Hit ITV crime drama in talks to air first ever Christmas special ahead of its return to screens this weekend

A HIT crime drama is in talks to air its first ever Christmas special ahead of its return to ITV.

will make its highly anticipated comeback to screens this Sunday night with its fifth series.

The detective drama – and adapted from his best-selling novels – follows .

Series four ended with Roy's estranged wife Sandy taking her own life – and the revelation that he has an eight-year-old son,Bruno.

Ahead of series five, Grace's creator Peter has revealed he's held discussions with about a Christmas special.

Speaking exclusively to Flying Eze, he said: “ITV and me have had some discussions about a standalone or Christmas special.”

While nothing concrete has been agreed, Peter added that he's also considered a Grace spin-off.

He explained: “If I had to spin-off anybody it would be Glen Branson, Roy's sidekick who is played by Richie Campbell.

“He came about when I was out with the police way back in the 90s and I was put in the patrol car for the day and this great big tall black guy with a shaven head called Glen Douglas.

“I really liked him and I asked him how old he was and he said 32. I said ‘oh and you're still a PC? are you going to go for a promotion' and he said he'd only been in the police for a year and it was his first week out of probation.

“He was a night club bouncer and said ‘when my kid was born, I looked down at him when he was in his cot and I though one day you're going to go to school and somebody is going to ask what your dad does for a living and I want you to say something you're proud of'.”

Peter, 76, added: “I just thought, you've got to be a character, he would be a good sidekick.

“The real-life Glen knows and he's absolutely delighted.”

John Simm, 54, has been playing since 2021.

Meanwhile, on the channel.

Grace returns this Sunday at 8pm on ITV1 and ITX.