Fans of British detective drama are in for a treat as ITV’s acclaimed series Grace returns for its sixth season, premiering Sunday, March 29, 2026, at 8pm on ITV1 and ITVX. Adapted from Peter James’s bestselling novels by screenwriter Russell Lewis, the show has become a Sunday night staple since its debut in 2021, captivating audiences with its blend of suspense, complex characters, and the atmospheric setting of Brighton and East Sussex.
At the heart of Grace is Detective Superintendent Roy Grace, portrayed by John Simm, a man haunted by the disappearance of his wife, Sandy, six years ago. This personal tragedy has shaped his career, driving him to investigate cold cases with a relentless determination. But as the series has progressed, the lines between Grace’s professional and personal lives have blurred, especially with the emergence of the Cassian Case—a storyline that has spanned multiple seasons and now reaches a fever pitch.
Season 5 left viewers reeling with revelations about Assistant Chief Constable Cassian Pewe, Grace’s corrupt superior and nemesis. According to KentLive and RadioTimes, Cassian, a member of the Benchdale organised crime group, was not only involved in framing Grace for Sandy’s murder but had also helped her hide after her disappearance. The plot thickened when Cassian murdered psychiatrist Hannah Belling, who threatened to expose his double life. Eventually, Cassian’s crimes were uncovered, leading to his arrest and imprisonment. Yet, even from behind bars, his influence looms large.
As reported by Digital Spy, the opening episode of season 6, titled “Left You Dead,” picks up several months after Cassian’s betrayal. The East Sussex Police are embroiled in an anti-corruption enquiry, and the emotional fallout is palpable. Grace finds himself wrestling with whether to trust Cassian’s latest revelations about Sandy’s fate and the ominous threat hanging over his son, Bruno. Cassian claims that Sandy’s death, previously believed to be a suicide, was, in fact, orchestrated by the Benchdale gang to settle a lingering gambling debt. The gang, Cassian warns, now has its sights set on Bruno—raising the stakes for Grace in both his personal and professional life.
“The aftermath of ACC Cassian Pewe’s betrayal hangs heavily over East Sussex Police several months on as the team is in the midst of an anti-corruption enquiry,” reads the official logline for the season premiere. “Roy wrestles with whether to trust Cassian’s intel about Sandy’s murder and the threat to Bruno’s life. Meanwhile, his team is plunged into a case filled with secrets after a Brighton property developer reports his wife missing.” (RadioTimes)
The new season promises not only to resolve the lingering questions surrounding Sandy’s death and Bruno’s safety but also to deliver the high-stakes investigations that have become the show’s hallmark. The first of four feature-length episodes sees Grace and his team tackling the mysterious disappearance of Eden, the wife of property developer Neel Siddiqui, a case that quickly becomes more complicated than it first appears.
The cast for season 6 is as robust as ever, with John Simm returning as Roy Grace and Richie Campbell reprising his role as DI Glenn Branson. Zoë Tapper is back as Cleo Morey, and the supporting cast includes Laura Elphinstone, Brad Morrison, Juliette Motamed, and guest star Rishi Nair. The ensemble is rounded out by Finn Guegan as Bruno, Rebecca Scroggs as Avi Branson, and a host of new and returning faces, ensuring that the series continues its tradition of strong character-driven storytelling (RadioTimes, iNews).
One of the most anticipated elements of the new season is its commitment to tackling contemporary social issues. For the first time, one episode will be an original story not directly adapted from Peter James’s novels, focusing on women’s safety at a university campus. Producer Phil Hunter told Digital Spy: “It’s a very sombre and important issue, and something that is, sadly, very relevant. There’s a body within the university where these people are coming out and calling out this kind of behaviour. It gives the young women and the students in this storyline agency and a voice in it all, to the point where they become instrumental in catching the killer at the end of the day.”
Beyond the gripping storylines, Grace is renowned for its evocative use of Brighton and the surrounding Sussex countryside as a backdrop. Filming locations for season 6 include the Royal Pavilion, The Lanes, Brighton Palace Pier, Devil’s Dyke, Ovingdean, and Peacehaven. In a creative twist, Brighton High Street was transformed to stand in for Munich, with visual effects bringing the German city to life. John Simm, a Brighton native, expressed his affection for filming in his hometown: “For me personally, over these five or six years, filming Grace has been a great way for me to discover my hometown now. We’ve been everywhere. And yeah, it’s a fantastic place. A fantastic place to live and a fantastic place to film. It’s a character in its own right.” Richie Campbell echoed this sentiment, adding, “I do love it. We have so much fun when we’re filming, and also, like John said, we’re just learning about the whole of Sussex. You’re seeing various different places. So yeah, I’m a fan.” (KentLive)
Since its debut, Grace has received critical and audience acclaim, boasting a 7.4/10 average user rating on IMDb from over 11,000 votes. Viewers have praised the series as an “impressive” and “superior police procedural,” with some even calling it ITV’s new flagship drama for Sunday nights (Digital Spy).
Season 6 will adapt four of Peter James’s novels—Left You Dead, Capture You Dead, Dead Man’s Game, and One Of Us is Dead—while also breaking new ground with its original episode. The blend of faithful adaptations and fresh storylines, combined with the show’s atmospheric setting and strong performances, ensures that Grace remains a must-watch for fans of crime drama.
For those eager to catch up, Grace airs Sunday nights on ITV1 and streams on ITVX, with each new episode promising a mix of suspense, emotional depth, and the kind of twists that have kept viewers hooked for five seasons running. As Roy Grace faces his most personal and perilous challenges yet, audiences can expect another gripping ride through the streets of Brighton—and the shadows of the past that refuse to stay buried.