David Tennant and Olivia Colman reprise their roles as DI Alec Hardy and DS Ellie Miller in the third and final season, this time investigating a serious sexual assault in the Dorset community.
Jodie Whittaker and Andrew Buchan return to play Beth and Mark Latimer. They are joined by Julie Hesmondhalgh, Lenny Henry and Georgina Campbell, along with Sarah Parish, Charlie Higson and Mark Bazeley.
Arthur Darvill also returns as local Vicar Paul Coates, Carolyn Pickles as newspaper editor Maggie Radcliffe and Adam Wilson as Ellie's son Tom.
Three years later...
DI Alec Hardy has returned to Broadchurch CID, after some time away. When a local woman is sexually assaulted, he makes it his mission to find out who is responsible – but will it be at a cost to his relationship with his daughter?
DS Ellie Miller has rebuilt her life after Joe Miller was found 'not guilty' by a jury for the murder of Danny Latimer – a crime that he is unequivocally guilty of. Ellie is bringing up her sons as a single mum, caring for her elderly father and back on the team at Broadchurch CID.
Beth Latimer is attempting to move on with her life, and hopes she has found new purpose, in a job which puts her own harrowing experience to good use. Beth's trying to help other people, but still struggling to keep her own family on the right track.
Mark Latimer, unlike Beth, he has not been able to move on. He's still haunted by the lack of justice for Danny's murder, and whether or not there was more he could have done. Can a man haunted by the events of his past find how to live in the present?
As Season 3 gets underway, Ellie and Hardy are called out to attend to a woman who has reported a serious sexual assault. They take the woman – Trish Winterman - to the SARC (Sexual Assault Referral Centre) where she is examined. There's no doubt she's been raped – but where, and when, and by whom?
Hardy and Ellie tell Trish that an ISVA, (Independent Sexual Violence Advisor) will be in touch soon. This person will help and guide her through the legal and investigative process that will now unfold around her.
Working on a clue found at Trish's house, Hardy and Ellie discover the crime scene and call in SOCO to gather evidence. But it is an unusual and difficult crime scene - will they find anything useful?
The initial forensics report confirms Hardy and Ellie's earlier suspicions – this was not an opportunistic attack, it was planned. Hardy concludes that they have a serious sexual predator at large in the town, someone who may strike again.
Broadchurch is executive produced by Chris Chibnall (Malaterra, The Great Train Robbery, Torchwood) for Imaginary Friends and Jane Featherstone (River, Humans, Utopia) for Sister Pictures. Dan Winch (Indian Summers II, What We did On Our Holiday) is the producer.
It is directed by Paul Andrew Williams (The Eichmann Show, Murdered by My Boyfriend), Daniel Nettheim (Doctor Who, Humans, Line of Duty) and Lewis Arnold (Banana, Prey, Humans).
Broadchurch is a co-production between Kudos, an Endemol Shine Group company, Imaginary Friends and Sister Pictures.
New Characters
Trish Winterman is the victim of the assault. A farm shop worker, with a daughter and a recently estranged husband, she now has to find a way to put her life back together. In doing so she will discover a great deal about herself, and the people in the town around her.
Ian Winterman left Trish 6 months ago for another woman, and the wounds of this are still to heal - not just between Ian and Trish, but also with his daughter, Leah. Ian must now navigate his new relationship, and the impact of the attack on Trish.
Jim Atwood runs the local garage. A self-made man in his 40's, still attractive – but he hasn't quite got the pulling power and sparkle he used to have as a younger man. Life and work have taken their toll.
Cath Atwood is Trish's best friend and a 'face' around Broadchurch – popular, outgoing, life and soul of the party. Married to Jim for 30 years, high school sweethearts who are still together. But just how perfect is the marriage of the town's perfect couple? And how will the events at Cath's 50th party expose the stresses and strains of their relationship?
Ed Burnett runs the local farm shop. A quiet, solitary man, who has been in Broadchurch for 12 years since the death of his wife. A bit stubborn and obdurate – a man more tolerated than liked. What's going on beneath the surface of Ed's seemingly calm exterior?
DC Katie Harford is a young, ambitious Detective Constable in Broadchurch CID. Opinionated and over-confident in a way that only a young officer can be, she clashes with Ellie and Hardy as they investigate a case that needs a sensitive approach.