Grace series 4 potential release date, cast, plot and everything you need to know (2024)

Grace spoilers follow.

Detective Roy Grace is back patrolling the mean streets of Brighton in the third series of Grace, the ITV crime drama based on the novels by Peter James.

The police officer, as played by John Simm, has been haunted for years by the disappearance of his wife Sandy, but at the end of the second series in 2022 – just as he was about to declare her legally dead – he received a phone call telling him of a possible sighting.

That would be great news if he hadn't finally moved on with new partner Cleo (Zoë Tapper), as John Simm explained in an interview for the launch of the third series.

"Sandy's spectre, if you will, is always hanging over them a bit," he said. "Roy and Cleo do decide to move in together [in series three]. They have a date on the bandstand, which was a lovely day filming with Zoë. Those scenes are lovely because it's great to see Grace out of his job mode. He can be quite intense and very serious, but you actually get to see him smile."

Of course, there's not often much for Roy Grace to smile about, as he deals with murders and rapes in and around the seaside Sussex town. And it seems there are always plenty of those to solve when he isn't sorting out his complicated personal life.

So, will Roy Grace and his team be back for a fourth series of dark drama and policing, and will the mystery of Sandy's disappearance finally be solved?

Here's everything we know so far.

Grace season 4 potential release date – when will it air?

The good news is that Grace was renewed for a fourth series by ITV in January this year. Series four will begin filming in April 2023, and will contain four feature-length films this time around.

The first series was broadcast in March 2021, followed by series two in May 2022, and series three began on March 19 this year, so we would expect to see series four debut around the same time, in spring 2024.

Grace season 4 cast: Who’s in it?

John Simm – who lives in Brighton where the series is filmed – will be returning as Roy Grace.

"It's nice to play a genuinely good character," he told iNews recently. "Grace wants to root out evil. It's goodies and baddies, isn't it? He is appalled by the things that happen and wants to make them right."

In the interview, he also joked about moving to the city where he now works, saying: "I'm a method actor. I investigate crimes in my spare time. I'm trying to keep Brighton safe and a nice place to live!"

Other cast members likely to return for season four include:

• Richie Campbell as DS Glenn Branson
• Craig Parkinson as DS Norman Potting
• Zoë Tapper as Cleo Morey
• Laura Elphinstone as DS Bella Moy

Grace season 4 plot: What will happen?

Each feature-length episode of Grace is based on one of Peter James' books, and the new series is expected to be inspired by the novels Dead Man's Time, Want You Dead, You Are Dead and Love You Dead.

The four novels cover an antique robbery, an obsessed ex-lover, a possible serial killer and a potential black widow. And of course, they also feature developments in the story of Roy's missing wife Sandy.

There's actually the potential for even more series of Grace, as James has written a total of 19 books featuring the Roy Grace character (eight have been filmed so far for the first three series), and he is also working on a spin-off novel.

"I'm writing Sandy's story as a standalone novel at the moment," he revealed in an interview for the launch of Grace series three, "which is from her perspective from the day she leaves him and the real reason that she leaves him".

Grace season 4 trailer: When can we see it?

As Grace season four has not started filming, we don't have a trailer as yet.

When one is available later this year you'll find it right here, so check back for updates.

Grace season 3 airs on Sundays at 8pm on ITV. Seasons one and two are streaming now on ITVX.