Has Craig Parkinson Left the Cast of Grace?

Spectators watching the premiere of Grace’s fifth season might have observed a significant alteration in the acting ensemble.

In the latest episode, John Simm, Richie Campbell, Zoë Tapper, Laura Elphinstone, and Brad Morrison reprised their roles, but unfortunately, Craig Parkinson was absent, meaning his beloved character Norman Potting did not show up.

Is there any clarity on what transpired with Norman during the episode, and is it possible that Parkinson has departed from the series temporarily, or might we see his return in the following installment?

Read on for everything you need to know about Craig Parkinson’s role in Grace.

Has Craig Parkinson left the cast of Grace?

Parkinson chose to step down from the show prior to the airing of its fourth season, making it known that this would mark his last appearance as Norman.

He revealed on Instagram that he has decided to retire Norman Potting as a detective. The accompanying post read: “I’ve had some wonderful years, but it’s time for a change.

It has been delightful transforming this character from the written page into a screen presence, and making him relevant for modern viewers.

Parkinson went on to say: “It was a significant responsibility to bring this beloved character from Peter James’s book series to life, but thanks to some clever adjustments by our skilled writing team and Peter’s support, I’m pleased that the audience could relate to him well.

He expressed: “Experiencing the fantastic adventure of portraying Norman Potting, running amok in the streets of Brighton and suspending villains from Brighton Pier has been truly exhilarating. I sincerely hope you take pleasure in this season; it’s been an absolute blast.

I’d like to extend a heartfelt gratitude to all who have watched, encouraged, and even greeted us during our filming in Brighton and Hove. Your support means the world!

How has Norman Potting’s departure been explained in Grace?

In the third episode of season 4, viewers started to understand the direction of Norman’s narrative when he disclosed to his team that he had been diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer in a localized area.

Fans speculated that this situation could have been the reason for his exit at the end of the final episode, yet it turned out that nothing much had shifted in his circumstances. He discussed his diagnosis with his close partner Bella Moy, and they were last depicted together with the team, celebrating their accomplished case.

According to what Parkinson shared, Norman wasn’t present at the beginning of the fifth season, as the initial episode has now been broadcasted.

His exit was mentioned only briefly. Roy walked over to Bella, who appeared troubled, and shared with her his awareness of her current busy situation. Then, he asked her if she would be willing to assist in training a fresh recruit.

He then asked whether she had heard anything from Norman, to which she bluntly responded: “Nope.”

In response to Roy stating, “I’d like to express that’s him trying to shield you from everything,” I countered with, “To be honest, that’s complete nonsense we both understand.

It appears that Norman may have departed because of his cancer diagnosis, and he’s no longer in contact with the team. Let’s keep our fingers crossed for updates about his location and condition over the next few weeks.

2025-04-07 00:34

Has Craig Parkinson left the cast of Grace?

How has Norman Potting’s departure been explained in Grace?

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