James Norton addresses Grantchester return after 'visit' for final series
Following 11 series, ITV announced that Grantchester would be drawing to a close, six years after James Norton departed his role as Sidney Chambers.
Whilst James was succeeded by another actor, viewers have consistently hoped for his comeback, and with production for the concluding series in progress, many were delighted when the star was photographed on location.
He was spotted chatting with cast and crew members, instantly sparking speculation that the beloved Sidney had returned.
Nevertheless, speaking to Reach Plc, James cleared up those photographs, explaining it was merely a "social visit".
He revealed: "No, I went to visit Robson because it was a series 11. I wanted to just say hello because I knew that the show was going to finish.
"I had a lunch with Daisy [Coulam], the writer, about a few weeks previous and she said, 'I'm going down on Monday. You should come with me to say hello.'
"So that's all I did, I went to say hello and of course, we got papped. But no, no, no, no. It was just a social visit."
Whilst supporters may feel let down that he won't be returning to Grantchester, James will be appearing on television screens this week as he takes on the character of Harold of Wessex in King and Conqueror, reports the Mirror.
The BBC period drama chronicles the circumstances leading up to the Battle of Hastings in 1066 and is executive produced by James.
Discussing why he was keen to concentrate on this era, James explained: "Initially when Mike Johnson, the writer, brought this idea to us, it was seven years ago. We couldn't believe no one had told this story before.
"Not only because it's this massive event and underpins so much of our politics, and art and legal systems - the repercussions of that event, we still feel today - but also because when you delve beyond the the actual date and go back a bit you realise that there is this incredibly twisty, turny thriller ride between these two men and their families."
He went on: "Mike Johnson's stroke of genius was focusing not on either individual but actually their relationship and and and mining the fact - the truth - that they were friends.
"They they met at the Confessor's coronation. William asked Harold to come to Normandy to fight against the Baron of Brittany. Harold swore to recognise William's claim to be the rightful King of England over the relics, over the saints' relics. So all of that is true.
"When you read it, you're like, how on earth? This is such a brilliant story to find, with these two men friends turned adversaries on a battlefield and knowing that one of them had to die. So the first reaction was like 'Wow this is such a brilliant story. Why has no one told this before?'"
With the programme set to launch on the BBC, James revealed it's "really humbling" to witness the sheer scale of work involved in creating such a production, and now, seven years since first learning about the concept, it feels "very scary". "I don't think I've ever put so much time into one project in my life so the stakes are massively high and it will be it's very scary to sort of release something which has taken so much time, blood, sweat, and tears," he remarked.
"But also I more proud of this than I have ever been proud of, you know, anything I've ever made. So I can't wait to share it. Hopefully people will love it. And if they don't, they can just lie to me."
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