IT’S been four long years since writer Chris Chibnall’s crime drama Broadchurch burst onto our screens and introduced us to the picturesque-but deadly seaside town and all its shady residents.
Finally, after two thrilling seasons, the show returns to ITV at 9pm tonight to deliver its highly anticipated third and final instalment. Here’s what we know…
What happened
DI Alec Hardy – David Tennant
In season two we saw the tough-love detective (David Tennant) desperately try to solve the Sandbrook case – the one that nearly destroyed him in season one.
Despite that, he did manage to solve it, finally getting justice for murdered schoolgirl Pippa and her teen babysitter Lisa.
Sadly the same couldn’t be said for season one’s Danny Latimer, with the schoolboy’s murderer and Ellie’s estranged husband Joe Miller, walking free.
On a positive, Hardy managed to soften up enough to make good with his ex-wife Tess and daughter Daisy.
The finale of season two saw Hardy get into a taxi with the driver asking him “Where to?”.
Judging by the trailer for season three it’s safe to say that answer was Broadchurch.
DS Ellie Miller – Olivia Colman
Poor Ellie Miller (Olivia Colman) got one of the rawest deals in season two.
After she arrested her own husband for murdering Danny Latimer, she was demoted to traffic duty while her scummy ex stood trial.
And the bad luck didn’t stop there.
Remember how Ellie – rightfully – throttled Joe Miller (Matthew Gravelle) when she realised he was the murderer she’d spent all that time searching for in season one?
Her actions saw his confession deemed inadmissible.
She then had to withstand the wrath of Danny’s grieving mother Beth Latimer (Jodie Whittaker).
In between traffic duty and attending court, Ellie helped Hardy solve the Sandbrook case and struggled to deal with life as a single mum with son Tom moving out of the family and blasting Ellie for not defending Joe.
She did get some of her spark back when she confides in Beth that if she ever does see Joe again, she’ll be the one to kill him.
Season three could get very interesting.
Mark and Beth Latimer – Andrew Buchan and Jodie Whittaker
Understandably the couple struggled to come to terms with the loss of their son throughout the season with the added pressure of a lengthy court case that reopened old wounds – such as Mark Latimer (Andrew Buchan) owning up to his affair with hotelier Becca.
But the biggest blow the couple endured was seeing Joe walk free at the end of the trial.
The town banded together to support them and Beth eventually forgives Ellie – most likely because of promise to kill Joe one day.
On a positive Beth gave birth to a daughter Lizzie and the family tried to rebuild their lives, with season two ending with the Latimers having a picnic at the foot of the cliff.
Related Stories
What’s to come
The plot
Millions of us were hooked on season one of the gripping drama which saw Tennant’s DI Hardy and Colman’s DS Miller investigate the death of schoolboy Danny Latimer.
While the pace and mystery of it thrilled audiences, the hyped follow-up season lacked the same excitement, weighed down by courtroom drama and a cold case from Hardy’s past.
Having learnt from such mistakes, season three is handing our favourite detective duo a brand spanking new case, this time about a middle-aged woman who reports a rape that happened at a house party in the town.
The only problem – she has no recollection of the assault.
Cue a whole string of possible suspects and what will hopefully be a juicy investigation.
The new faces
While many of our favourites will be returning for the finale, there’s a bunch of new suspects on the scene, including Lenny Henry as a farm shop manager, Mark Bazeley as a menacing garage mechanic and former Coronation Street fave Julie Hesmondhalgh who plays local farm shop worker Trish Winterman, the victim at the centre of the sexual assault case.
Want to know more about the new cast? Check out all of the details you might need to know before tonight’s episode.
The verdict?
So far, so good.
There’s a new case, fresh faces and the same eerie town.
Here’s hoping tonight will prove this season is a winner.