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A number of Brighton and Hove Albion fans have expressed their discontent at a fictional portrayal of the city's football team. The latest season of ITV's drama "Grace" returned for its fifth series on April 6, featuring John Simm as DS Roy Grace. The show is based on novels by local author Peter James and is set in Brighton and Hove.
Since its debut in 2021, the series has been filmed at various locations across the city and Sussex . The first episode of the new season includes a storyline centred around a football setting, where a Brighton football team's home ground is threatened by a potential explosive device. However, instead of featuring Brighton and Hove Albion FC or their stadium, the Amex, the show created a fictional team called The Brighton Royals.
The stadium scenes were filmed at Plough Lane, home of Wimbledon AFC in south-west London. — Haydon the Womble (@HaydontheWomble) April 6, 2025 This choice has not gone unnoticed by Albion fans, who took to social media platform X to voice their disappointment. John Hewitt (@albijohn99) commented: "The best thing about the books is how they use correct place names and, in the football one, even correct names of people at club too.
"Sadly, for whatever reason, TV changes everything. "Did the Albion want too much money to use the Amex, or is it TV thinking for worldwide audiences?" Another fan, Albion Smudge (@AlbionSmudge), shared: "Grace is back again. I watch it purely for the local backdrop, and they do this? "I've tried my hardest to like it, I want to like it, but blimey it's bad.
" Kevin Ticehurst (@Brightonfan) added: "Marketing rights are destroying this show, they truly are." John Simm and Richie Campbell as DS Roy Grace and DS Glenn Branson (Image: ITV) Some viewers noted the show's portrayal of travel between Brighton and Wimbledon as unrealistic. Simon Med (@simonmed5) said: "All a bit surreal.
"One minute they were at Falmer, then they were hanging around with Wimbledon fans, before swiftly being back outside the university." Paul (@rookie7) added: "Getting from Plough Lane (not the Amex) to Sussex Uni in such quick time was very impressive." Fans also made humorous remarks about a lack of realism in the way the matchday experience was portrayed.
Alfie (@atabhafc) joked: "The worst crime on show is that Grace is allowed to enter the stand with a bottle cap." READ NEXT: Plans for glamping site rejected after officers denied site visit Darren Woolston-Box (@DWooBox13) observed: "The most unrealistic part is anyone having signal in a football stadium, took me 75 minutes to send a picture last week." PW (@waltonyeah) expressed frustration with the fictional team's name, stating: "Absolutely not having that Brighton Royal isn't a hospital.
" Wimbledon AFC fans seemed happier with the episode - especially the extra tier added to one of the Plough Lane stands, via digital effects. "Someone’s built us a new East Stand!" noted Ray Armfield (@KentWomble)..
