Grantchester viewers hope Will Davenport 'forgives himself'

Grantchester continues to surprise viewers with the way in which it handles Tom Brittney's exit storyline, with his character Will Davenport wracked with guilt following his involvement in a fatal motorbike crash.

Episode 4 of the ITV drama saw Will continue to struggle with the part he played in a man's death in the eighth season's opening episode. Dealing with a new case in which an Italian immigrant is found dead, Will and DI Geordie Keating (Robson Green) are put on the case but the priest is preoccupied by other things.

As the Reverend investigates he can't help but think of his own part in another person's death, and in one scene struggles to ask for forgiveness whilst praying. The priest's struggles only worsened from there as he went so far as to take pills that were given to him, using them as a way to battle his demons at the end of the episode.

Viewers were notably shocked by the turn of events, taking to social media in order to share their hopes for the character to "forgive himself" for his actions earlier in the series. Others commented on how they feel Will might abandon the faith altogether by the end of the series, thus explaining his exit from the show.

Referencing what happens in the episode, one viewer wrote: "Will, I beg of you, please stop blaming yourself. You can't solve all of the world's problems. You are one man" and they went on to say that they wondered if he was using the pills to "take himself to the brink of death or something to find God again".

The same viewer added: "I hope they let Will go off happily with Bonnie, Ernie and the baby. Because right now, I'm concerned."

Read more: Grantchester viewers left reeling after Will Davenport bike accident

Sharing their thoughts on the episode's dramatic ending, one person said: "Eeesh, necking meds without knowing they’re legit or what dose to take is definitely not your best idea Will." They also added that they thought Brittney's exit storyline would be because "Will might give up his dog collar", and went on: "You can tell he no longer feels worthy."

One viewer said of the character: "I wish Will [would] forgive himself", and another viewer mirrored this sentiment by saying: "Will needs to forgive himself"

Brittney confirmed his plans to exit the programme ahead of the new season, saying of his character arc: "Everything he's worked so hard for is gone just like that. It just destroys the way Will thinks of himself, because this action, whether it was an accident or on purpose, in the eyes of God and everyone else, he believes it's unforgivable, and it really sets him down a dark path.

"Now that this thing has happened, he's questioning whether God or anyone can ever love him again. He just shuts them out and it pushes him further and further away from everyone to the point where we don't know if he's ever coming back."

Grantchester season 8 airs on Thursdays at 9pm on ITV1.