Broadchurch: Season 3 – Detective Sergeant Ellie Miller (Olivia Colman) and Detective Inspector Alec Hardy (David Tennant) – Photos courtesy of BBC America
It’s been three years since the last time we visited Broadchurch. Both Detective Inspector Alec Hardy and Detective Sergeant Ellie Miller are back on the team at Broadchruch CID after some hopefully recuperative time away when a local woman is sexually assaulted.
Evidence suggests this was not an opportunistic attack; it was planned.
DI Hardy and DS Miller must catch the person responsible or there could well be more such attacks.
Broadchurch returns to BBC America on Wednesday, June 10th (10/9C). We have character bios/portraits, a message from series creator Chris Chibnall and tags for the first three episodes.
BBC AMERICA’s BROADCHURCH BEGINS FINAL SEASON ON WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28 AT 10/9c
Peabody Award-winning series from writer, creator and executive producer Chris Chibnall returns with a new final case
BBC AMERICA’s highly-acclaimed series, Broadchurch, returns with a new case on Wednesday, June 28 at 10/9c. Featuring a strongly-talented cast, spearheaded by recent Golden Globe®-winner Olivia Colman (The Night Manager, Fleabag) and Emmy®-winner David Tennant (Jessica Jones, Doctor Who), the third and final chapter from writer, creator and executive producer Chris Chibnall, sees the detective duo Detective Sergeant Ellie Miller (Colman) and Detective Inspector Alec Hardy (Tennant) investigate a serious sexual assault that shocks the tight-knitted seaside town to its core.
Executive Producer Jane Featherstone on the new case: “We start the final season in the trilogy three years on from the last season, five years on from the start. There is a bold, new crime story, which forces us to ask whether the town has a crack running through it caused by Danny Latimer’s death; is this new crime somehow the long-term legacy of that dark moment? Our central characters must contend with this possibility as they battle to make hope, friendship and love triumph over fear and suspicion, as a host of new suspects present themselves. The great privilege of long-form storytelling is building a meaningful relationship between our characters and the audience, and I am excited for the audience to see how Ellie, Hardy and the Latimers have fared in the last few years. It is a fond farewell for those of us involved in the series for so many years, but as far as I am concerned, the community of Broadchurch will carry on living long after we’ve gone.”
Sarah Barnett, President of BBC AMERICA, commented: “Broadchurch is a remarkable and ingenious crime mystery that ups the ante with complex characters brilliantly articulated by actors at the top of their game. This new mystery is as compulsively riveting as ever. It is simply first rate television.”
Broadchurch is part of BBCA’s robust scripted slate with upcoming premieres including Orphan Black (returns for its fifth and final season on Saturday, June 10), Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency (currently in production), the Doctor Who Christmas Special, and Killing Eve.
A FOREWORD BY CHRIS CHIBNALL, WRITER, CREATOR AND EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
Welcome back to Broadchurch, and our third and final story.
It’s been an extraordinary journey: from tiny beginnings inspired by a walk in 2011 along the Jurassic Coast where I live, to a global success in 180 territories, with two international remakes, a novel adaptation and Broadchurch walking tours that take a similar route to my first walk. It’s been quite a ride. We’ve kept a lot of secrets, had a lot of fun and hopefully given people another reason to stay in on Wednesday nights.
The world we live in now feels some distance from the world I was writing about when we started. The state of the UK and its preoccupations are different. Each story has deliberately tackled a new area. For the final story, Ellie Miller and Alec Hardy conduct a new investigation, into a serious sexual assault.
We’ve spent the time since the series was last on air researching and developing this story. Myself and Script Executive Samantha Hoyle have worked closely with support organizations in the Dorset area who work with victims of sexual assault. We’ve spent time with the amazing support workers who run referral centers. We’ve developed relationships with and talked in depth with Independent Sexual Violence Advisors, as well as police who investigate these crimes, and survivors of these crimes. These extraordinary people have advised us every step of the way: from storylining, to scripts, on set during production (some of our advisors even appear in one sequence later on in the season) and through the post production process.
I wanted to tell this story because these crimes are increasing. In the UK, recorded sexual offences have been increasing year on year for the past decade: the most recent annual statistics showed an increase of 41% in reported rapes, compared to the previous year. Representations of, and attitudes to, sex have become more oppositional and confrontational. Sexualized images are all around, access to porn is easier and seemingly more common. It’s an issue for couples, for parents and families, for individuals and for communities. And amidst all this, the gender divide often feels more polarized than it has in decades.
To explore this, I needed to call on DS Ellie Miller and DI Alec Hardy one last time. This story begins three years after we were last in Broadchurch. Lives have moved on. Some people have left, some have arrived – and there’s a new case to test this old partnership. There are new suspects, new revelations and fresh truths to be confronted in the lives of Broadchurch’s residents.
You can expect to meet old friends, and new faces. You’ll see more of Broadchurch than ever before: new locations, and more extraordinary Dorset landscape.
What hasn’t changed is the amazing array of acting talent in the show. Our cast, led by the incomparable Olivia Colman, David Tennant, Jodie Whittaker and Andy Buchan, are joined by a host of brilliant new recruits: including Julie Hesmondhalgh, Sarah Parish, Lenny Henry, Mark Bazeley, Georgina Campbell, Charlie Higson and Roy Hudd.
Broadchurch has been a life-changing experience for me, and for many of us who make it. It’s been a strange, mad honor to experience the passion of audiences for this story and these characters. It’s been wonderful to film in (and showcase) the South West of England – the people of Bridport, West Bay and Clevedon have done us proud across all three seasons. But all good stories come to an end. I hope this one has enough twists and turns, laughter and tears to go out in style.
Twitter: @BBCAMERICA Hashtag: #Broadchurch
CAST & PRODUCTION CREDITS
DI Alec Hardy: David Tennant
DS Ellie Miller: Olivia Colman
Trish Winterman: Julie Hesmondhalgh
Beth Latimer: Jodie Whittaker
Mark Latimer: Andrew Buchan
Maggie Radcliffe: Carolyn Pickles
Reverend Paul Coates: Arthur Darvill
Tom Miller: Adam Wilson
Chloe Latimer: Charlotte Beaumont
Daisy Hardy: Hannah Rae
Ed Burnett: Lenny Henry
DC Katie Harford: Georgina Campbell
Cath Atwood: Sarah Parish
Jim Atwood: Mark Bazeley
Ian Winterman: Charlie Higson
Nige Carter: Joe Sims
Leo Humphries: Chris Mason
Clive Lucas: Sebastian Armesto
Aaron Mayford: Jim Howick
David Barnett: Roy Hudd
Michael Lucas; Deon Williams
Charlotte Lucas: Sarah Elsey
Lindsay Lucas: Becky Brunning
Leah Winterman: Hannah Millward
Laura Benson: Kelly Gough
Jenna Mayford: Hara Yannas
Andrea Hall: Anna Palmer
Sahana Harrison: Sunetra Sarker
Arthur Tamworth: Richard Hope
Writer, Creator and Executive Producer: Chris Chibnall
Executive Producer: Jane Featherstone
Producer: Dan Winch
Directors: Paul Andrew Williams, Daniel Nettheim, Lewis Arnold
Broadchurch is a Kudos, Imaginary Friends, Sister Pictures and BBC AMERICA co-production for ITV and is distributed by Endemol Shine International.
CHARACTER BIOGRAPHIES
DI ALEC HARDY (David Tennant)
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 (Olivia Colman)
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 (Jodie Whittaker)
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 (Andy Buchan)
Mark Latimer, unlike Beth, has not been able to move on. He’s still haunted by the lack of justice for Danny’s murder, and whether there was more he could have done. Can a man haunted by the events of his past find how to live in the present?
TRISH WINTERMAN (Julie Hesmondhalgh)
Trish Winterman is the victim of the assault. A farm shop worker, with a daughter and a recently estranged husband, she now must 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 (Charlie Higson)
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 (Mark Bazeley)
Jim Atwood runs the local auto repair shop. 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 (Sarah Parish)
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 birthday party expose the stresses and strains of their relationship, and the wider.
ED BURNETT (Lenny Henry)
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 (Georgina Campbell)
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.
SYNOPSES (**SPOILER WARNING**)
EPISODE ONE – WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28, 10/9c
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 (Scenes of Crime Officer) 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.
EPISODE TWO – WEDNESDAY, JULY 5, 10/9c
To Ellie and Hardy, and the rest of Broadchurch CID, it becomes clear very quickly that the location of the attack and all the surrounding circumstances are going to make this an incredibly difficult investigation.
Ellie and Hardy start to investigate Trish’s life. Who are her friends and family? The men in her life? They meet her ex-husband Ian, her best friend’s husband Jim, and Lucas, a local cab driver. All of them were in the area when the attack took place.
Ellie and Hardy need Trish to give her main video interview, which will be relied on in court if the case goes that far, but she is still in trauma.
They need to move the investigation forward quickly as there is a predator on the loose. Trish’s ISVA tells Hardy and Ellie that she doesn’t think Trish is ready, but Hardy decides they should go ahead.
But it is too soon – they do get more information, but Trish brings the interview to a premature end when they ask her a question that she is not prepared to answer.
EPISODE THREE – WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 10/9c
Hardy and Ellie appeal to Trish to be more open with them. She may have information that – although not related to the attack – could help the investigation. Trish, for her own reasons, doesn’t want to.
There are lots of men to eliminate from the enquiry, and Broadchurch CID are slowly making their way through the painstaking process of interviewing witnesses and collecting statements. They start to uncover inconsistencies and lies – and previously hidden connections between Trish and some suspects.
Trish receives an unnerving gift from an anonymous sender.