jerome Flynn) and Geordie Keating, lifelong MASTERPIECE fans might remember Green as Dr. Owen Springer in Reckless, where he starred alongside Francesca Annis (of Home Fires and upcoming The Forsytes fame, among others). 

• Al Weaver as Leonard Finch - While you may remember Weaver best as Leonard, he has also had guest appearances on Miss Scarlet, Sherlock and The Mallorca Files, as well as a starring role in the BBC production Press. Miss Scarlet and Sherlock are both available to stream.

• Morven Christie as Amanda Hopkins (nee Kendall) - In addition to starring as Amanda, Christie has also made guest appearances in Agatha Christie’s Poirot and Death in Paradise.

• Tessa Peake-Jones as Mrs. Sylvia Chapman (nee Maguire) - Besides guest appearances in Agatha Christie’s Poirot and Midsomer Murders, Peake-Jones has also starred in Unforgotten and as Mary Bennet in the 1980 production of Pride and Prejudice. Unforgotten and Poirot are available to stream now.

• Kacey Ainsworth as Cathy Keating - While Ainsworth has had guest appearances in The Mallorca Files, Agatha Raisin, Midsomer Murders and Call the Midwife, fans still probably know her best for her starring role in Grantchester.

• Tom Austen as Guy Hopkins - Outside of being Amanda’s fiance, then husband, on Grantchester, Austen has also starred in Unforgotten.

Guest Cast

• Harry Hadden-Paton as William Calthorpe - After guest starring in Episode 2, Harry Hadden-Paton went on to join the cast of Downton Abbey as Bertie Hexham and The Crown as Martin Charteris.

• Carolina Main as Lillian Calthorpe - Besides her guest appearance in Grantchester, MASTERPIECE fans might recognize Main best as DS Fran Lingley in Unforgotten.

• Fiona Button as Jennifer Chambers - Alongside appearing as Sidney’s sister in Grantchester, Button has also made a guest appearance in Midsomer Murders and will star as Clarissa Heron in the upcoming MASTERPIECE drama The Forsytes.

• Pip Torrens as Sir Edward Kendall - Torrens stars as Amanda’s well-to-do father in Grantchester, Cary Warleggan in Poldark and Tommy Lascelles in The Crown. Poldark is available to stream now. 

• Ukweli Roach as Johnny Johnson - While his character Jonny Johnson finds himself caught up in multiple murder cases, PBS fans might remember Roach best as DS Tyrone Clarke in Annika, available to stream now.

• Mark Bonnar as Dr. Robinson - While Bonnar plays a doctor with questionable morals on Grantchester, he gets into more illegal situations in Guilt as Max McCall and faces hardships in World War II as Sir James Danemere in World on Fire, both available to stream now.

• Lee Williams as Dominic Taylor - Besides his guest role in Grantchester, MASTERPIECE fans may remember Williams from the 2002 adaptation of The Forsyte Saga as Jon Forsyte, available to stream on Passport.

• Peter Egan as Archie Johnson - Shrimpie, is that you? Besides playing a suspicious jazz club owner, fans may remember Egan as Hugh ‘Shrimpie’ MacClare in Downton Abbey as well as roles in Unforgotten and Elizabeth R.

• Mike Noble as Val - Besides his guest appearance in Grantchester, fans may recognize Noble from Home Fires and Mr. Selfridge. Both are available for streaming on Passport.

• Adam James as James Heath - James has guest-starred on Endeavour and Mr. Bates vs. The Post Office,  and as Jack Turner on Hotel Portofino, all available to stream now.

Did I miss anyone? And besides streaming Grantchester with us, what are you streaming next? Let us know on our social media feeds and by email at ask@gpb.org. I’ll see you back on our MyGPB blog to revisit Season 2 of Grantchester soon. 

In the meantime, watch along with me on your GPB Passport account, if just to count how many times Geordie insists that Sidney is, in his words, ‘a sly dog.’