Grantchester | Series 9 Preview (ITV1)

Grantchester bids farewell to Reverend Will Davenport (Tom Brittney) this series - as one door closes, another one opens and the village welcomes Rishi Nair (Hollyoaks, Count Abdulla) as charismatic vicar Alphy Kotteram.

1961 - life is good for Will and Geordie (Robson Green). The families are always together, from Sunday lunches to planning summer holidays - with honorary grandparents Mrs C and Jack and adopted uncles Daniel and Leonard, it’s one big happy family!

However, when Will is approached with a life-changing offer, can he leave Grantchester and Geordie behind? As Geordie struggles with personal loss and ever-growing family conflict between Cathy and teenage daughter Esme, he has no-one to turn to, but when he arrests an intruder breaking into the Vicarage, he may find that his days of working with a vicar are not over.

The Reverend Alphy Kotteram has an instinctive distrust for authority and absolutely no desire to get involved in murder investigations, but Alphy and Geordie will discover they have a lot more in common than they first think - and Alphy will find that murder is never far away in Grantchester.

From deadly circuses, abandoned babies and hostile historians to vanishing valets and murderous satirists, Geordie and Alphy together witness first-hand how religion can be corrupted, but also how faith, love and friendship can offer hope and renewal.

Meanwhile, Grantchester will also return for a tenth series on ITV1. Robson Green and Rishi Nair will star as DI Geordie Keating and Reverend Alphy Kottaram respectively.

In addition to Robson and Rishi, other returning cast members include Al Weaver as Leonard Finch, Tessa Peake-Jones as Mrs. C, Kacey Ainsworth as Cathy Keating, Oliver Dimsdale as Daniel Marlowe, Nick Brimble as Jack Chapman, Bradley Hall as DC Larry Peters and Melissa Johns as Miss Scott.

Grantchester returns Wednesday 8th January at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX.