John Simm Cast in as Roy Grace in TV Adaptation of Peter James’ Novels

Peter James’ Roy Grace detective series has been going strong since 2005, and fans of the books will be pleased to learn that the British television channel ITV has acquired the rights to adapt the Roy Grace books onto our TV screens. British actor John Simm, who has previously appeared in Doctor Who and Life on Mars, will star as the determined detective.

As The Bookseller reports, the first two novels of the Roy Grace books are being adapted, Dead Simple and Looking Good Dead, with the show being known simply as Grace. Filming is set to take place in Brighton in 2020 and is being adapted by screenwriter and Endeavour creator Russel Lewis.

The show will focus on Detective Superintendent Roy Grace, a hard working police officer who has dedicated his life to his work. Author, Peter James, said: “John Simm, who actually looks like the Roy Grace of my imagination, is inspired casting! With John in the lead, the brilliant scripting by Russell Lewis, and our wonderful production team, I’m confident that fans of my novels and of TV crime dramas in general will be in for a treat.”

Kennair Jones, who is overseeing production, said: “With the brilliant combination of Peter James, Russell Lewis and John Simm, ‘Grace‘ promises to be a compelling new detective series for ITV and we’re delighted to be bringing the iconic books to life with such an exciting production team.”

Lewis said: “I’m thrilled and honoured to be involved in bringing Peter James’ brilliantly gripping series of Roy Grace novels to ITV. Each story is a fantastic, hair-raising, twisting, switch-back of a roller-coaster ride that grips the reader from first to last, and the opportunity to translate that bestselling magic to television is like all one’s Christmases and birthdays come at once. As his millions of fans and admirers are well aware, Peter’s meticulous research and eye for detail is the stuff of legend. His long-established, close relationship with the police, taken together with a knowledge of Brighton and the South Coast that is the sole preserve of the born and bred lends his stories an unimpeachable veracity of place and procedure. That John Simm will be breathing flesh to the bones of Roy Grace really is the cherry on a dark, and troublingly encrimsoned cake…”