The WRITE stuff

KACEY AINSWORTH on penning a special story that puts the women of Grantchester at the centre of the action

- 

GRANTCHESTER WEDNESDAY, 9PM, ITV1 DRAMA

Kacey Ainsworth landed her first professional acting role at the age of eight when she was cast in a production of the musical Annie in London's West End. But while she was fulfilling the dream of many children by treading the boards, she also had another burning ambition: to write.

'As I've been acting since I was eight, I've read lots of scripts - and not all of them wonderful,' shares Kacey, as she joins TV Times for an exclusive interview.

'In the early 2000s, when I was playing Little Mo in EastEnders, I started writing scripts for TV drama and comedy with Tracy-Ann Oberman [who portrayed Chrissie Watts in the BBC1 soap]. We had interest from production companies but, because I'm the main breadwinner in our family, I can't take six months off to write; I have to work as an actress. So I'd write articles for magazines, or chapters of books, under different pseudonyms, just to keep that thread going for myself.'

'I WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE WERE REPRESENTING ATTITUDES TOWARDS WOMEN AT ALL STAGES OF A WOMAN'S LIFE'

Now, her passion for putting pen to paper is to combine with her role as spirited mum Cathy Keating in ITVi's Grantchester.

The hit period whodunnit usually centres on the crime-fighting partnership between Cathy's husband, DI Geordie Keating (Robson Green), and the Cambridgeshire village of Grantchester's resident vicar, currently Reverend Alphy Kotteram (Rishi Nair). But as the ninth run continues this week, Kacey is behind a poignant episode which places the show's four regular female characters at the heart of the story.

Here, original cast member Kacey tells us more...

How did penning this special episode come about, Kacey?

Our executive producer and head writer, Daisy Coulam, who created the series, adapted from the