Roy Grace is returning to television screens on Sunday 24th April at 8pm on ITV in a new feature-length episode titled LOOKING GOOD DEAD. It is the second and final episode of the first GRACE series, with filming already complete on the second series which is due to be released later this year.
LOOKING GOOD DEAD begins with an act of kindness and ends in murder. Tom Bryce finds a CD on a train and, wanting to do the right thing, tries to return it to its owner. However, this act of kindness has unforeseen consequences – it means he witnesses a vicious murder. Despite him and his family being threatened by the killers, he bravely makes a statement to the murder enquiry team – which is headed by none other than Detective Superintendent Roy Grace. Whilst battling his own demons Roy must solve this disturbing murder and protect the sole witness from meeting the same grisly end as the first murder victim.
You can watch the trailer here.
Roy Grace hit TV screens around the world for the first time in 2021 when ITV’s much-anticipated adaptation, written by acclaimed screenwriter and Endeavour creator Russell Lewis, premiered in March. It is produced by Second Act Productions and Tall Story Pictures, both part of ITV Studios, and Vaudeville Productions.
The brilliant cast includes John Simm (Life on Mars, Strangers, Doctor Who) as Roy Grace, and Richie Campbell (Top Boy, Liar, Small Axe), as Detective Sergeant Glenn Branson. The first episode, based on the first Roy Grace book DEAD SIMPLE, was watched by 8.8 million viewers in the UK and has since aired in countries including the USA, Canada, Japan, Norway and Finland.
Peter himself has filmed several cameos for the new series, and the Duchess of Cornwall, who is a big fan of James’ novels, visited the set of GRACE in Brighton last Autumn.
The first episode of GRACE is on BritBox and ITV Hub, with its trailer available to watch here.
The eighteenth Roy Grace novel, PICTURE YOU DEAD, will be published in hardback on the 29th of September by Pan Macmillan, and is available to pre-order now. All the Roy Grace novels are being released in new TV tie-in editions as well, as the series progresses. See more about the whole series in order here.
About Peter James
Peter James is the international bestselling author of many award-winning novels, repeatedly occupying the Number One slot on the Sunday Times bestseller charts in both hardback and paperback. Peter writes both thriller standalones and the hugely popular Brighton-set Roy Grace series, now adapted for ITV.
Peter’s books have been translated into thirty-eight languages, with worldwide sales of over twenty-one million copies and his Detective Superintendent Roy Grace series, set in Brighton, has given him 19 consecutive Sunday Times Number Ones. In 2015 WH Smith customers voted him the Greatest Crime Author of All Time and in 2016 he was awarded the coveted CWA Diamond Dagger, a lifetime achievement award for sustained excellence. In 2018 he received a Specsavers Honorary Platinum Bestseller Award. Peter James has also written two books based on true crime stories, with former senior detective Graham Bartlett.
The 16th Roy Grace, FIND THEM DEAD, was a UK Number 1 in both hardback and paperback, spending four consecutive weeks at Number 1 in paperback, and reaching Number 5 in Australia and Canada too. In 2021 Peter James repeated the hardback and paperback Top Ten double with LEFT YOU DEAD and standalone thriller I FOLLOW YOU.
Successful nationwide tours of the stage plays of THE PERFECT MURDER (2014), DEAD SIMPLE (2015,) NOT DEAD ENOUGH (2017) and THE HOUSE ON COLD HILL (2019) have packed theatres in dozens of British cities, and garnered magnificent reviews. Several other Peter James novels are optioned for film and in further development.
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Praise for GRACE:
‘It’s a good’un… I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was a good idea to make this a stand-alone film... John Simm was pleasingly understated as Detective Superintendent Roy Grace and the adaptation was well done by Russell Lewis, creator of Endeavour. Richie Campbell was great as Roy’s colleague, DS Branson, bringing just the right amount of energy to proceedings.’– Anita Singh, The Telegraph
‘Grace and Branson’s race to find Michael made for truly nail-biting TV and there were great performances, with Simm as watchable as ever as the shrewd, yet vulnerable Grace….’ – Gwendolyn Smith, The i
‘A very effective appetite-whetter… The unpretentious storytelling makes this an easy watch, helmed by the always watchable Simm.’ – The Mail on Sunday, Pick of the Day
‘Roy Grace doesn’t have any obvious gimmick to mark him out, but he swiftly establishes himself as a solid addition to the Sunday-night pack… Chilling.’ – James Jackson, The Times, Critic’s Choice
‘Simm is excellent as the melancholic copper and should get his wish to play the role for years to come.’ – Joe Clay, The Sunday Times, Critic’s Choice
‘There is a reason why Peter James’s novels have sold all over the world, and one of the main ones is that… Detective Superintendent Roy Grace is a well-written and believable character… Simm makes for a likeable lead and the atmospheric Brighton setting is well used.’ – Sarah Hughes, The Sunday Telegraph, The Very Best of the Week Ahead
‘The intricate, twist-laden plot, atmospheric south-coast location and impressive performances mean that GRACE is likely to be a hit with fans of the books and newcomers alike.’ – The Sun, Pick of the Day
‘Simm gives [Roy Grace] a winning sense of humour beneath all the grit… Campbell is smooth foil, playing Branson quietly enough that Simm doesn’t have to be enormous to stand out. Brighton’s mix of pretty shoreline, faded glamour, criminal past and contemporary hipsterism makes it a ripe spot for some murder. The action feels rooted in its setting…It’s almost inconceivable Simm hasn’t already been in a long running franchise… and I expect the wait’s over.’ – Ed Cumming, The Independent
‘Few people do moody, angst-ridden men better than John Simm, who takes on the role of Grace. With so many books in hand, this series could run and run.’ — Prospect Magazine, ‘The best television shows in the UK this April’