“A must-watch for Grantchester fans”: 7 “superb” James Norton series to watch on ITV, Netflix the BBC & more

If you’re eagerly awaiting the return of Grantchester for its final series (cry), we’ve come up with a way to keep the withdrawal symptoms at bay. Reverend Sidney Chambers, played by James Norton, is one of our favourite characters. So, we’ve worked our way through his back catalogue to bring you our pick of his best work.

From a period drama that’s a must-watch for Grantchester fans to a gripping gangster series and Steven Knight’s epic succession saga – we’ve covered all bases. So, remotes at the ready, here are the 7 superb James Norton dramas to watch now on ITV, Netflix, the BBC and more.

King & Conqueror

King & Conqueror unpacks the history of 1066 – a year drilled into all our memories from primary school. James plays Harold, Earl of Wessex, who goes head-to-head with his former ally William of Normandy (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau). The drama follows the duo from their first meeting, as their struggle for power across two countries and a raging sea leads them to the Battle of Hastings, changing the course of English and European history forever. King & Conqueror is available to watch now on BBC iPlayer.

Life In Squares

Sex, scandal and crazy creatives – yes please. The Bloomsbury Group were a collection of intellectuals who gathered in London to exchange their ideas and indulge in hedonistic pursuits. The drama traces their story from 1905 to the 1930s and revolves around writer Virginia Woolf (Lydia Leonard) and her sister, painter Vanessa Bell (Phoebe Fox). Their relationship is tumultuous, to say the least. Vanessa has a complicated sexual relationship with gay artist Duncan Grant (played by James), and their dynamic becomes increasingly fraught. James's performance is absolutely mesmerising, making it a must-watch for Grantchester fans. Life In Squares is available to watch now on Prime Video.

Playing Nice

For something more modern and chilling, look no further. Former journalist Pete (played by James) and his wife Maddie (Niamh Algar), a chef, live out a seemingly perfect life in Cornwall until they uncover a devastating secret. Their son Theo isn't theirs biologically – he was switched with another child at birth. Then, they come face to face with his biological parents, Miles (James McArdle) and Lucy (Jessica Brown Findlay), and face an impossible dilemma. Do they keep the son they've raised and loved for three years or do they reclaim their biological child? Playing Nice is available to watch now on ITVX.

House Of Guinness

Fans of Peaky Blinders will adore Steven Knight’s drama about the family behind the iconic black stuff. The four children of the Guinness clan are plunged into a succession battle when the family patriarch Sir Benjamin Guinness dies. The successors are: aspiring politician Arthur (Anthony Boyle), business-minded Edward (Louis Partridge), sickly Anne (Emily Fairn) and self-destructive Benjamin (Fionn O’Shea). But the business split is far from equal. James is the family’s loyal fixer Sean Rafferty. He’s a Catholic outsider who works for the wealthy Protestant empire and is also having an affair with Arthur's wife, Olivia (Danielle Galligan). The drama. The tension. The romance. House Of Guinness is available to watch now on Netflix.

McMafia

Glamorous and gritty – James is brilliant as a businessman turned mobster. The English-raised son of Russian exiles, Alex Godman (played by James) has spent a lifetime trying to forge his own life away from his mafia heritage by building his own legitimate business. But when his family’s past catches up with him and his girlfriend Rebecca (Juliet Rylance), he’s forced on to a criminal path to protect the ones he loves. What starts out as a story of survival and revenge becomes an epic tale of a man’s struggle against the lures of corruption in the modern world and in himself. McMafia is available to watch now on BBC iPlayer.

War And Peace

Adapting Leo Tolstoy's epic novel for TV might seem impossible, but Andrew Davies' miniseries does a stellar job. Pierre Bezukhov (Paul Dano) is a hot-headed newcomer in Russian society, brimming with ideas but hopelessly lost as he seeks meaning in his life. His good nature is a comfort to his friend Andrei Bolkonsky (James Norton), a cynical prince who leaves his wife to seek glory on the battlefield. The beautiful and captivating Natasha Rostova (Lily James) is only a teenager when the story begins, but she’s desperate to experience the world. Across eight episodes, we follow the characters as war and peace reshape their lives between 1805 and 1812. It’s rich, fascinating and sumptuous. War And Peace is available to watch now on BBC iPlayer, U and Channel 4.

The Nevers

For something supernatural, James shows off his darker side as a morally ambiguous aristocrat called Hugo Swan in Victorian England. He becomes enchanted by a trio of supernatural outcasts, known as the Touched. Hugo runs a secret club and becomes obsessed with the women who live in the shadows of society. He decides to recruit them and later exploits them for entertainment and his own personal gain. The Nevers is available to watch now on ITVX.