Grantchester star Tom Brittney is bidding farewell to his role as Reverend Will Davenport after playing the beloved character since 2019.
The 34-year-old actor, who joined the ITV period drama in series four as James Norton’s replacement, will make his final appearance in the early episodes of series nine.
The departure marks the end of Brittney’s successful run in the role, which saw him lead the popular series for five years.
Speaking about his final day on the Grantchester set, Brittney revealed his last scene involved routine detective work.
However, the real emotional impact came afterwards when the crew surprised him with a secret farewell party.
“Afterwards there was a secret surprise party that was being put on, a highlight reel of my entire life on Grantchester, which was beautiful but also like watching your own obituary,” he shared.
Brittney has played Reverend Will Davenport since 2019
ITV
The experience left the actor overwhelmed with emotion.
“It’s a wonderful thing, but also incredibly depressing. It was beautiful. I could not stop crying,” Brittney admitted during a Q&A ahead of series nine’s release.
Brittney described his departure from the show as “the hardest decision of my life”.
“I spent I think five or six years and the happiest years of my career doing Grantchester, playing a character which had so much depth, complexity and was just a happy place,” he explained.
The 34-year-old shared his feelings on leaving at a Q&A
Getty
“But I think all good things have to come to an end,” he reflected.
“I think it just felt like the right time to put a full stop, let’s say, on Will’s story and see where they took the story without him,” Brittney added.
Reflecting on his character’s journey, Brittney expressed satisfaction with Will’s story arc.
“I think Will had such a passionate and fiery start,” he noted.
“You saw him go through everything and come to a reasonably happy ending, as sad as it was to leave,” he said.
The actor felt his character had reached a natural conclusion.
Incoming star Rishi Nair as Vicar Alphy Kotteram.
ITV
“But I think he left in peace and that felt like a good place to end it,” Brittney shared.
Beyond Grantchester, Brittney has built an impressive television career.
His credits include appearances in popular series such as Call the Midwife, Casualty, Doctors and Outlander.
He also starred in a 2019 episode of Netflix’s Dolly Parton-inspired anthology series Heartstrings.
Former Hollyoaks actor Rishi Nair is stepping into the clerical collar as the show’s latest vicar, Alphy Kotteram.
