Broadchurch is a British mystery crime drama television series created by Chris Chibnall which begins by exploring what happens to a small community in Dorset when it suddenly becomes the focus of a police investigation, following the tragic and mysterious death of an eleven year old boy under the glare of the media spotlight.
The second season primarily focuses on two plot strands: the trial of Joe Miller and the reopening of the Sandbrook case.
Broadchurch is written and created by Chris Chibnall (United, Law and Order: UK) and explores what happens to a small community in Dorset when it suddenly becomes the focus of a police investigation, following the tragic and mysterious death of an eleven year old boy under the glare of the media spotlight.
Bloodied and dirty, Danny Latimer (Oskar McNamara) has been found dead on an idyllic beach surrounded by rocks and a jutting cliff-face from where he may have fallen. While his death remains unresolved, the picturesque seaside town of Broadchurch is at the heart of a major police investigation and a national media frenzy.
The sadness of losing a child consumes the family, Beth and Mark Latimer (Jodie Whittaker and Andrew Buchan), their daughter 15 year old Chloe (Charlotte Beaumont) and Beth's mum Liz (Susan Brown) as they attempt to cope with their grief, everyday normal life and the abruptness of the unwarranted attention heaped upon them.
Devastated by their loss, it's the most stressful and emotional time in their lives as they struggle to relate to their friends, neighbours, the church, the press and the police.
David Tennant takes the role of DI Alec Hardy; an out-of-town, newly promoted police detective who takes the job local girl DS Ellie Miller (Olivia Colman) believes should have been hers.
Ellie has to find reserves of patience and toughness to negotiate a professional relationship with the difficult and unyielding Hardy. Yet as the drama progresses, Hardy's own secrets are laid bare.
Ellie is also emotionally involved with this case. Ellie's son Tom (Adam Wilson) was the dead boy's best friend and she's known Danny all his young life. How could she not be drawn in? But Hardy's clinical methods force Ellie to see the community she grew up in through a different prism.
One by one the community of Broadchurch are drawn into the police enquiry. The village vicar Paul Coates (Arthur Darvill) tries to offer his support, but with press snooping, Broadchurch Echo junior reporter Olly Stevens (Jonathan Bailey) and editor Maggie Radcliffe (Carolyn Pickles), and particularly national newspaper journalist Karen White (Vicky McClure) who has come to Broadchurch with a special interest in DI Hardy, everyone is ill at ease.
Hotelier Becca Fisher (Simone McAullay) and local business people are implicated as the effects of a death in the community begins to impact on their hard-earned livelihoods.
Telephone engineer Steve Connelly (Will Mellor) finds himself in deep when he admits he has a special connection to the case.
Pauline Quirke takes the role of Susan Wright, a suspicious and scruffy character who appears to observe the goings on in Broadchurch from afar. Susan lives in the local caravan park and has a lonely existence. There's a sense she's hiding something, but what could she possibly know about Danny's demise?
Broadchurch was commissioned for ITV by drama commissioning team, Laura Mackie and Sally Haynes.
James Strong (United, Downton Abbey, Silent Witness, Doctor Who) and Euros Lyn (Torchwood, Doctor Who, Upstairs Downstairs, Sherlock) direct the series. Richard Stokes (Silk, Law & Order: UK, Torchwood) is the producer. Jane Featherstone (The Hour, Life on Mars, Law & Order: UK) and Chris Chibnall are the executive producers.