ITV orders clerical crime drama

UK broadcaster ITV has commissioned a six-part drama about a clergyman-turned-detective working in the English countryside.

Grantchester, produced by Lovely Day, a sister company of UK prodco Kudos Film & TV, is set in the real-life Cambridgeshire hamlet and follows a vicar who becomes involved when one of his parishioners dies in suspicious circumstances.

The drama is based on the novel Sidney Chambers and the Shadow by James Runcie. It was adapted for ITV by Daisy Coulam, who has previously scripted EastEnders and Casualty.

Filming begins in March 2014 in London, Cambridge and Grantchester and will continue until June.

Grantchester was commissioned for ITV by director of drama Steve November and controller of drama Victoria Fea.