Grace

Grace is a British television crime drama series that premiered on ITV in March 2021, based on the bestselling Roy Grace novels by globally renowned author Peter James, whose books have sold over 21 million copies worldwide. Adapted for television by acclaimed screenwriter Russell Lewis (known for Morse, Lewis, Endeavour, and Spooks), the series stars John Simm (Life on Mars, Doctor Who, State of Play) in the title role of Detective Superintendent Roy Grace, creating one of ITV’s most popular contemporary detective dramas. The first episode, Dead Simple, attracted an estimated 7.2 million viewers, making it the fifth most-watched programme of its broadcast week and immediately establishing Grace as essential viewing for crime drama enthusiasts.

The series follows Roy Grace, a troubled detective who has given his life to his job, haunted by the unsolved disappearance of his wife Sandy (Clare Calbraith) years earlier. The mystery of what happened to her—whether she left him, met with foul play, or simply vanished—remains an open wound that colours every aspect of Grace’s professional and personal life. Unable to move forward yet unable to let go, Grace throws himself into solving murders with the same dogged determination he wishes someone would apply to finding Sandy, creating a character study of a man defined by unresolved loss yet refusing to be defeated by it.

Set in the familiar surroundings of Brighton and Hove on England’s south coast, the series presents a grittier side to the usually sunny seaside destination. Coastal landmarks including the iconic Brighton Palace Pier feature heavily throughout, but the series explores the darker underbelly beneath Brighton’s tourist façade—organized crime families with deep roots in the city, human trafficking, violent gangs, corrupt officials, and murders that expose the shadows lurking behind the beach resort’s cheerful exterior. Brighton becomes almost a character itself, its juxtaposition of seaside charm and urban crime creating a unique atmosphere distinct from London-set police procedurals.

Grace works alongside a strong ensemble cast of detectives who provide both professional support and personal friendship. DI Glenn Branson (Richie Campbell from Top Boy and Stephen) serves as Grace’s closest colleague and confidant, someone who has been with him through everything and understands what Grace has been dealing with regarding Sandy’s disappearance. Their partnership forms the emotional heart of the series, with Branson’s loyalty and friendship providing Grace stability even as his personal life remains fractured. DS Bella Moy (Laura Elphinstone from Chernobyl) is a sharp detective with good instincts who keeps her personal life private whilst caring for her ailing mother. DC Nick Nicholl (Brad Morrison from Outlander) rounds out the core investigative team, with earlier series also featuring DS Norman Potting (Craig Parkinson from Line of Duty).

Grace’s personal life adds significant complexity to the procedural framework. He develops a relationship with Cleo Morey (Zoë Tapper from Liar), a mortuary technician, creating the possibility of moving forward from Sandy’s disappearance. Their relationship faces challenges including the tragic loss of a baby, the unexpected arrival of Grace and Sandy’s teenage son Bruno (Finn Guegan)—whose existence throws Grace’s understanding of his past into chaos—and planning a wedding whilst Grace remains technically still married to his missing wife. These personal storylines prevent Grace from becoming a standard case-of-the-week procedural, instead creating ongoing emotional arcs that develop across multiple series.

The series also explores institutional politics and corruption within the police force. Grace frequently clashes with his superiors, particularly ACC Alison Vosper (Rakie Ayola in early series) and later the corrupt ACC Cassian Pewe (Sam Hoare), whose antagonism toward Grace and involvement in criminal activities create ongoing professional obstacles. According to Pewe, Sandy was actually murdered by the Benchdale gang over gambling debts, with the gang later threatening Grace’s son Bruno, demonstrating how Grace’s past and present continuously collide in dangerous ways.

The format consists of feature-length standalone films (running approximately 120 minutes each), with each episode typically adapting one of Peter James’ Roy Grace novels. Titles have included Dead Simple, Looking Good Dead, Not Dead Enough, Dead Man’s Footsteps, Dead Tomorrow, Want You Dead, You Are Dead, Love You Dead, Need You Dead, and more recent episodes including Left You Dead, Capture You Dead, Dead Man’s Game, and One Of Us Is Dead. Interestingly, as the series has progressed, the production team has also begun creating original stories with Peter James’ input rather than strictly adapting existing novels, allowing the television series to develop its own identity whilst honouring the source material.

Russell Lewis’s adaptation maintains the dark, gritty tone of James’ novels whilst making them accessible for television audiences. The plots are cleverly constructed with twists and turns that keep viewers guessing, avoiding predictable conclusions whilst remaining grounded in plausible police procedure. Lewis’s experience writing for some of British television’s finest detective series shows in the quality of storytelling—these are meaty, well-paced narratives that don’t patronise audiences but trust viewers to follow complex investigations involving multiple suspects, red herrings, and morally ambiguous situations.

Production values are consistently high. The series is filmed predominantly in Brighton and Hove, with extensive location filming throughout Sussex, particularly around the border between East and West Sussex. The production team makes it a mission with every episode to find new Brighton locations, showcasing different aspects of the city from beautiful seafront views to derelict warehouses requiring extensive health and safety considerations. The opening titles for each episode feature the shipping forecast read by Zeb Soanes, creating an atmospheric introduction that grounds the series in its coastal setting.

The series has proven remarkably successful and enduring. Following the strong Series One (two films in 2021), ITV commissioned Series Two (three films in 2022), Series Three (four films in 2023), Series Four (2024), Series Five (2025—one of ITV’s most popular dramas that year), and Series Six (premiered March 2026 with four films). All six series have generated over 16 million streams on ITVX, demonstrating sustained audience engagement. The series airs on ITV1 and STV, streams on ITVX and STV Player in the UK, and is available on BritBox in the United States.

John Simm has expressed enthusiasm about the longevity of his involvement, noting it’s the longest he’s been involved in any show and that he’ll “happily do this as long as people want it,” recognising how fortunate he is to have found such a compelling, well-written role. His performance brings depth and humanity to Grace, avoiding clichéd “sad cop” stereotypes whilst conveying genuine vulnerability and determination. The supporting cast similarly elevate material that could be formulaic in lesser hands, creating believable characters audiences care about beyond their function in investigations.

Grace is co-produced by Tall Story Pictures (part of ITV Studios) and Vaudeville Productions, with executive producers Phil Hunter for Tall Story Pictures, Andrew O’Connor and Paul Sandler for Vaudeville Productions, plus Kiaran Murray-Smith, Peter James, and John Simm himself. The series is commissioned by ITV’s Director of Drama Polly Hill and Drama Commissioner Huw Kennair Jones.

Peter James has been effusive in his praise for the adaptation, stating he has “been blessed with the most brilliant cast an author could wish for, and the most communicative and creative production team,” noting daily emails from audiences worldwide expressing how much the series is loved—testament to the quality of the episodes. For millions of viewers, Grace has become appointment television, offering intelligent, well-acted, beautifully filmed crime drama that balances procedural excellence with genuine emotional stakes, all set against one of England’s most visually striking coastal cities.

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