It has been over six years since James Norton left Grantchester, but the actor, best known to fans as the charismatic vicar Sidney Chambers, has now been spotted back on set during filming for the show's final season.
James, who starred in series 1 to 4, departed the drama in 2019, leaving viewers heartbroken. Now, his unexpected appearance has sparked speculation that he may be returning for a final farewell.
As cameras rolled in Cambridge, James Norton was spotted behind the scenes by The Daily Star, chatting with fan favourite Rishi Nair, who plays Reverend Alpheus "Alphy" Kotteram in the programme. They published several photos of the acclaimed actor, dressed in casual contemporary clothes.
While James isn’t expected to reprise his role, and was likely on a friendly visit to the set to see the cast and crew, rumours are swirling that he may make a cameo appearance to help close out the show’s final season.
Since leaving Grantchester, James Norton has taken on a variety of projects, including leading roles in McMafia and War & Peace, a powerful theatre performance as Jude St. Francis in A Little Life on the West End, and starring in the critically acclaimed final season of Happy Valley.
More recently, he launched his own production company, Rabbit Track Pictures, alongside his friend Kitty Kaletsky. Their first TV series, Playing Nice, is already under their belt.
Some of James Norton's upcoming projects include the highly anticipated period drama King & Conqueror, set around the events of 1066, in which he plays Harold Godwinson, the last Anglo-Saxon king of England, as well as Steven Knight's House of Guinness and House of the Dragon, the prequel to Game of Thrones.
As for Grantchester, it was announced in July that the beloved series would be coming to an end after its eleventh season. The show’s long-time lead, Robson Green, shared a heartfelt message, saying: "Thank you to everyone who has been part of this incredible journey.
"[Original producer] Emma Kingsman-Lloyd and Daisy Coulam... from that very first day you gave me the extraordinary opportunity to be part of this experience, it has been an honour to share in the magic of Grantchester."
Arabella Horspool is a Commercial Content Writer for Yours at Bauer Media. She's a bookworm who is passionate about TV, film and theatre. She enjoys cooking, scrapbooking, playing board games and spending time with her pet dogs, tortoise and chickens.