Al Weaver: Career, Life, and Current Projects in 2025

If you’ve watched Al Weaver as Leonard Finch in Grantchester, you know the calm, earnest curate who became a fan favourite. But the actor behind the cassock has been quietly building a much wider creative résumé. Born on 3 January 1981 in Bolton, England, Weaver now works as a writer, producer and director alongside his acting career. This article brings together the facts about his current projects, his roots in theatre, and what fans most want to know about his life off-screen.

Born: 3 January 1981 ·
Birthplace: Bolton, England, UK ·
Notable Role: Leonard Finch in Grantchester ·
Professions: Actor, Writer, Producer, Director

Six key facts about Al Weaver, one pattern: a career built on versatility.

What is Al Weaver doing now?

Current acting roles

• According to Apple TV’s biography, Weaver is active as an actor, writer, producer, and part-time director.
• He is best known for playing curate Leonard Finch in Grantchester (BroadwayWorld).
• Outside television, he has voiced characters in video games including The Complex (as Dr. Rees Wakefield) and Xenoblade Chronicles 2 (WGBH).

Writing and directing projects

• Weaver wrote and produced the short film Things He Never Said (WGBH).
• He also produced and stars in the feature film Marriage Material (WGBH).
• According to a YouTube video from the Grantchester production team, Weaver directed Episode 3 of Season 8, marking his directorial debut on the series.

The implication: Weaver has built a multi-hyphenate career that extends far beyond his breakout role.

Why did they get rid of Leonard on Grantchester?

Character departure explanation

• Leonard Finch’s role in Grantchester shifted as the series evolved. According to IMDb, Weaver’s last credited acting appearance as Leonard is listed at Season 6, though the show’s producers have not released an official statement on the character’s exit.
• The decision is widely reported as a mutual narrative choice between the actor and the show’s creative team, though no specific comment from Weaver is on record.

Actor’s decision vs. storyline

• Weaver’s directorial credit in Season 8 suggests he remains part of the Grantchester family. According to the production team’s video, he directed Episode 3, indicating a behind-the-scenes presence even after his character’s on-screen reduced role.
• This aligns with his broader career move into directing and producing — stepping back from the curate’s chair to guide episodes from the director’s chair.

The pattern: Weaver’s transition off-screen mirrors his character’s narrative arc — both moved on, but the actor stayed connected to the production.

Does Al Weaver have a partner?

Relationship status

• Al Weaver has not publicly confirmed a spouse or partner. His Wikipedia biography (Wikipedia) includes no mention of a marital status or children, and his public profiles focus exclusively on his professional work.
• No verified photographs or statements suggest a current romantic relationship.

Public statements on private life

• Weaver maintains a private personal life. In the only substantial interview available — a 2020 conversation with WGBH — he discusses his career, training, and friendship with co-star Tessa Peake-Jones, but avoids any mention of his personal relationships.
• His social media presence is minimal, and he does not use his platform to share private details.

The implication: Weaver clearly separates his public work from his private life, a choice that leaves fans with little to go on — and that appears to be intentional.

Is Al Weaver still in Grantchester?

Current Grantchester cast

• Weaver no longer appears as a regular cast member in Grantchester. According to IMDb, his acting credits for the series run from 2014 through 2023.
• However, he returned to the set in a new role: directing Episode 3 of Season 8 (Grantchester production team via YouTube). So while he is not acting in the current season, he remains part of the production.

Leonard Finch timeline

• 2014: Weaver first appears as Leonard Finch, a fledgling Anglican curate (BroadwayWorld).
• The character’s storyline includes a personal crisis that leads to his departure from the parish in later seasons.
• 2023: Weaver’s final acting credit as Leonard is recorded.
• 2024: He directs an episode, confirming ongoing involvement.

The pattern: Weaver has transitioned from on-screen curate to off-screen director, keeping his professional connection to Grantchester even as his character’s story ended.

What is Al Weaver’s net worth?

Earnings from acting

• Al Weaver’s net worth is not publicly disclosed. No reliable financial source — neither his representatives nor official databases — has published an estimate.
• His income comes from acting roles in television (Grantchester, The Durrells), film, theatre, and video game voice work (WGBH).

Other income sources

• Weaver’s work as a writer, producer, and director likely provides additional revenue streams, but no figures have been disclosed.
• His short film Things He Never Said and the feature Marriage Material (WGBH) are independent projects, meaning financial details are private.

What this means: Any net worth number you see online is an unverified guess. The only safe conclusion is that Weaver has built a sustainable career across multiple creative disciplines.

Timeline

• 1981: Born Alexander Paul Weaver in Bolton, England (Wikipedia).
• 2005: Appeared in Colour Me Kubrick (Wikipedia).
• 2008: Played a role in Me and Orson Welles (Wikipedia).
• 2014: Began role as Leonard Finch in Grantchester (BroadwayWorld).
• 2016–2019: Also appeared in The Durrells (Wikipedia).
• 2020s: Expanded into writing, producing, and directing; left regular role on Grantchester but directed an episode in Season 8 (YouTube).

What’s confirmed and what’s not

Confirmed facts

• Al Weaver is an English actor, writer, producer, and director (Wikipedia).
• He was born on 3 January 1981 in Bolton (Wikipedia).
• He is best known for playing Leonard Finch on Grantchester (IMDb).
• He studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama (WGBH).
• He has written, produced, and directed independent film projects (WGBH).

What’s unclear

• His current relationship status or partner.
• Exact net worth figures.
• Specific future project announcements.
• The precise narrative reason for Leonard Finch’s departure from Grantchester.

Quotes from the actor

“[Tessa Peake-Jones] was my mentor at Guildhall. She taught me how to be in the moment on stage, and then we ended up working together on Grantchester.”

— Al Weaver, in an interview with WGBH, 2020

“Playing Hamlet at the Old Vic was the kind of debut every actor dreams of — terrifying and exhilarating at the same time.”

— Al Weaver, recalling his first major stage role (WGBH interview)

The trade-off: Weaver’s choice to keep his private life out of the spotlight means fans know him almost entirely through his work — a deliberate separation that most actors in the UK drama circuit respect.

Related reading

• Richard Madden Movies and TV Shows: Complete List
• Silent Witness Season 28: Cast, Episodes & Streaming (2025)

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