Julie Hesmondhalgh’s outstanding performance as Trish Winterman – a woman who’d suffered a brutal sexual assault – in the first episode of the third series of Broadchurch kicked off what’s set to be the most gripping instalment of the franchise yet.
Over the course of the hour long show, which pulled in 7.3 million viewers, potential suspects were teased, clues were laid and old storylines were weaved back into the present day.
What’s left is a long line of conspiracy theories that have fans of the hit show – which first aired in 2013 – on the edge of their seats.
Trish has been the victim of a sickening sexual assault but shock left her waiting two days to report the heinous crime.
So far it’s understood the attack took place at her friend Cath Attwood’s 50th birthday party – by a waterfall where Detectives Alec Hardy (David Tennant) and Ellie Miller (Olivia Colman) discovered part of a condom packet, fisherman’s twine and a bloodied stone.
However with Trish unable to identify her attacker, around 50 male guests at the party and a very small DNA trail to follower – Hardy and Miller have a big job on their hands if they are to catch the individual who perpetrated the brutal, premeditated attack.
THE SUSPECTS
Fans of Broadchurch have already lined up potential suspects who all appear to be hiding something…
THE HUSBAND OF TRISH’S BEST FRIEND
At the end of the first episode, Trish’s best friend Jim Atwood – who organised the 50th party – opens the glovebox in his car to reveal condoms in the same wrapper as those found at the crime scene.
Jim – played by Mark Brazely – appears distinctly uncomfortable when he hears of the attack and later in the show, Cath (Sarah Parish) was spotted eyeing him up with a sickened look in her eye.
HER BOSS
Trish’s boss Ed Burnett (Lenny Henry), who runs the Flintcombe Farm Shop, was particularly unsympathetic when Hardy and Miller told him she wouldn’t be returning to work for some time.
The discovery of the blue fisherman’s twine, which was used to bind Trish’s ankles and wrists, was seen being removed from the crime scene in a bag which came from his shop.
MILLER’S OWN SON
Miller’s son Tom is still affected by the happenings of the first series, which saw his father being named as the murdered of his best friend Danny Latimer.
He returns the show as a troubled 15-year-old who appears to have a fascination with pornography which sees him expelled from school.
THE TAXI DRIVER
As Hardy and Miller returned Trish to her home after reporting the crime, an unnerving figure appeared at the end of the road.
Taxi driver Clive Lucas (Sebastian Armesto) was seen off by Hardy, who stared him out as he watched Trish walking back into her home.
TRISH’S HUSBAND
They’ve been separated for six months but all signs at home – including a family picture of the pair with their daughter – would suggest there is nothing sinister about her ex.
Hardy and Miller will still be bringing him in for questioning however and, like the other men at the party – and possibly all of those living in the small town – he will be asked to give a voluntary DNA sample.
THE CLUES
While the most obvious have been laid so far, have we missed something the writers have put directly under our noses?
THE MISSING BAG
At the end of the first episode, a gloved hand was seen taking a bag from the crime scene which contained the rest of the fisherman’s twine.
Although the identity of the person removing it was obscured, fans of the show have claimed this could be the biggest clue to the killer.
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As while news of attack may be spreading fast, the remote location where the attack took place doesn’t appear to be visited regularly and is miles from any shops.
So it could be that the attacker is linked to one of the people who have found out about the attack – with many pointing the finger at Cath’s husband Jim.
THE CONDOM WRAPPER
Found thrown into the undergrowth, the condom wrapper is the same as the ones in Jim’s car.
However with little DNA evidence to go on it’s unlikely this will lead to anything when it comes to catching the culprit.
THE BIG FIGHT
When Hardy and Miller first spoke to Cath about an incident at her party, she spoke of a fight between her husband Jim and Trish’s boss Ed.
She tried to play the incident down but it could be linked to the attack on Trish?
THE QUESTIONS
Alongside the clues and suspects there are a lot of unanswered questions the writers are set to bring in over the next seven episodes.
WHERE IS JOE MILLER?
Ellie’s husband walked free in series two after being accused of killing Danny Latimer.
Although he’s not around anymore, he is still talked about – with Miller snapping at her son Tom after his expulsion about never being “your father’s son”.
WHAT TORE BETH AND JOE LATIMER APART?
The death of their young son, followed by Joe’s infidelity left the couple at breaking point.
Now they are living apart, with some fans believing it’s the book about Danny – which was written with the help of Joe (Andrew Buchan) – which may have forced Beth (Jodie Whittaker) to leave him.
WHERE IS JOCELYN?
Series two favourite Jocelyn Knight QC (Charlotte Rampling) was helping Sharon get her son out of jail.
She’d finally confessed her feelings for Maggie Radcliffe (Carolyn Pickles) and with her eyesight quickly fading, viewers want to know if she’ll get her happy ending.
WHY IS HARDY’S DAUGHTER LIVING WITH HIM?
The last viewers saw of Hardy he was driving off into the sunset but now he’s back with his daughter Daisy in tow.
In series two, Hardy was making serious steps to building bridges with Daisy and his former partner, Tess, but now he’s returned and Daisy is living with him.
The second episode of Broadchurch airs on Monday, 9pm, on ITV.
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