ITV's Grace viewers in shock as series 5 episode 3 drops huge twist for main character

ITV's season five continued on Sunday evening with episode three, Need You Dead.

DS Roy Grace, played by , and DS Glen Branson, played by Richie Campbell, had a challenge on their hands as they investigated the murder of a woman called Hannah in an apparent 'break-in gone wrong'. However, as the investigation unfolded, it became clear that she was the intentional target of an assault.

As they got closer to solving the case, suspicion began to mount around that DC Nick Nicholl, played by Brad Morrison, might be involved. Grace and Branson discovered that a firearm had reportedly been turned in to an unidentified officer, combined with Nick's erratic behaviour, it seemed clear that he was on the payroll of the Benchdale OCG, a dangerous local organised crime group.

Adding to the tension was the reemergence of ACC Cassian Pewe, a long-standing character with a complicated history with Roy. Originally portrayed by James D'Arcy and later by , Cassian, was introduced early in the series and once tried to implicate Roy in his wife Sandy's disappearance. However, despite their rocky past, the two had recently been working well together.

It wasn't long before Nick's odd behaviour was explained as he confessed that his marriage had fallen apart and his wife had thrown him out.

In a dramatic twist, it turned out that Cassian had been secretly sabotaging the investigation from the inside. Not only was he aiding the Benchdale OCG, but he also committed several murders, including Hannah, to protect both himself and the gang. After a tense confrontation, Roy managed to arrest Cassian but the biggest revelation was yet to come.

During his interrogation, Cassian admitted he'd been romantically involved with Roy's late Sandy prior to her disappearance and death. He explained that she was heavily in debt to the Benchdale OCG and pregnant. Fearing for her life, Cassian helped her vanish, providing her with a new identity. She promised to contact him once safe, but never did. Believing the worst, Cassian turned his grief into blame, suspecting Roy of murder.

After Sandy's apparent suicide, the gang came looking for what she owed and to protect himself, Cassian started working with them. When his criminal activities were discovered by Hannah, he killed her to keep his secret.

The stunning turn of events reshaped everything Roy thought he knew. Viewers tuning in were quick to share their thoughts, wondering if the revelation that Cassian had been sleeping with Sandy meant that he could be Roy's son, Bruno's real dad. One X user wrote: "Shocked. I bet Cassian had something to do with Roy's wife dying. I bet he's Bruno's real dad." Another person added: "If I were Roy, I think I'd be questioning Sandy's word that Bruno was mine; she had so many secrets and could clearly lie very convincingly." While someone else penned: "Bruno might not even be Grace's either."

There's just one episode left of season five left but season six has already been greenlit.

Grace returns Sunday, 27th April, on ITV at 8 pm.