As the fifth series of Grace kicks off, it’s Cleo Morey who finds herself engulfed in sorrow, setting the stage for a tumultuous time ahead with Roy Grace.
Zoë Tapper, who brings the pathology technician to life in the ITV series, reveals that her character was expecting DSU Roy Grace’s child at the close of the fourth season. However, as the new episodes unfold, we find Cleo on leave, heartbroken from a miscarriage.
“She’s lost Roy’s baby,” shares Zoë, 43. “They’re having to deal with a devastating loss.” The weight of grief pulls Cleo away from her professional world, leaving her feeling isolated as she and Roy, portrayed by John Simm, grieve separately.
“Cleo’s work is so intrinsic to who she is as a person,” Zoë reflects. “With Roy returning to work, they’re processing their grief separately. She feels alone.”
Yet, just as Cleo and Roy are trying to navigate their loss, life throws them a curveball with the arrival of Roy’s long-lost son, Bruno, played by young talent Finn Guegan. The unexpected addition to their family presents a future they hadn’t envisioned.
Finn, fresh from his role in the Hollywood movie Here, made quite the splash on set. Zoë recalls, “Within about five minutes, he was casually mentioning working with Tom Hanks and Paul Bettany.”
His presence meant the seasoned cast had to up their game. Zoë confesses, “We’re often guilty of being silly on set,” but acknowledges, “But when you’re around a serious actor like Finn, you have to bring your A-game.”
Bruno’s arrival stirs up a whirlwind of emotions, harking back to a troubled past. The bombshell of his existence dropped in the jaw-dropping season four finale, with Roy uncovering the fate of his wife Sandy.
Viewers had been clamouring for clarity on her baffling disappearance, incessantly quizzing Grace’s creator Peter James for the lowdown. Roy’s pursuit led him to a Munich hospital where he found Sandy, only to lose her again as she succumbed to suicide.
Now, Sandy haunts from beyond, her essence woven into their lives. “Sandy is always going to be there in one form or another,” admits Zoë, “She lives on through Bruno, and they have a duty to keep her memory alive. Even though she’s not physically there, she will always be a part of their lives.”
But Sandy’s tale isn’t laid to rest yet. “We actually find out what she was involved in and the reality of her situation,” hints John. “It’s certainly not over – there’s a lot to unravel.”
For Cleo and Roy, Bruno turns their world on its head. “They decide not to try for another baby,” reveals John, 54, “Their family unit is enough with Bruno.”
Roy juggles the weight of mourning and fatherhood while his role at Sussex CID demands undiminished dedication. The drama unfurls as Roy tries to snag a rare weekend respite, taking Bruno to a football match.
Yet as soon as he steps off the beat, chaos ensues, leaving his best mate and police partner DI Glenn Branson (Richie Campbell) to wrangle an emergency.
Glenn is facing his own battles at home while trying to support Roy’s mourning process. His wife, Ari, has been suspended from her nursing role for giving the wrong medication to a patient with a deadly allergy. Richie explains, “Glenn is torn,” adding, “He wants to defend her, but he also has doubts. Home isn’t a sanctuary for him right now.”
On the other hand, John found filming Roy’s casual scenes quite jarring. He shares, “It was quite weird for me,” confessing, “I didn’t feel like Roy Grace because I wasn’t wearing the suit. I didn’t put it on for the first week of filming and it just didn’t feel right.”
However, there was no time to ponder costume choices as Roy is quickly thrust into a high-stakes situation when a bomb scare interrupts a football match. The intense sequences involved CGI, but shooting was still a demanding task for the actors and crew.
John reflects on the experience, saying, “It was really high stakes,” and admits, “It was tricky to film and a tough week for everyone.” The drama continues to escalate when Roy embarks on a daunting rescue operation beneath Brighton Pier, aiming to save a wealthy businessman’s abducted son.
Reflecting on that particular shoot, John remarks, “That was a very challenging day,” and reveals, “I have PTSD from it. We were under the pier and the water was rising. We had to get it all done in one day, it was relentless.”
Grace fans, rejoice! ITV has greenlit a sixth season, and for John, it’s a significant personal achievement. He shares, “It’s the longest I’ve ever stayed on a show,” adding, “I usually leave after two seasons, whether they like it or not! But this is different.”