A GRANTCHESTER stalwart has confirmed they are leaving the hit ITV series.
Actor Tom Brittney, 32, who plays much-loved Reverend Will Davenport, will exit after filming completes on Grantchester's ninth series.
Tom initially replaced James Norton in series four of the detective drama back in 2019.
Broadcaster ITV revealed he is quitting to "focus on new projects" as the star insisted it is time for "the baton to be passed."
Tom said: "I’ve had the most incredible time playing Will Davenport for the last five years.
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"I got to solve crimes with my best friend, and work with the best cast and crew I could ever ask for."
He confirmed actor Rishi Nair would be joining the cast to play the new role of Vicar Alphy Kotteram.
Tom added of the hit ITV crime series: "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."
Show producers have confirmed his character will be presented with a "life changing offer" in the news series and the dilemma of whether to "leave Grantchester and Georgie behind."
Last year, viewers were left speechless at Vicar Will's racy romp in bed.
Previously speaking of his Grantchester character, Tom told the Radio Times: “There’s a dark past underneath that makes him that way. William has flaws and things he’s running away from.”
"You only get to see a bit of who he is. What drives him is that he wants to be a good person and wants to help people by being a wonderful vicar that people love and trust."
“There are places that we go to which are quite upsetting, A lot of stuff comes out about him and that was really hard to play. That was quite depressing, but fun to watch.”
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Tom has previously starred in Doctors, Call the Midwife, Channel 4's sci-fi drama Humans and Outlander.
