The second season of Broadchurch continues to tell the story of how a young boy’s murder affects the entire coastal town of Broadchurch when the man who confessed to Danny Latimer’s murder suddenly changes his plea to not guilty – forcing everyone to relive the investigation of Danny’s death.
Academy Award nominee Marianne Jean-Baptiste joins the cast as Joe Miller’s defense attorney, while the legendary Charlotte Rampling plays the Crown Prosecutor, Jocelyn Knight. Emmy winner David Tennant and three-time BAFTA winner Olivia Colman return as former police detectives Alec Hardy and Ellie Miller – who have another problem in the person of Claire Ashworth (Eva Myles, Torchwood) – whom Hardy has been hiding in a cottage just outside town – to keep them hopping.
Broadchurch returns to BBC America on Wednesday, March 4th (10/9C). For further details, follow the jump.
BROADCHURCH RETURNS TO BBC AMERICA WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4
Academy Award nominee Marianne Jean-Baptiste and legendary actress Charlotte Rampling star alongside three-time BAFTA-winner Olivia Colman and Emmy-winner David Tennant in the Peabody Award-winning drama
New York – February 4, 2015 – The shocking murder of 11-year-old Daniel Latimer rocked the quiet seaside town of Broadchurch, as everyone in the tight-knit community suddenly became a suspect. After a tumultuous investigation, a killer was finally named. Now, Broadchurch is still reeling and the case of young Danny Latimer is far from over. The second season of Broadchurch, a BBC AMERICA co-production, follows two seemingly unconnected events: the trial of Joe Miller (the man charged for Danny’s murder) and the Sandbrook case – Detective Inspector Alec Hardy’s previously failed investigation, which has dogged his existence ever since. Though all expect a swift sentencing, there are still undeniable discrepancies and more secrets hidden among the townspeople. At the same time, Hardy’s past comes back to haunt him when his primary suspect in the Sandbrook homicide resurfaces, looking for the woman who testified against him. What unfolds is a series of twists and turns as the Sandbrook case bursts back open, unraveling Hardy’s past and bringing shocking truths from both cases to the surface. Season two of the BAFTA and Peabody Award-winning drama stars three-time BAFTA-winner Olivia Colman and Emmy-winner David Tennant, alongside Academy Award nominee Marianne Jean-Baptiste and legendary actress Charlotte Rampling. Broadchurch returns Wednesday, March 4, 10:00pm ET.
In season one, Detective Inspector Alec Hardy (David Tennant) – still haunted by the collapse of his previous murder case – was put in charge of the Latimer investigation, much to the chagrin of local officer Detective Sergeant Ellie Miller (Olivia Colman). Strong yet compassionate, Ellie was forced to put her personal connections to the victim aside to help solve the case that devastated the close-knit community. As the detectives scraped for evidence and fought to narrow the suspects, the town was turned upside down.
The investigation saw many townspeople come under suspicion, including Danny’s father Mark (Andrew Buchan). But after many twists and turns, the revelation of the killer’s identity had far-reaching consequences for Hardy and Ellie. In the season one finale, Joe Miller (Matthew Gravelle), Ellie’s husband, was found responsible for the unspeakable crime – leaving the entire town, especially Ellie, shell-shocked.
The new season begins on the day of Joe Miller’s hearing. All of Broadchurch awaits his sentencing— eager to gain some sense of closure from the nightmare of Danny’s murder. But to everyone’s disbelief (including his barrister’s) Joe enters an astonishing plea – ‘not guilty.’ Joe fixedly avers that nobody is innocent and promises to expose more secrets of the town’s residents. He goes on to enlist a fearsome defense team led by Queen’s Counsel (QC) Sharon Bishop (Marianne Jean-Baptiste) and junior barrister Abby Thompson (Phoebe Waller-Bridge). Now bracing themselves for a full trial, Danny’s parents, Beth (Jodie Whittaker) and Mark desperately seek legal representation from esteemed local QC barrister Jocelyn Knight (Charlotte Rampling). At first she refuses to take on their case, but will she have a change of heart when she learns that former pupil Sharon Bishop is representing the defense?
Hardy, no longer on active duty as detective, remains in Broadchurch – but why? With his health condition worsening, he desperately needs Ellie’s help to make things right with a previously failed investigation. As Hardy’s past comes back to haunt him, the two detectives (Hardy and Ellie) are forced back together. Following Joe’s arrest, Ellie is left broken and alone. She’s left Broadchurch to serve as a traffic officer in Devon and her son (Tom) refuses to live with her. There won’t be a light at the end of the tunnel for Ellie until Joe is brought to justice – only then can she even begin to find a sense of normalcy again. For now, she finds solace and some fleeting sense of purpose in helping Hardy. One thing is for certain, as the hearing of Joe Miller unfolds and Hardy’s past bubbles to the surface – nothing will stay hidden in Broadchurch.
Broadchurch is written and created by Chris Chibnall (Law & Order: UK, Life on Mars) and executive produced by Jane Featherstone (The Hour, Spooks) on behalf of Kudos, a Shine Group company, and Chris Chibnall for Imaginary Friends. The Producer is Richard Stokes (Silk, Law & Order: UK) who also produced the first season. James Strong (Downton Abbey, Doctor Who) who directed five episodes of the first season, directed episodes one and two of the new season.
CAST AND PRODUCTION CREDITS
DI Alec Hardy David Tennant
Ellie Miller Olivia Colman
Mark Latimer Andrew Buchan
Beth Latimer Jodie Whittaker
Sharon Bishop Marianne Jean-Baptiste
Jocelyn Knight Charlotte Rampling
Lee Ashworth James D’Arcy
Claire Ashworth Eve Myles
Abbie Thompson Phoebe Waller-Bridge
Joe Miller Matthew Gravelle
Chloe Latimer Charlotte Beaumont
Tom Miller Adam Wilson
Reverend Paul Coates Arthur Darvill
Becca Fisher Simone McAullay
Nige Carter Joe Sims
Maggie Radcliffe Carolyn Pickles
Olly Stevens Jonathan Bailey
Lucy Stevens Tanya Franks
Writer and Creator Chris Chibnall
Executive Producer Jane Featherstone
Executive Producer Chris Chibnall
Producer Richard Stokes
Directors James Strong, Jessica Hobbs, Jonathan Teplitzky, Mike Barker
Broadchurch is a Kudos in association with Imaginary Friends and BBC AMERICA co-production for ITV and is distributed by Shine International.
CHARACTER GUIDE (**SPOILER WARNING**)
Detective Inspector Alec Hardy (David Tennant)
An experienced detective, Hardy’s name was tarnished quite publicly when he found himself at the center of a scandal surrounding a major case he was investigating. Having fled big city life for a small-town, Hardy had just arrived in Broadchurch when 11-year-old Danny Latimer was murdered. Hardy knew he was facing another tough case and was determined to get it right this time. It seemed he had until Joe Miller’s hearing quickly escalates into a full trial – re-opening a chapter that all of Broadchurch thought had finally been closed. At the same time, Hardy’s past comes to light, causing new faces and shocking truths to emerge in Broadchurch.
Ellie Miller (Olivia Colman)
Ellie, a mother of two, never imagined that her husband would be arrested for the crime she and Hardy had so tirelessly been investigating. Ellie’s life has since fallen apart: the man she once called her husband is now on trial for murder, her son wants nothing to do with her and her closest friend, Beth Latimer, despises her. Beth places much of the blame of Danny’s death on Ellie’s shoulders. Now, Ellie struggles to deal with her new reality. She looks forward to the day when her son, Tom, accepts her back, praying that Joe will soon be convicted – only then can she and Tom begin to move on. When Hardy asks for Ellie to help him put an old case to rest, it presents an opportunity for her to make something right again in the world – a feeling she desperately needs. At the same time, Hardy’s past introduces Ellie to someone who might just understand her pain.
Beth Latimer (Jodie Whittaker)
Beth faced every parent’s worst nightmare when her 11-year-old son Danny was found murdered. With an emotionally distant husband (Mark) and a distraught rebellious teenage daughter (Chloe), Beth struggled to lead her family through the horrific tragedy as all their secrets were laid bare. While hanging on by a thread, Beth learned she was pregnant just as she discovered Mark was having an affair with Becca Fisher, the local hotelier. Now, with a new baby on the way, Beth is determined to see justice for the child she lost before bringing another into the world.
Mark Latimer (Andrew Buchan)
Mark, the town’s plumber, is popular among the locals, but everyone has their secrets – including him. His affair with Becca Fisher (the local hotelier) was revealed after he was suspected of murdering Danny. Mark’s name was cleared, but his marriage to Beth remains on the rocks. Though they await the arrival of a new baby, Mark struggles to deal with the pain of losing his son and grows ever more distant from Beth in the process.
Chloe Latimer (Charlotte Beaumont)
Chloe is Beth and Mark’s only daughter. Though once rebellious, she had no choice but to grow up quickly following the murder of her younger brother, Danny. And with her father growing increasingly distant, Chloe has become someone for her pregnant mother to lean on.
Joe Miller (Matthew Gravelle)
To everyone in Broadchurch, Joe had appeared to be a devoted husband to Ellie and loving father to their two children. But as it turned out, Joe had much to hide, including a secret relationship with Danny Latimer, whom he later confessed he had both loved and murdered. But on the day of his hearing, Joe shocks the townspeople of Broadchurch again, pleading ‘not guilty.’
Tom Miller (Adam Wilson)
Tom, Ellie and Joe Miller’s son, was Danny Latimer’s best friend. Following Joe’s arrest for Danny’s murder, Tom refuses to live with Ellie and is now living with relatives.
Sharon Bishop Queen’s Counsel (Marianne Jean-Baptiste)
No-nonsense barrister Sharon Bishop doesn’t take on a case she doesn’t believe she can win, and Joe Miller is her newest project. But this case might find Sharon on the opposing side to her former mentor, esteemed barrister Jocelyn Knight. The two have a history together – one not without tensions and fractures…with a possible vendetta developing along the way as a result. Beyond the case, what effect will the trial have on Sharon’s personal life?
Abbie Thompson (Phoebe Waller-Bridge)
Junior barrister Abbie Thompson gets a huge shock when her client, Joe Miller, pleads not guilty to murder without previously consulting her. Abbie urges her superior, Sharon Bishop, to review the intriguing discrepancies in Joe’s file, eventually convincing Sharon to go out to Broadchurch with her to take on the case.
Jocelyn Knight Queen’s Counsel (Charlotte Rampling)
Though she is a highly esteemed local barrister, Jocelyn has not taken a case in three years. She sympathizes with the Latimer family and is moved by their situation, but adamantly refuses to take up a new case…that is until she learns that her former pupil Sharon Bishop is given Joe’s case.
Claire Ashworth (Eve Myles)
A key witness in the infamous Sandbrook murder case, Claire is the reason why Alec Hardy came to Broadchurch in the first place. After the case against Claire’s husband (suspected killer Lee Ashworth) falls apart, Hardy promises to protect Claire from the man she betrayed and hides her away in a secluded country house. But when Claire starts receiving strange phone calls, she fears for her safety – worried that her past is coming back to haunt her.
Lee Ashworth (James D’Arcy)
Lee Ashworth was Alec Hardy’s primary suspect in the disappearance of 19-year-old Lisa Newberry and the murder of her 12-year-old cousin, Pippa. Having left the country after the case against him fell apart, Lee has now resurfaced. He’s intent on reuniting with the wife he once held under his thumb and is determined to keep a very close eye on the man who almost succeeded in putting him away for murder.
Maggie Radcliffe (Carolyn Pickles)
Maggie is a veteran reporter and editor of the Broadchurch Echo. She encourages her staff, especially young reporter Olly Stevens, and holds them to high standards. Years of experience have left Maggie with strong moral convictions, and a need to seek the truth, even at high personal cost.
Olly Stevens (Jonathan Bailey)
Olly, Ellie’s nephew, is an enthusiastic young reporter looking for a ticket out of small town news, which unfortunately comes to him in the form of Danny’s murder. Desperate to write national headlines, Olly was willing to do anything to get his story, and burned a few bridges along the way. Now that his uncle is being tried for murder, Olly is trying to make amends for his mistakes, but the young reporter still has a lot to learn.
Reverend Paul Coates (Arthur Darvill)
As a local religious leader, Paul does his best to keep his congregation from falling to pieces when tragedy strikes. Part of his job is to provide counseling to all members of his community, but the town might not look too highly on the reverend’s secret prison visits to Joe Miller.
Becca Fisher (Simone McAullay)
Becca, the flirty Australian hotelier, whose dirty laundry of having an affair with Mark Latimer was exposed during the murder investigation, has started on a different path and is now dating Reverend Paul Coates.
Nige Carter (Joe Sims)
Nige is an employee at Mark Latimer’s plumbing company and a trusted family friend.
SYNOPSES
EPISODE ONE – WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 10:00PM ET
Detective Sergeant Ellie Miller is still reeling from the revelation that 11-year old Danny Latimer was murdered by her husband, Joe. As the residents of the sea-side town deal with the aftermath of Danny’s murder and Joe’s arrest, Detective Inspector Alec Hardy is haunted by an old investigation when a witness from an unsolved murder case comes asking for help.
EPISODE TWO – WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 10:00PM ET
The people of Broadchurch struggle to come to terms with the devastating turn of events, and shockwaves reverberate through the town. What next for Ellie and Hardy? And how will the news impact Mark and Beth Latimer? Meanwhile, Reverend Paul Coates continues with his secret meetings and Hardy has to face a figure from his past.
EPISODE THREE – WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 10:00PM ET
Hardy faces a race against time as Ellie discovers a startling new piece of evidence, forcing them to reassess their suspicions. Meanwhile, life for Mark and Beth is about to change forever, as Ellie comes under intense pressure from all sides.
EPISODE FOUR – WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 10:00PM ET
Family tensions surface as Ellie struggles to control her sister, Lucy. Meanwhile, Mark Latimer must make a decision and Alec Hardy is forced to face his demons.
EPISODE FIVE – WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 10:00PM ET
EPISODE SIX – WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 10:00PM ET
EPISODE SEVEN – WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 10:00PM ET
EPISODE EIGHT – WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 10:00PM ET
Synopses for episodes Five-Eight will be released on a later date.
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