Grantchester is back with series 10 and famous faces from EastEnders and The Bill in the guest cast
It's the penultimate series :(
Grantchester returns with series 10 this week and continues with its tradition of luring some mighty fine guest stars to the cast.
Let’s try not to dwell on the fact it’s the penultimate ever series, after ITV announced next year’s series 11 will be the last. Instead, let’s glory in the nostalgia, the ridiculously quaint summer fete scenes, and the likeable team of Alphy and Geordie solving crimes.
As the series kicks off, Alphy has lined up a programme of celebrations for Easter, and most of the village has embraced it. However, local man Reg sits outside the church protesting with his homemade placard that Christianity is getting too commercialised.
Tragedy strikes when a gunshot is heard and Reg is found dead, seemingly having taken his own life. But we all know that isn’t what happened. But who killed Reg and why? Dream team Alphy and Geordie aim to find out.
Here’s everything you need to know about the guest cast of episode 1, as Grantchester returns with series 10.
Maggie O’Neill guest stars as Mavis Andrews
Who is Mavis Andrews in Grantchester?
Mavis Andrews is the fiancée of Reg Wait, and was the last person to see the deceased alive. In fact, she was sitting with him just minutes before the shot rang out that killed him. Of course, she’s Geordie’s first suspect. But will her floods of tears during questioning prove she’s innocent?
What is Maggie O’Neill famous for?
Buckinghamshire-born Margaret O’Neill, 63, has been on our screens for four decades. Believe it or not, she actually started her career in Simply Red’s Holding Back the Years video, playing a teacher! She went on to appear in multiple films such as Mona Lisa, and Gorillas in the Mist, and TV shows including The Life and Times of Henry Pratt, and Invasion: Earth.
Of course, she became TV famous after winning the role of Dr Alex Redman in Peak Practice, a role she played between 2000 and 2002. Two years later, in 2004, Maggie started playing Sheila in the Channel 4 hit comedy drama Shameless. She appeared in the series until 2007, and was easily one of the show’s most memorable characters. Sheila was Frank Gallagher’s second wife, a deeply troubled character known for her agoraphobia, and strong maternal instincts.
Meanwhile, EastEnders fans will know her as Suzy Branning, who appeared throughout 2008. More recently, she’s portrayed Susan Jessop in Sexy Murder, Ellen Price in Unforgotten, Yvonne Duchy in The Split, and Yoana in White Lines.
Neal Barry portrays Reg Wait (aka Silas Jennings)
Who does Neal Barry play?
Neal Barry has the honour of playing the first victim in Grantchester series 10. His character turns up at the church fete, protesting against the commercialisation of Christianity. However his homemade placard doesn’t stop the bullet that tragically strikes him, leaving him dead.
What TV and films has Neal Barry been in?
Neal Barry has been a jobbing actor ever since his first first TV role in 2001, when he popped up in the Irish drama McCready and Daughter. Ever since then, he’s appeared in multiple TV shows, including ‘Orrible, In Deep, Footballers’ Wives, The Inbetweeners, and Ashes to Ashes.
Doctors fans will know Neal as JJ Kenwright, a role he played between 2013 and 2017. JJ was introduced as a love interest for practice manager Mrs Tembe (Lorna Laidlaw), when the two meet at a pheromone dating event. An affable chap, he worked as a hospital porter at St. Philomena’s Hospital in Letherbridge.
He is also known for playing football referee Tony Franks in Dream Team, a role he played between 2006 and 2007. Other notable roles include David in Him & Her, Smoke in The Interceptor, and Big Bob Moore in Tina and Bobby.
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Grantchester series 10 guest cast: Neil Stuke appears as Reg Wait
Who is Reg Wait in Grantchester?
Neil Stuke stars as Reg Wait (the real one), a decorated war hero. And to tell you anymore would be a major spoiler!
Who is Neil Stuke?
Like his co-stars, Kent-born Neil Stuke, 59, has been on our screens for several decades having made his very first TV appearance in an episode of Poirot in 1993. But it was in 1996, when he made his first big impression playing Matthew in the dating comedy Game On.
He went on to play Paul in Grafters – which also starred his Grantchester co-star Robson Green – Carl Rogers in The Sins, Simon in Office Gossip, and Martin Greig in Trust.
Between 2006 and 2007, he portrayed James Tennant in The Bill, before going on to star in Monday Monday, Reggie Perrin, Suspects, Paranoid, Doctor Foster, and Silent Witness.
Neil is also famous for portraying Billy Lamb in legal drama Silk, a role he played between 2011 and 2014. More recently, he’s starred as Senior Civil Servant, Dept. of Health, in This England, and Neil in Hijack.
Christie Russell-Brown is Meg Grey
Who is Meg Grey in Grantchester?
Meg Grey arrives in the village, and immediately catches the eye of ‘Reverend-Love -‘Em -And-Leave-‘Em’ Alphy (as nicknamed by Geordie). Although he’s getting a reputation for dating most of the girls in the village, Alphy’s actually concerned that he might not be capable of love. That his until his latest case leads him to librarian Meg – and there’s a spark neither of them can deny. But, kudos to Meg, she won’t give him her phone number as she’s determined not to be another girl mooning after him.
Who is Christie Russell-Brown in the cast of Grantchester series 10?
Actress Christie Russell-Brown most likely pinched herself after winning the role of Meg in Grantchester series 10. It is without question her most significant role to date. Having first appeared on our screens as The Ghost of Christmas Past in 2016, she subsequently played Stacey in the 2017 film Cleek. Meg Grey is her primetime debut. She appears in all six episodes of the latest detective drama.
Who else guest stars in Grantchester series 10 episode 1?
Actress Gemma Page plays Eliza Wait. She started her career in 1993, playing Stella Dunn in Head Over Heels – about the exploits of a group of girls at a 1950s finishing school. Since then, she’s appeared in The Durrells, Peaky Blinders, EastEnders, Dinner with the Parents, and Inside No. 9.
Maya Sondhi and Guy Henry star in the cast of Grantchester series 10 episode 2
Grantchester episode 2 will see Maya Sondhi (pictured below) guest star as Professor Joshi. She’s famous for playing Shireen Taymour in C5 soap Family Affairs, Shazia Khan in Citizen Khan, and PC Maneet Bindra in Line of Duty. She is also the creator and writer of DI Ray.
Actor Guy Henry plays Professor Aldo. Holby City and Casualty fans will know the actor as the very complicated Henrik Hanssen, a role he played from 2010 and 2022. The actor will be familiar to those who adored Extras. He played the BBC’s Head of Comedy Iain Morris in the Ricky Gervais comedy.
Who else will appear in the guest cast of Grantchester series 10?
Episode four will see Coronation Street’s Paul Copley as Potts, and Silverpoint’s Scarlett Rayner as Joyce. The following week, in episode 5, The Good Ship Murder’s James Barriscale stars as Donny Goodwin.
In episode 6, Sanditon’s Maxim Ays as Eric. The guest cast of episode 7 and 8 are yet to be announced.
Full cast list for Grantchester series 10 episode 1:
Robson Green stars as Geordie Keating.
Rishi Nair returns as Alphy Kottaram.
Al Weaver plays Leonard Finch.
Tessa Peake-Jones portrays Mrs Chapman.
Kacey Ainsworth is Cathy Keating.
Bradley Hall is back as Larry Peters.
Melissa Johns reprises her role as Miss Scott.
Oliver Dimsdale stars as Daniel Marlowe.
Nick Brimble plays Jack Chapman.
Rose Allen is Dora Keating.
Rubie-Rose Fearfield stars as Ivy Keating.
Carter-Jae O’Neil plays David Keating.
Christie Russell-Brown is Meg Grey.
Maggie O’Neill guest stars as Mavis Andrews.
Neil Stuke appears as Reg Wait.
Gemma Page plays Eliza Wait.
Neal Barry portrays Silas Jennings.
Newcomer Sophie Way stars as Sarah Bickford.
Read more: Grantchester series 11: ITV confirms Robson Green drama is coming to an end in 2027
