Chris Chibnall On The New Series Of Broadchurch: "It Has To Be Different"

Chris Chibnall has told viewers not to expect another murder mystery when Broadchurch returns to TV screens next month.

The first series of Broadchurch followed the hunt for the killer of a young boy in a small town and was watched by an average of 8.8 million viewers. It was as much a whodunnit as it was an exploration of how a terrible event impacts upon a family and the wider community. Talking to media magazine Broadcast Chris said that the new eight-part series would have "...a different engine, rhythm and voice" to the original and would not start with "...another body on the beach with David [Tennant] and Olivia [Colman] standing over it – it has to be different".

Few plot details have emerged but it's believed that the action picks up shortly after events of series one. A mention of two missing girls in the trailer has led to some fans speculating that the story may revolve around Alec Hardy's (David Tennant) previous case in Sandbrook. Chris is giving away nothing.

"By the end of episode one you’ll have a real sense of what the themes are, what the story is and what the questions are," he said.

It hasn't stopped him from feeling nervous about how fans of the first series will respond to the new thriller storyline. "I exist in a state of fear, excitement, delight and trepidation," he said. "It’s perfectly possible they will say 'Not as interested', but our job is not to chase ratings, but to stay true to the DNA of the show."

And as for the future of the show? “Let’s wait and see if there’s another series. Who knows who will be standing at the end [of series two]?” he teased.

The eagerly anticipated second series of Broadchurch begins on ITV on Monday 5th January at 9pm. David Tennant and Olivia Colman return with Arthur Darvill, Andrew Buchan and Jodie Whittaker. New cast members include Eve Myles, Charlotte Rampling, James D'Arcy and Marianne Jean-Baptiste. 

Keep up with all the latest news about Broadchurch on our website.

Source: Broadcast