FANS of fictional detective Roy Grace who happened to be in Brighton today were in for a surprise - as crews pitched up to film the latest series of the hit show.

Grace is one of ITV’s most successful dramas with more than eight million people tuning in to watch the first series.

The series is an adaptation of the Sussex author Peter James’s international bestselling book Dead Simple and stars Life on Mars actor John Simm as the protagonist.

Series producer Kiaran Murray-Smith shared a photo on Twitter of the film crew gathered in a colourful Brighton street as they prepared to shoot a scene.

Alongside the photo, she wrote: “Grace has officially started shooting again. Woo hoo!”

John Simm and his co-stars Richie Campbell and Line of Duty star Craig Parkinson were also mentioned in the tweet.

The first series of Grace was filmed in Brighton and Hove last year with city landmarks – including both piers and Hove’s beach huts – playing a starring role in the adaption.

The second series will be made up of three 120 minute films - Not Dead Enough, Dead Man’s Footsteps and Dead Tomorrow.

Writer Russell Lewis said: "After the overwhelmingly positive audience response to the seaside noir of Dead Simple and Looking Good Dead ready to go, all at team Roy Grace are delighted to have been given the opportunity by ITV to return to Brighton (and Hove, actually!) to continue Roy's story with a new series of films based on Peter James best-selling novels.

"We’ll be shooting out of our Brighton HQ and all along and around the South Coast from late summer through to very late autumn.

He said that filming "may well be coming to a street near you" and told fans to keep their eyes peeled.

ITV’s head of drama Polly Hill added: "We are delighted to be adapting more of Peter James’ wonderful novels.

"John Simm has brilliantly brought the much-loved Detective Superintendent Roy Grace to screen and there are many more cases for the audiences to enjoy. ”

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