VIDEO: Watch Peter James talk to Phil Hewitt/SussexWorld about bringing Roy Grace to the stage

George Rainsford will be James’ detective DSI Roy Grace, alongside Giovanna Fletcher who will star as Cleo Morey and Clive Mantle, who will star as Curtis. Leon Stewart will return to the role of DS Glenn Branson.

George said: “I can’t wait to be part of a theatre ensemble again and delve into Peter James’ criminal underworld. Getting to play Roy Grace will be a huge honour.

The stage premiere of Wish You Were Dead follows five successful stage plays and the critically acclaimed smash-hit primetime ITV series Grace, which are all based on the best-selling novels by the UK's number one crime author Peter James. This will be the sixth stage adaptation of James’ novels, making it the most successful crime thriller stage franchise since Agatha Christie.

Adapted for the stage, Wish You Were Dead kicked off a major nationwide UK tour in February at the Churchill Theatre, Bromley. The production will then travel to a selection of theatres across the country until late July. Tickets are on sale now from PeterJames.com. Venues include March 20-25 at Theatre Royal Brighton and June 6 -10 at Southampton’s Mayflower Theatre.

Writer Peter James said: “I am beyond thrilled with the wonderful star cast that we have assembled for the world stage premiere of Wish You Were Dead.

"I love the fact that so many people create their own image of my characters but for me, George, Giovanna and Clive are all inspired interpretations of how I see Roy Grace, Cleo and Curtis and I am equally thrilled that Leon is returning to play Branson again. It is going to be very exciting to work with this great group of actors and I can’t wait for them to give audiences around the country a thrilling, fun and hugely entertaining night at the theatre.”

Previous Peter James novels brought to the stage include: Looking Good Dead which premiered last year starring Adam Woodyatt and Gaynor Faye; The House on Cold Hill starring Joe McFadden and Rita Simons in 2019; Not Dead Enough starring Shane Richie and Laura Whitmore in 2017; Dead Simple in 2015 and The Perfect Murder in 2014.

Giovanna Fletcher is an author and podcast host. Giovanna’s theatrical credits include 2:22 A Ghost Story and Ivanov in the West End and she also appears in the feature film The Boat That Rocked. Clive Mantle’s extensive range of credits across theatre, film and television, include an Olivier Award nominated performance in Of Mice and Men. He is perhaps best known for his TV work in shows such as Casualty, Holby City, Game of Thrones and The Vicar of Dibley. George Rainsford has for the past nine years been playing series regular Ethan Hardy in Casualty on BBC One, for which he won the Inside Soap Award Best Drama Star 2017.