Broadchurch
ITV, STV, UTV Monday 4th March 9pm - 10pm
Repeat: ITV+1 Today 10pmThere’s a long tracking shot early in the opening episode of Chris Chibnall’s superb thriller when plumber Mark (Andrew Buchan) walks down the main street of his home town. It captures perfectly the smallness and closeness of a seaside community as Mark greets friends and neighbours in the sunshine. It’s a long scene full of light and optimism, which makes what happens next so much more bleak and harrowing.
There are inescapable similarities between Broadchurch and Mayday (Sun—Thu on BBC1), quite apart from the fact they are both from the Kudos production company. They are both set in small towns that implode when disaster befalls a child. In Broadchurch an 11-year-old boy is found dead on a beach at the foot of a cliff. Bitter, weary DI Alec Hardy (David Tennant) leads the investigation as the town becomes the focus of national attention.
Chibnall has made something quite special here: a delicate portrait of extreme, unbearable sadness, layered with guilt, suspicion and recrimination. Do not miss, because this is about as good as TV drama gets.
1/8. New series. Out-of-town DI Alec Hardy investigates the mysterious death of an 11-year-old boy in an idyllic seaside community, aided by local girl DS Ellie Miller, who has her work cut out dealing with her unyielding new boss. Meanwhile, the sadness of losing their child consumes Beth and Mark Latimer as they and the other residents of Broadchurch try to cope with the media frenzy surrounding the case. Crime drama, starring David Tennant, Olivia Colman, Andrew Buchan, Jodie Whittaker, Arthur Darvill, Vicky McClure and Pauline Quirke.
CastDI Alec Hardy David Tennant
DS Ellie Miller Olivia Colman
Mark Latimer Andrew Buchan
Beth Latimer Jodie Whittaker
Susan Wright Pauline Quirke
Karen White Vicky McClure
Rev Paul Coates Arthur Darvill
Steve Connelly Will Mellor
Maggie Radcliffe Carolyn Pickles
Olly Stevens Jonathan Bailey
Joe Miller Matthew Gravelle
Becca Fisher Simone McAullay
Chloe Latimer Charlotte Beaumont
Tom MillerA dam Wilson
Nigel CarterJ oe Sims
CS Elaine Jenkinson Tracey Childs
SOCO Brian Young Peter De Jersey
Liz Roper Susan Brown
Jack Marshall David Bradley
Dean Thomas Jacob Anderson
Len Danvers Simon Rouse
PC Bob Daniels Steve Bennett
Trevor Smith Simon Ludders
Danny Latimer Oskar McNamara
Dr James Lovegood David Sibley
Sam Taylor Alfred Enoch
Fred Miller Benji Yapp
Teacher Farzana Dua Elahe
Farmer Alec Nicholls
Woman driver Nicole ArumugamCrew
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