Rishi Nair pictured during first scenes as handsome new vicar in Grantchester

05 August 2023 , 21:15

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Rishi Nair was spotted filming his first scenes as the new dishy vicar in Grantchester (Image: Geoff Robinson / SplashNews.com)

Rishi Nair arrives in Triumph for his opening scenes as the dishy new vicar in crime drama Grantchester.

He will take over the pulpit – and the sleuthing – from Tom Brittney. Rishi, 32, best known as Sami Maalik in Hollyoaks, was seen joining the show’s Tom and Robson Green, who plays Insp Geordie Keating.

He will play vicar Alphy Kotteram, who will become the third of Keating’s investigating sidekicks – a role which began with Happy Valley star James Norton.

After landing the ITV part, Rishi said: “I’m excited to get started. I can’t wait for the fans to meet Alphy and see all that’s in store for him.” So far, he’s not given us much of a clue...

Rishi will star alongside Robson Green in the 1950s detective drama (Geoff Robinson / SplashNews.com)

Tom, who has played much-loved character Reverend Will Davenport, since 2019 is meanwhile taking a step back as he focuses on new projects. Speaking about leaving the ITV programme, Tom said he has had an "incredible" experience while taking on his role of Will Davenport over five years.

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He said: "I’ve had the most incredible time playing Will Davenport for the last five years. I got to solve crimes with my best friend, and work with the best cast and crew I could ever ask for.

"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."

Grantchester started airing on ITV in 2014 and Rishi will be introduced in its ninth series. Set and largely filmed in the Cambridgeshire village of the same name, the detective drama set in the 1950s and based on The Grantchester Mysteries, collections of short stories written by James Runcie.

The first three series of the programme saw an average of six million viewers tune in each week, though this figure has declined somewhat since 2017.

Zahra Khaliq