'Pass the smelling salts!' James Norton's shirtless scene leaves Twitter swooning as Grantchester returns to our TV screens - with one fan saying her TV is 'exploding'

A show about a vicar who likes murder mysteries set in the '50s doesn't exactly sound like the kind of fodder to get pulses racing. 

But when actor Jame Norton appearing topless in the first few minutes of the new series of Grantchester, which aired on ITV last night, Twitter instantly went into meltdown.

Fans declared the scene in which the Happy Valley star strips off to go for a swim the perfect way to open the series, with one even saying her TV was 'exploding'.

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When actor Jame Norton appearing topless in the first few minutes of the new series othe Revered Sidney Chambers, a vicar who solves mysteries in the show which is set in the 1950s

Geordie, played by Robson Green, (left) joined him for the swim and teased Sidney about finding a girl before his looks fade, but fans of James were clearly bowled over by his impressive biceps and abs

Grantchester follows an unlikely crime-fighting duo, the Revered Sidney, played by James, and down-to-earth Police Inspector Geordie Keating, played by Robson Green. The show is based on The Grantchester Mysteries by James Runcie. 

And to kick off the new series Sidney strips off to his underwear and diving into a river, before emerging to towel himself dry in slow motion.

While Geordie, who joined him for the swim, teased him about finding a girl before his looks fade, fans of James were clearly bowled over by his impressive biceps and abs.

Tracey Walsh said she was fanning herself, while Lesleylyness said her week was complete. 

Someone pass me the smelling salts,' she added. 

'Gratuitous James Norton torso shot. This series is  already amazing,' Sleuthstress tweeted. 

While Geordie, who joined him for the swim, teased him about finding a girl before his looks fade, fans of James were clearly bowled over by his impressive biceps and abs. Chloearmstrong1 admitted that the only reason she was watching the show was to 'perv on James' and Christina declared it the best opening scene ever

Lewis Pringle also shared his delight, saying: 'Oh good lord, five seconds in and we see James Norton with his kit off. That's how you open an episode.' 

TheMissus83 agreed it was the 'best opening scene ever' and Katy_who said she had 'no complaints' about the series starting with a topless James. 

Meanwhile Chloearmstrong1 admitted that the only reason she was watching the show was to 'perv on James Norton'.

'Look at those shorts,' she added.  

Viewers declared the opening scene, in which James wore a pair of tight fitting shorts, the perfect way to kick off the new series. And Robson Green got his fair share of compliments too, despite being 20 years older 

Fans on Twitter even thanked ITV for allowing them a glimpse at James wearing very little clothing in the opening moments of the new series 

NathalieHallam declared she could 'die happy' now she had seen the War and Peace star in his trunks. 

Fellow tweeter Ravenwolf68 thanked ITV for the scene and admitted she was swooning. 

And Dragon Girl echoed her thoughts, tweeting: 'Well done Grantchester. First second and you've made James Norton be in his trunks.' 

Indeed his rather tight fitting swimwear was a hot topic of conversation with Dudley Cruse simply pointing out: 'tiny shorts. Really tiny shorts.'

 

The first few minutes of the show met with approval from fans who were delighted to see the War and Peace hunk strip off to his swimwear

Sally Ann Matthews asked: 'Will I go to hell for ogling a vicar in his trunks?'  

Deborah M Carr was so impressed, she asked: 'Wondering if James Norton could have a swimming scene in every episode?' 

Stuffy says advised her followers: 'Settle down. Time for hot vicar. Straight to gratuitous buff torso scene.' 

Aileen Chafer also approved, saying James's shirtless appearance was a good omen for the rest of the series. 

Twitter users couldn't get over James's tiny trunks with one asking if he could have a swimming scene in every episode 

PrehistoricCat added: 'James Norton and Robson Green both semi naked and wet in the the opening scene of Grantchester - happy sigh.' 

Calvin-James was also pleased to see both stars looking scantily clad. 

'That was a nice way to start the new series,' she said. 'James and Robson shirtless. Yummy.' 

Lucy A-R confessed that she was gripped, saying: 'I only tuned in to see James Norton and Robson Green half naked. Double phwoar.' 

 

The combination of James and Robson Green, 51, going for a swim was too much for some viewers

Kara Snazzypants was even more dramatic in her response. 

'My TV is just exploding from two smoking hot vicars too close to each other on my screen right now,' she said. 

Kim Ross asked: 'When did vicars every have bodies like that?' 

However, not everyone was focusing on James's body. Some were able to tear their eyes away for long enough to appreciate the actor's face. 

Julie Brennan said: 'Is anyone interested in the story or are we just drooling over James Norton's face?' 

Although Robson Green is a police inspector rather than a reverend, viweres ran away with the idea of a pair of hot vicars going for a swim

Emma Munday praised the actor for his talent in War and Peace and Happy Valley as well as his 'killer cheekbones'.

KatieBookQueen added: 'James Norton just needs to stop being super attractive in all these TV shows.' 

But the modest actor will be no doubt slightly baffled by the reaction to his shirtless scene.  

In an interview with Lorraine on Tuesday, James was bashful about his physique, explaining: 'It was very cold and everything tightened. 

'The pec muscles tightened and everyone says we had pecs appeal apparently.'

Some viewers were too distracted by James's famous cheekbones to pay attention to his buff body

He's also revealed that his family help to keep his feet on the ground and his great-aunt Daphne in particular has done her bit to bring him down to heart.

'She said to me: "I don't get it, you're much better looking on film than you are in real life",' he revealed.

He is also currently starring as psychotic triple murderer Tommy Lee Royce in the BBC's crime drama Happy Valley.

And he won hearts with his role as the dashing Prince Andrei in War and Peace at the beginning of the year.