Grantchester star Robson Green says he’s returning for the ITV show’s eighth season as it makes him ‘genuinely happy’.
The actor, 58, who has played DI Geordie Keating since the very first episode in 2014, revealed the role ‘caters to all his needs’ as he enters the ‘last third’ of his life.
Robson was also delighted to be reunited with pal and former Northern Lights co-star Mark Benton, 58, in the upcoming episodes.
The long-running series follows his detective character and local priest Will Davenport, played by Tom Brittney who is set to leave the show, as they solve crimes in a sleepy 1950s village.
Robson said: ‘As I’m in the last third of my life, I want to work with people I love working with and do projects that make me genuinely happy and push me creatively’.
![Robson Green, 58, excited to return for eighth series of Grantchester, looking forward to reuniting with familiar guest star and finding happiness in the 'last third' of his life. 2 Grantchester star Robson Green, 58, says he's returning for the ITV show's eighth season as it makes him 'genuinely happy'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/15/19/79017041-12869739-Grantchester_star_Robson_Green_58_says_he_s_returning_for_the_IT-m-70_1702669732411.jpg)
Grantchester star Robson Green, 58, says he’s returning for the ITV show’s eighth season as it makes him ‘genuinely happy’
![Robson Green, 58, excited to return for eighth series of Grantchester, looking forward to reuniting with familiar guest star and finding happiness in the 'last third' of his life. 4 The actor, =who has played DI Geordie Keating since the very first episode in 2014, revealed the role 'caters to all his needs' as he enters the 'last third' of his life](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/15/19/79017039-12869739-The_actor_who_has_played_DI_Geordie_Keating_since_the_very_first-m-69_1702669720803.jpg)
The actor, =who has played DI Geordie Keating since the very first episode in 2014, revealed the role ‘caters to all his needs’ as he enters the ‘last third’ of his life
‘But in the end, I just really want to have fun doing what I love. And Grantchester caters for those needs’.
He continued: ‘I’m an executive producer, and at the beginning we knew we had something special and that would float the audience’s boat, but we never realised how popular it would turn out to be and how well it would be received around the world’.
Robson then went on to speak about Mark’s role in the new series, saying how the character of a retiring police officer was originally female before being rewritten.
‘We couldn’t get the actresses we wanted, I said, “Okay, let’s just imagine that the cop’s male,’
‘Do you know someone who could play a cop coming up to retirement and who was likeable and funny and could draw pathos to a situation?” And I suggested Mark and they went for him’.
He gushed: ‘He is the nicest, funniest guy you’re ever likely to come across and he’s an absolute joy to work with and brilliant at his craft. I’ve loved him for years and years’.
The duo have acted together in ITV’s comedy Northern Lights and follow-up City Lights, with Mark also appearing as a guest on Robson’s BBC travel show Weekend Escapes.
The latest Grantchester series sees priest Will Davenport the happiest he’s ever been but his world will be rocked by a terrible accident.
![Robson Green, 58, excited to return for eighth series of Grantchester, looking forward to reuniting with familiar guest star and finding happiness in the 'last third' of his life. 6 The long-running series follows Robson's detective character and the local priest Will Davenport, played by Tom Brittney, right, who is set to leave the show , as they solve crimes in a sleepy 1950s village.](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/15/20/79017335-12869739-The_long_running_series_follows_Robson_s_detective_character_and-m-73_1702671233242.jpg)
The long-running series follows Robson’s detective character and the local priest Will Davenport, played by Tom Brittney, right, who is set to leave the show , as they solve crimes in a sleepy 1950s village.
![Robson Green, 58, excited to return for eighth series of Grantchester, looking forward to reuniting with familiar guest star and finding happiness in the 'last third' of his life. 8 He was also delighted to be reunited in the new series with pal and former Northern Lights co-star Mark Benton, 58 (pictured together in the 2007 series)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/15/20/79018073-12869739-He_was_also_delighted_to_be_reunited_in_the_new_series_with_pal_-m-85_1702671580155.jpg)
He was also delighted to be reunited in the new series with pal and former Northern Lights co-star Mark Benton, 58 (pictured together in the 2007 series)
![Robson Green, 58, excited to return for eighth series of Grantchester, looking forward to reuniting with familiar guest star and finding happiness in the 'last third' of his life. 10 Robson said: 'As I'm in the last third of my life, I want to work with people I love working with and do projects that make me genuinely happy and push me creatively'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/15/20/79017967-12869739-image-a-74_1702671279054.jpg)
Robson said: ‘As I’m in the last third of my life, I want to work with people I love working with and do projects that make me genuinely happy and push me creatively’
![Robson Green, 58, excited to return for eighth series of Grantchester, looking forward to reuniting with familiar guest star and finding happiness in the 'last third' of his life. 12 He then went on to speak about Mark's role in the new series, saying how the character was originally female before being rewritten](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/15/20/79017971-12869739-image-a-77_1702671382961.jpg)
He then went on to speak about Mark’s role in the new series, saying how the character was originally female before being rewritten
![Robson Green, 58, excited to return for eighth series of Grantchester, looking forward to reuniting with familiar guest star and finding happiness in the 'last third' of his life. 14 Members of the cast were left in tears during Tom Brittney's final scenes back in Augus t as the actor said his goodbyes](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/15/20/79017977-12869739-image-a-79_1702671410583.jpg)
Members of the cast were left in tears during Tom Brittney’s final scenes back in Augus t as the actor said his goodbyes
![Robson Green, 58, excited to return for eighth series of Grantchester, looking forward to reuniting with familiar guest star and finding happiness in the 'last third' of his life. 16 Fans are left wondering how the character will say goodbye to the village and if he will leave with new wife Bonnie (Charlotte Ritchie)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/15/20/79017969-12869739-image-m-81_1702671471711.jpg)
Fans are left wondering how the character will say goodbye to the village and if he will leave with new wife Bonnie (Charlotte Ritchie)
![Robson Green, 58, excited to return for eighth series of Grantchester, looking forward to reuniting with familiar guest star and finding happiness in the 'last third' of his life. 18 79018123 12869739 image a 88 1702671681402](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/15/20/79018123-12869739-image-a-88_1702671681402.jpg)
Discussing his time on the show Tom said: ‘I’ve had the most incredible time playing Will Davenport for the last five years. I got to solve crimes with my best friend, and work with the best cast and crew I could ever ask for’
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Members of the cast were left in tears during Tom Brittney’s final scenes back in August as the actor said his goodbyes.
Discussing his time on the show Tom said: ‘I’ve had the most incredible time playing Will Davenport for the last five years. I got to solve crimes with my best friend, and work with the best cast and crew I could ever ask for.
‘I’ll miss it more than anything. But it’s time for the baton to be passed, as it once was to me, and I’m so excited for Rishi to join the Grantchester family.’
Tom, 32, who took over from actor James Norton as the vicar of the village of Grantchester in 2019, is set to be replaced by Hollyoaks star Rishi Nair, who will play vicar Alphy Kotteram.
Rishi, who is best known for his role as Sami Maalik in Hollyoaks, said he had been overwhelmed by the welcome and support he had received from everyone.
Grantchester airs on ITV1 and ITV, from Thursday 11 January 2024 at 9pm
![Robson Green, 58, excited to return for eighth series of Grantchester, looking forward to reuniting with familiar guest star and finding happiness in the 'last third' of his life. 20 Tom, 32, who took over from actor James Norton as the vicar of the village of Grantchester in 2019, is set to be replaced by Hollyoaks star Rishi Nair (pictured)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/15/20/79018095-12869739-Tom_32_who_took_over_from_actor_James_Norton_as_the_vicar_of_the-m-87_1702671641957.jpg)
Tom, 32, who took over from actor James Norton as the vicar of the village of Grantchester in 2019, is set to be replaced by Hollyoaks star Rishi Nair (pictured)