ITV to Adapt Peter James’ Roy Grace Crime Novels

ITV has commissioned Grace, adapted from two of Peter James’ award-winning novels from the Roy Grace series.

The 2×2-hour screenplays will narrate the first two stories in the series, Dead Simple and Looking Good Dead, which introduced Brighton-based Detective Superintendent Roy Grace, a hard-working police officer who has given his life to the job. John Simm will star in the lead role of the tenacious detective.

The project is co-produced by Second Act Productions, Tall Story Pictures and Vaudeville Productions. Screenwriter Russell Lewis, who created Endeavour, is adapting the work.

Andrew O’Connor and Paul Sandler commented on behalf of Second Act: “We’re absolutely delighted to be working with Russell Lewis and Peter James, two of the greatest writers around and to have the chance to bring Grace alive on screen. Like so many other readers, we’ve been fans of the Grace books since they first appeared, so this is a fantastically exciting project for us.”

Patrick Schweitzer said on behalf of Tall Story Pictures: “We’re thrilled to be involved in bringing these wonderful novels to the screen, with DSI Roy Grace being played by the marvelous John Simm we couldn’t wish for anyone more perfect to bring this role to life.”

Lewis added: “I’m thrilled and honored 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 best-selling 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…”

ITV’s Huw Kennair Jones commented: “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.”

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.”