Broadchurch: Series 2: Returning Cast Announced

The first Broadchurch mystery has been solved. Casting has been announced for Series 2 of the hit ITV mystery drama, ending the months-long speculation about which actors will or won’t be returning to the show whose first series was a ratings winner and Twitter phenomenon in the UK.

With the second series of creator/writer/executive producer Chris Chibnall’s award-winning drama going into production, ITV has announced that David Tennant, Olivia Colman, Jodie Whittaker, Andrew Buchan, and Arthur Darvill are reprising their Broadchurch roles.

Tennant returns as the no-nonsense detective Alec Hardy, and Olivia Colman again steps into the shoes of Broadchurch local Ellie Miller, whose husband Joe was the answer to the question that millions of people asked for eight weeks last year: “Who killed Danny Latimer?”

(If you haven’t watched the first series of Broadchurch, um, sorry for the spoiler.)

Reprising their roles as Danny’s parents, Beth and Mark Latimer, are Jodie Whittaker and Andrew Buchan, and Arthur Darvill returns as the vicar Paul Coates.

More details will be forthcoming, but for now, that’s it.

According to Steve November, Director of Drama at ITV, who commissioned the new series along with ITV Controller of Drama Victoria Fea, “We’re delighted Broadchurch is back in production, but we’re remaining tight-lipped about how the story develops. Suffice to say Chris has delivered as always and the scripts are just as exciting as the first series.”

Added series executive producer Jane Featherstone of Kudos, “The reaction to Broadchurch from UK viewers has been incredible, so we’d like viewers to enjoy the new series knowing as little as possible about what’s to come and for the story to unfold in real time.”

(All of this secrecy reminds me of “Off the record, on the QT, and very hush-hush” from L.A. Confidential.)

Anyhoo, a UK premiere date should be announced in a few months. Ditto news about whether BBC America will again pick up the hit drama for transmission in the US.

In the meantime, enjoy this trailer with scenes from the Dorset coast where Broadchurch: Series 2 is set to begin filming in the coming weeks.

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