Grantchester boss confesses he could REPLACE James Norton with another actor – and that the show’s fourth series is at risk
James Norton's Sidney Chambers could depart the crime solving show
GRANTCHESTER is facing having to replace star James Norton for a potential fourth series.
Writer James Runcie admitted the show probably won't return to television screens for while as James - who plays Anglican vicar Sidney Chambers - is now "hot property".
The actor's fame has skyrocketed since he appeared in Happy Valley putting his future on the ITV period crime drama in jeopardy.
And now producers may even need to look into the possibility of finding someone to replace him.
Writer James Runcie said: "James Norton is in such big demand now that I've no idea if he'll be available to film a new series.
"But Death in Paradise has replaced the leading man, and that's still going strong, so if the worst comes to the worst..."
The show's other star Robson Green previously said: "The series can carry on most definitely. Whether I'm in it or James is in it, or whoever, is another question."
He added: "It is a secure entity now and it's up there with the best of what ITV's got to offer at the moment."
And it's not just the writer who can see the show excelling without the 32-year-old actor as Robson Green - who plays Detective Inspector Geordie Keating in the programme - is confident the viewers will still tune in if it's given a huge cast shake up one day.
Death in Paradise first hit television screens in 2011 with Ben Miller as the lead and, although it was a huge success, he decided to quit the role two years later.
But, rather than pull the plug on the show altogether, bosses decided to replace him with Kris Marshall, who played Humphrey Goodman, for three series until 2013.
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Kris announced earlier this year that he was turning his back on the show in order to spend more time with his family.
It was confirmed a few weeks later that Ardal O'Hanlon will take over the reins as the lead character in series seven.
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