Richie Campbell Talks About Grace Series Three

In A Pickle?

Grace, adapting Peter James’ successful series of books with John Simm, just returned for a third series and here’s Richie Campbell who plays DS Glenn Branson on the new run…

Series three begins with a bombshell for Glenn. He’s caught his wife Ari cheating. How does he react?

Initially it’s shock. He’s fully aware that things aren’t necessarily going to plan. From the previous season Ari has said that Glenn has been a bit different. He’s not been the same around the kids. When he got shot he became kind of gung-ho. Things changed for him. He’s already had that conversation with Roy Grace who was sympathetic. He said to Glenn, ‘Show her that you do care and you do love her and then everything will be fine.’ So he is in that place when the bombshell hits. It really gets to him.

Did this come completely out of the blue? They had been going to couples therapy…

Yeah, they’ve been to couples therapy and they are trying to work things through. It hasn’t been plain sailing but the fact that she has cheated he didn’t expect that at all. He tells Roy that he went to the hospital where she works and he saw Ari with another man, like bam. There is no hiding from that. To walk in on something like that is such a hard thing to do and there are so many other factors involved. They’ve got kids and he was really trying to push for promotions at work. It’s a real moment for Glenn.

What discussions did you have with Rebecca Scroggs who plays Ari about how to show this?

A lot of it was on the page but also we didn’t really want to go down the traditional route of a shouting match and, ‘it’s your fault’. It is more complicated than that. There are factors from her end. She felt he had just been putting in a lot of time at work and not paying attention to her needs. He felt that he was working to provide and to show his kids, Sammy especially, a better life, something more meaningful and to be proud of. When I discussed it with Rebecca we thought it didn’t necessarily need to be approached from the emotional side. Instead, it’s more the head side. Let’s think about this and really show the complexities of the relationship. I’m hoping the viewers will understand that. There are some people who because we have got to know who Glenn is will be rooting for him but there will be other viewers who will be saying, ‘I totally understand Ari’s perspective.’

Roy offers Glenn his spare room, but Branson is shocked that Grace neither has Netflix or a PS5. What are your home comforts you couldn’t do without?

Listen, I’m a simple guy. I just need some music. I’m an R&B fan. As long as R&B is playing and I’ve got one or two movies I’m all right. Computer games not so much. It’s crazy I’ve done a few characters for computer games and voiced stuff and it’s an amazing thing to be a part of but I’ve never been a gamer per se. I was a fiend for Championship Football Manager PC when I was younger, and I’ve recently got it on the tablet so that’s my little vice at the minute. I have that kind of personality where I get addicted to something and then I get bored and move onto something else. Hopefully by the time we get to shoot season four I’ll be over it because it might mess up my whole filming regime if I’m still playing Championship Manager!

Do you enjoy all the little insights into their personal lives and the friendship dynamic between Branson and Grace?

It’s brilliant. It’s so lovely to play. John and I get on so well but the thing that really enticed me into playing this role is that although it is a procedural and you do see the police you also see the people behind them. I think that’s why a lot of police officers like the show. Our consultant, Dave Gaylor, was very adamant about that. He said that what the show does and what the books do is you see the real people.

We see that in shows like Happy Valley. You get to meet the heart and soul of these people and then you see them in their police predicaments and procedurals and you kind of understand why they are making the choices they make.

Is Glenn concerned for Roy following the news of a sighting of his missing wife Sandy?

It’s not necessarily a major concern. The conversations that they had previously were, ‘You have to move on. You’ve got Cleo now.’ There is an element of Glenn thinking that everything is all right. Roy has got Cleo. He’s very smitten with her. I think Glenn is deep down like, ‘You know what to do, Roy.’ But you don’t always take your friend’s advice.

Is there one case this series that has particularly stuck with you?

For me this season it’s Dead Man’s Grip. I’ve always liked things that start off small and then they escalate, and this is one of those episodes. They go to what is a seemingly regular RTA (Road Traffic Accident). We know the procedure. We know what usually happens, but then other things happen. They find this kid has been run over. They find a bag with drugs in it. Then they must find the driver of the truck and the driver of the car. It just spirals out of control. Just reading it on the page was brilliant. It really flowed. You kind of go, ‘Yes!’ It’s a race against time. It’s really well executed and personally there is a lot more action for Branson in it.

What was your fight in Shoreham harbour like to film?

I can’t give too much away but Branson does have this fight with one of the characters. They did want to get a stunt man but I said I wanted to do it as much as I can. If it gets to the point where you need a stunt double then of course but I love doing all of that stuff. It felt like it had to be quite raw. It wasn’t necessarily this thing that needed to be choreographed too much. It was real good fun. The water wasn’t too bad. It could have been worse, but it was winter. It was a cold night.

Has anything you’ve learned from making Grace made you change any of your views or anything in your day-to-day life?

It’s informed me a lot about police procedure, which has been really useful. Prior to this you just have a perception of the police and a notion of what they are going to do. This has shown me how they operate – why they ask specific questions or why they are going down certain routes. I don’t know whether it has changed the way I approach my day-to-day life. I wouldn’t say I was someone who was antipolice or loved the police. I’ve had great interactions with police officers, and I’ve also had friends who have had really harsh terrible interactions with the police.

Do you speak to the retired officer, Glenn Douglas, that Branson is based on?

Do you know what I’ve never met him. Obviously, Peter James has stories galore. He’s brilliant. He’s given me so much info and when he speaks to Glenn he does come back and tell me his ideas. It’s partly because we have just never been able to get in a room together because of Covid but also as much as Branson is based on him Peter says to me, ‘You are not playing him. You are playing a version of how I perceive him to be.’

What’s Glenn’s reaction when Grace makes him Deputy Senior Investigating Officer?

It’s a massive vote of confidence. I think Glenn knows that it is not a rash decision. It is something that he has thought about and it was always going to come. It has just come a bit quicker than he expected. Glenn really takes it on board. He really wants to run with it and prove that he can do it. He has always wanted to move up the ranks. He didn’t come into the police in a conventional way, so he has always felt like he has been fighting. It is definitely a moment for him.

In Not Dead Yet, Glenn is made a temporary Detective Inspector and he chooses DS Bella Moy to be on his team. What does Branson admire about her and what do you enjoy about Laura Elphinstone’s performance?

It’s the no nonsense approach of Bella. She gets to it and she’s not afraid. That is what Branson sees and he knows he needs that. Branson will mull things over while Moy is a bit more gung-ho. They work well together. If he’s thinking one way about something she’s like. ‘Well, let’s go and check it.’ She’s quite logical. Laura is just brilliant. She’s not as stern as DS Moy but there is a lot of her in Bella. She doesn’t take any nonsense even from us. It’s quite a male orientated team. It’s myself, John, Brad Morrison as DC Nicholl and Craig Parkinson. Laura is just part of the team. She sticks up for what she thinks is right.

What does Branson think of ACC Cassian Pewe? Does he feel like a throwback to a previous era since Rakie Ayola’s ACC Vosper left?

There was kind of a love/hate thing with Vosper. There was the banter between the boys about her but ultimately they knew what she was about. I think with Cassian he has come with baggage. There is a conversation about who he is and what he’s done previously at the Met and obviously him and Grace don’t get along. For Branson that’s all he knows of him but in the final episode this series he sees the human side of him and he appreciates him I think. What is really good about Grace as a drama is it shows there are pressures at every level.

We knew that Vosper constantly had people down her throat but with Cassian he really starts to explain to Grace and Branson that it’s not just about us guys going out and arresting people. It is bigger than that. You see that in Not Dead Yet with the musician Gaia who is at the heart of the story. Cassian shows the weight of it all.

Where would you like Branson’s story to go in later series?

The more complex stuff the better really. They’ve got a plan and I think it is similar to the books, which is exciting. That was a big draw for me in terms of the Ari relationship and what happens there and how they progress. I like the way it has been gradual. I think when things are built up over time you really invest in the characters. Selfishly I would just like Branson to turn into a really horrible guy. That would be a turn up for the books. If he turns out to be this really nasty evil character. I’ll mention it to Peter James but I don’t know if he’ll go for it! The great thing about Grace is there is so much material and character arcs that haven’t even crossed over yet. There is stuff with Cleo and Roy that could potentially affect Branson. We’ve created the world and it’s now where do you want to go with these characters. On top of that you’ve got each episode’s crime story arc. There is a lot there.