Farewell James Norton

- It's an inevitable mixed bag of emotions.

It sort of feels quite sad to let go of Sidney because he feels like a wonderful friend and I've spent the last few years fleshing him out and understanding him and learning to love him and now it's like saying goodbye to a friend and saying goodbye to the relationship which he has with Geordie.

And also most importantly and what's most sad about it is saying, I mean I'm not saying goodbye to these people, but never to be able to spend a lot less time with people like Tess and Al and Robson, who I just can say honestly hand on heart, Robson Green is one of the best human beings I've ever met.

I hope he didn't hear that.

But he's a very, very special individual and so it's always an absolute pleasure and privilege to be allowed to mess around with him for four months.

- When people ask about Grantchester, the public or when I'm stopped in the street or wherever, every single time, bar none, they all ask the same question, what is it like working with James Norton?

And it is not work.

He has had a profound effect on my life.

And when I'm with James, life's just a bit better and you're living a bit better and you smile a lot bigger.

Whatever space he inhabits, he lights it up.

It's a better place.

- I can't quite believe it's the final days of James being here and Sidney being here.

It's just I think I'm not thinking about it.

I don't want to think about it and I will pretend that he's still here when I come back.

- It's weird.

It's really strange because we all started together and we've become really good friends and like a little family and everyone that comes in enjoys doing the show because it is really a nice group of people and James was the head and the leader of that and he was a great leading man.

- I'm sad that he's going to be going but I think it's also I'm a great believer in new life and new forms and I think sometimes that can bring an energy and you can discover new things through that.

(gentle music) (motorcycle engine)