Welcome, Alphy Kottaram

- My name is Rishi Nair and I play Alphy Kottaram.

He's confident.

He has a little bit of suave to him.

- I've heard all about you.

- News travels fast.

- Nothing stays secret here for long.

- He's such a cool character to play.

- Reverend Alphy Kottaram.

I'm the new vicar.

- Oh.

- Oh.

- Yeah.

- Someone looking like me being a vicar in the 1960s in middle-class England, it wouldn't have been easy.

- Afternoon, gents.

Um, can I buy anyone a drink?

- Alphy just kind of takes it in his stride.

You know, he's used to this.

He's done it all his life.

He knows how to deal with it and it doesn't really phase him on the outside.

- Leonard of the House of Finch?

(bright music) - By way of an apology.

- Obviously 'cause Leonard's faced backlash from the community for being gay, he kind of sees an outsider as well and kind of welcome him to the village and sort of give him the lowdown on people.

He's the first person to sort of befriend him.

- I used to be curate here.

- What'd you mean?

- Let's just say the church frowned on some of my romantic choices.

- Oh, Leonard, you don't have to tell me.

- You'll find out soon enough.

But Geordie's been wonderful throughout the troubles that followed.

He's a very dear friend.

Give him a chance.

- But Alphy isn't a perfect fit for Geordie, and when he first comes into the police station, there's a really great moment, which was really, really fun to play.

- You coming?

(upbeat music) - To the morgue?

- Yes.

(Alphy chuckles) - And it's great for Larry to go, "Yeah, exactly, Geordie.

Why would a vicar go to the morgue?"

And it's great that we get to play those moments.

- Alphy is reluctant to help Geordie at first.

- Godspeed, Inspector.

- And it is really interesting to see how that develops.

- Slowly but surely, Geordie weaves him into the crime-solving web of "Grantchester."

- I like finding people answers, helping them find peace.

- Not too different what we do.

- The relationship between Alphy and Geordie is likable and it's lovely and it's just got all those different levels of love, laughter, pathos.

- Bringing a new person on board always just brings new energy.

- You're the new one, are you?

- And Rishi's just been a great addition.

I mean, it always feels like he was always here.

- He's got this real twinkle in his eye and, man, he's a joy to work alongside.

- Joining a show which has been going on for so long, so well established, and you kind of feel like you're the new kid at school.

But as soon as I came on from my first day, everyone was so lovely, made me feel so welcome, and, yeah, I really feel part of the family now, which is lovely.

(upbeat music)