ITV's Grace Returns With High Stakes and Mixed Reviews

ITV's acclaimed crime drama Grace is back for its sixth season, premiering on Sunday, March 29, 2026, at 8 PM on ITV1 and ITVX. Adapted from Peter James’s bestselling novels by screenwriter Russell Lewis, the series has captivated audiences since its debut in 2021 with its blend of suspense, complex characters, and the atmospheric backdrop of Brighton and East Sussex.

At the heart of Grace is Detective Superintendent Roy Grace, portrayed by John Simm, a character haunted by the disappearance of his wife, Sandy, six years ago. This personal tragedy has shaped Grace’s career, pushing him to investigate cold cases with relentless determination. The series has explored the blurred lines between his professional and personal life, particularly through the Cassian Case, a storyline that has spanned multiple seasons and now reaches a fever pitch.

Season 5 left viewers shocked with revelations about Assistant Chief Constable Cassian Pewe, Grace’s corrupt superior and nemesis. According to reports from KentLive and RadioTimes, Cassian, a member of the Benchdale organized crime group, framed Grace for Sandy’s murder and 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.

The new season opens several months after Cassian's betrayal, with the East Sussex Police embroiled in an anti-corruption inquiry. The emotional fallout is tangible, as Grace grapples 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 orchestrated by the Benchdale gang to settle a 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 season premiere episode, titled “Left You Dead,” revolves around the mysterious disappearance of Eden, the wife of Brighton property developer Neel Siddiqui. As the investigation deepens, it becomes clear that the case is more complicated than it initially appears, with a disturbing voicemail left for Eden's friend and signs of a struggle at their home.

Fans had mixed reactions to the new season's opening episode. Some viewers expressed disappointment, describing the premiere as “dull” and criticizing the writing. One viewer on social media lamented, “What a pile of s*** #grace,” questioning the logic of the investigation. Others, in stark opposition, praised Simm's performance and expressed excitement for the show's return. One enthusiastic viewer remarked, “John Simm is a ridiculously underrated actor #Grace.”

Richie Campbell returns as DI Glenn Branson, alongside Zoë Tapper as Cleo Morey. The supporting cast includes Laura Elphinstone, Brad Morrison, Juliette Motamed, and guest star Rishi Nair, who plays Neel Siddiqui. The ensemble cast continues the show's tradition of strong character-driven storytelling. 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.”

Season 6 promises to tackle contemporary social issues, with one episode featuring an original storyline not directly adapted from Peter James’s novels. This episode will focus on women’s safety on a university campus, a theme producer Phil Hunter describes as “very sombre and important.” He added, “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.”

This commitment to addressing relevant issues is part of what has made Grace resonate with audiences. Since its debut, the series has received both acclaim and a solid viewership, boasting a 7.4/10 average user rating on IMDb from over 11,000 votes. Viewers have praised it as “impressive” and “superior police procedural,” with some even calling it ITV’s new flagship drama for Sunday nights.

The new season will adapt four of Peter James’s novels—Left You Dead, Capture You Dead, Dead Man’s Game, and One Of Us is Dead—along with the original episode. This blend of faithful adaptations and fresh storylines ensures that Grace remains a must-watch for fans of the genre.

As the series progresses, audiences can expect to see how Roy Grace confronts both personal and professional challenges. With the threat to his son and the unresolved mystery surrounding his wife, viewers are in for a gripping ride through the streets of Brighton—and the shadows of the past that refuse to stay buried. The series continues to air on 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.