Meet the cast of the Grantchester Christmas Special

Sidney’s long time friend turned one that got away was back to torment her pal in series 2, before she fell pregnant by her husband, Guy, whom she promptly left. Christmas 1954 finds her back in the locality, estranged from her other half, and heavily pregnant. Will she work things out with Sidney? It'd take a Christmas miracle...

Lost In Austen's Jane Bennet appeared in Doctor Who’s Under The Lake in the most recent series of the sci-fi drama. The actress has also played both Hero and Juliet for the Royal Shakespeare Company and was 2012's Head of Legacy, Fi Healy. This year, she put in a stellar performance opposite Christopher Eccleston in The A Word, and she's soon to be seen alongside Line of Duty's Vicky McClure and Thirteen's Rick Rankin in upcoming BBC drama thriller, The Replacement.

Cathy Kesting (Kacey Ainsworth)

Geordie’s wife and the mother of his children almost lost one of her beloved babies in series 1 and battled with her husband's seemingly wayward nature in series 2 - will Christmas finally bring her a little bit of peace?

Geordie Keating’s missus would probably look more familiar with an iron in her hand and a husband on the floor, because she’s best remembered by many as EastEnders’ Little Mo – the Slater sister who whacked abusive husband Trevor across the head with the household item. She’s also had roles in numerous other TV series, including Rock & Chips, MI High, Casualty and Midsomer Murders.

Aunt Cece (Anna Chancellor)

Now that she’s estranged from her husband, Guy, Amanda is seeking refuge with her aunt, Cece. And Cece's taken a shine to Amanda's handsome vicar pal...

Anna Chancellor is no stranger to a period drama, having served as Ms Bingley in the 1995 adaptation of Pride & Prejudice. She’s a household name in the UK, and not without reason, given the fact that her CV features roles in the likes of Kavanagh QC, MI-5, Hustle, The Hour, Pramface, Shetland, Dowton Abbey, Mapp & Lucia, Penny Dreadful and Silent Witness. Oh, and she popped up in a little film called Four Weddings and a Funeral too.

Albert Tannen (Julian Glover)

The chief suspect in an old case, seemingly twisted toymaker Tannen comes to Geordie and Sidney’s attention when a new killing bears all the hallmarks of an unsolved murder.

If you’re a Game of Thrones fan you’ll have seen a LOT of Julian Glover, who played the show’s Grand Master Pycelle. The voice of Aragog in the Harry Potter films, this star of stage and screen is well known for his roles in Star Wars (General Veers), Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade (Walter Donovan) and for playing Bond villain Aristotle Kristatos in For Your Eyes Only. He even popped up in Doctor Who twice – once as Richard the Lionheart and again as Scaroth or Count Scarlioni.

Edward Kendall (Pip Torrens)

Amanda's father is not best pleased with his daughter's decision to leave Guy - and he's making it very clear...

From Poldark to The Crown, you've seen a LOT of Pip Torrens on TV this year. And that's no surprise, given his extensive experience. You might have spotted him Black Mirror, Doctor Who, My Week With Marilyn, The Danish Girl and Outnumbered to name but a few.