Broadchurch season 3: Your ultimate guide

Broadchurch season 3: As the final series of ITV’s crime juggernaut hits our screens, we bring you a lowdown of what’s what for all things Broadchurch…

Broadchurch season 3

• Hayley from Corrie (aka fab actress Julie Hesmondhalgh) plays Trish; the traumatised victim of rape.

• David Tennant and Olivia Colman are back as DI Alec Hardy and DS Ellie Miller – and remain one of TV’s finest double-acts.

• This series will be the final (sob!) – and is set three years on from the last one (five years from the start).

• The Latimers – Beth and Mark (Jodie Whittaker and Andrew Buchan) are back – with plenty of problems to boot.

• Sarah Parish plays Trish’s best pal – they work in a farm shop together, and Lenny Henry plays their boss!

• This new crime isn’t hugely linked to the death of Danny Latimer (which dominated series one and two) - but forces folk to ask whether a crack runs through their community, somehow connected to that dark moment?

Broadchurch season 3: Cast

DI Alec Hardy (David Tennant)

He’s returned to Broadchurch after being away for a bit (issues). He makes it his mission to find out who raped Trish - but will his latest obsession damage the newly reformed bond with his daughter?

DS Ellie Miller (Olivia Colman)

She’s rebuilt her life after husband Joe was found ‘not guilty’ for the murder of Danny Latimer – a crime he was most definitely guilty of. Ellie is bringing up her sons as a single mother, and caring for her elderly dad (her bedside manner needs some work...)

Beth Latimer (Jodie Whittaker)

She’s attempting to move on with her life after her son was killed – trying to help people in a counselling centre. Her family has fallen apart though, and she’s no longer with Mark (bah!)

Mark Latimer (Andrew Buchan)

He’s not moved on at all and is still haunted by the lack of justice for Danny’s murder - and whether or not there was more he could have done.

Where have we seen him before?

Mostly in Broadchurch, and he was in The Honourable Woman as well. Perhaps more interestingly is that in real life he is with actress Amy Nuttall and they have a two-year-old child together.

Trish Winterman (Julie Hesmondhalgh)

New character Trish is the victim of assault, with a daughter and an ex-husband she’s recently split from. Now she has to find a way to put her life back together.

Ian Winterman (Charlie Higson)

Left Trish six months ago for another woman, and the wounds are yet to heal both with Trish and their daughter, Leah.

Where have we seen him before?

He was a writer (and was in) The Fast Show. He’s also published novels – including the Young Bond series about a youthful 007, and he writes best-selling zombie-horror for teens! He was lead singer in a band called The Higsons as well. A man of many talents…

Jim Atwood (Mark Bazeley)

A self-made man in his 40s who runs the local garage. He’s still fairly easy on the eye but life and work have taken their toll - and he’s lost it a bit with the ladies. (Though he is wed to Cath - played by the beautiful Sarah Parish – so what’s he complaining about?!).

Where have we seen him before?

He was the baddie Bob Simms in wartime drama Home Fires and (perhaps more of a “wow” factor) he was in one of the Bourne films – and movie The Queen. He’s also been in Death In Paradise, Holby City and New Tricks, and he does voiceover work.

Cath Atwood (Sarah Parish)

Trish’s best pal; the outgoing life and soul of the party and a well-known face around Broadchurch. Married to Jim for 30 years, the pair were childhood sweethearts – but just how perfect is the marriage of the town lovebirds?

Ed Burnett (Lenny Henry)

A quiet, solitary man who’s run the local farm shop since his wife passed away 12 years ago. More tolerated than liked, what’s going on beneath that calm exterior?

Where have we seen him before?

As well-known as the two leads David Tennant and Olivia Colman, Lenny Henry is a household name – who was once married to Dawn French and likes to sleep on a comfy mattress. He also does a lot with Comic Relief, and when he’s not being a serious ac-tor type he’s a stand-up comic as well.

DC Katie Harford (Georgina Campbell)

A young, ambitious Detective Constable in Broadchurch (who Ellie can’t stand). Opinionated and over-confident, she’s not everyone’s cup of tea. Ed is her dad.

Broadchurch season three, episode one

The juggernaut that is Broadchurch returns and we're three years on from the events of last time. What's occurring? Hayley from Corrie (Julie Hesmondhalgh) plays Trish - the traumatised victim of rape. It's down to Hardy (David Tennant) and Miller (Olivia Colman) - still one of TV's finest double-acts - to piece together what happened (and Sarah Parish crops up as Trish’s pal). The Latimer family are cleverly weaved in because Beth now works as a counsellor at a crisis centre. Prepare to be hooked, people.

DYK? On this series being the last, David Tennant says: “It is sad to think we will never return to this world and to these characters because I feel so fondly towards them, but I will always feel proud to be associated with this show.”

When is Broadchurch season 3 on?

Monday 27th Feb, 9pm, ITV

Broadchurch season three, episode two SPOILER: Digging deeper

However have we lived without Broadchurch for so long? Gripping, fantastic and impeccably acted, episode two delves deeper into Trish’s terrible rape.

Last week’s opener saw David Tennant and Olivia Colman called out to investigate a harrowing sexual assault of local woman Trish (aka Julie Hesmondhalgh / Hayley in Corrie), and this week Ellie and Hardy start to poke about in her life

Traumatised after being attacked at her best pal’s party, this week Hardy uses his famous bull-in-a-china-shop technique to get Trish to open up some more, but Miller doesn’t think she’s ready (and Trish also appears to be hiding something).

Trish’s friends and family, plus the men in her life, all get the serious hauled-down-the-copy-shop interview treatment. And there are just SO many blokes acting shiftily - refusing to give DNA samples, frantically scrubbing dirty boots and the like.

Was it her ex? Her best mate’s husband? The man in the shop (er, that’d be Lenny Henry…)? The plot thickens, and there’s such a cliffhanger ending you’ll be counting down to next week…

Broadchurch season 3: The suspects lineup

With the suspects mounting up, we look at who is acting mighty shiftily in the wake of Trish Winterman’s brutal attack…

Ian Winterman: The Ex

Ian Winterman (played by Charlie Higson) left Trish for another woman, but he’s acting shiftily – and his new fancy-piece appears to be a bit unhinged. Could he be telling porkies about his whereabouts that night of the party? A school teacher, his relationship with Trish and daughter Leah is a tad strained to say the least…

Jim Atwood: The best pal’s hubby

Jim Atwood (played by Mark Bazeley) is a hot 40-something grease monkey, married to Sarah Parish’s character Cath – and it was at Cath’s 50th birthday bash that Trish got attacked. He has a roving eye and there’s a suggestion that he’s lost his way with the ladies but well, he’s with Sarah Parish so don’t worry pal! Childhood sweethearts, surely he wasn’t trying it on with his missus’ best mate?

Mark Latimer: The bloke from last time

Mark Latimer (played by Andy Buchan) is the grieving dad from series one and two of Broadchurch; his lad Danny was the focus of the humungous murder investigation of last time. We still don’t know how the two cases are connected, but this is one angry man and he’s likely out for revenge…

Ed Burnett: The weird shop bloke

Ed Burnett (played by Lenny Henry) is shaping up to be Broadchurch’ resident oddball (the Pauline Quirke equivalent of last time). He lives on his own in a caravan, and Trish works in his farm shop…

Tom Miller: The disturbed youth

Ok, so perhaps this one is a bit off-key but Tom Miller (played by Adam Wilson) is a bit odd, and then there’s the thing about how his dad killed Danny Latimer… That’s gotta hit you hard, eh? In episode one, series three, Tom was suspended from school for sharing online “filth” with his mates…

Leo Humphreys: The fit one

We don’t know much about Leo Humphreys (played by Chris Mason) yet, but never mind that as he adds a touch of the handsome to proceedings. This image also looks like he’s standing next to a giant ball of rope – which must be useful in any criminal act. Our money’s on him…

When is Broadchurch season 3, episode 2 on?

Monday 6th March, 9pm, ITV

Broadchurch season three, episode three

It’s episode three and anyone who hasn’t caught any of this FABULOUS new Broadchurch yet needs to hop onto ITV Player NOW!

For the rest of you - the suspects are gradually lining up after Trish got the creepy text at the end of last episode.

But, WHO ATTACKED TRISH? Was it her ex – who this week has a confession to make to Jim Attwood (this one is telling porkies), or even Jim himself?

Our money’s now on Lucas the dodgy taxi driver (it was previously on Leo Humphreys!) who gets short shrift after pretending to take folk home after Cath’s party.

And then there’s his angry step-son...

Gripping doesn’t even cover it!

When is Broadchurch season 3, episode 3 on?

Monday 13th March, 9pm, ITV

Broadchurch season three, episode four

Trish is up for going back to the scene of the crime, and luckily it’s a beautiful day for Hardy, Miller and Beth to be accompanying her to the big old mansion where Cath had her birthday bash. There are flashbacks – and the whole thing is a disaster, but at least new clues are unearthed, and there’s a huge bombshell in store courtesy of Cath’s hubby Jim. There’s also some quality LOLs thanks to Miller and Hardy being the best double act EVER.

When is Broadchurch season 3, episode 4 on?

Monday 20th March, 9pm, ITV

Broadchurch season three, episode five

Tonight (episode 5 of 8! Yes, sorry guys, we're over half way through!), Trish reveals a MAJOR secret about where she was the morning of the party/ the attack. This leads to the crazy scenario of Cathy (played by the GORGEOUS Sarah Parish) asking Ed (played by Lenny Henry) if she is “attractive”. Sarah Parish asking a man if she's attractive?! Yes, the realms of reality are bent a little with this particular plot twist, but it doesn’t make the episode any less spectacular!

When is Broadchurch season 3, episode 5 on?

Monday 27th March, 9pm, ITV

Broadchurch season three, episode six

So, Ed’s beaten up Jim Attwood and this causes a massive hoo-hah – not least when the young cop Miller and Hardy aren’t overly wild about (that’s be DC Katie Harford, played by Georgina Campbell) lets on that Ed is her DAD! Hardy is furious – and Katie gets packed off home.

In other news - and just to remind us what Broadchurch was all about - Mark Latimer is still going on about revenge for Danny... and who should show up but Miller’s ex aka. Danny’s actual killer! Excitingly (for everyone who's watched the previous two seasons, at least), we sort of find out what actually happened on the night Danny died, plus there’s a bit of an ‘OMG’ ending concerning Mark!

Elsewhere, the cops discover that Ian (aka, Trish’s extremely fishy ex-husband) has nabbed an item of hers without her knowing. Surely Ian is WAY too obvious to be the bloke whatdunnit, but the cops jump on this for clues anyhoo.

When is Broadchurch season 3, episode 6 on?

Monday 3rd April, 9pm, ITV

Broadchurch season three, episode seven

Well, next week is the final so there’s not a lorra time to crack this case now! This being Broadchurch, there’s not an awful lot we can say at this stage (secret squirrels!) – but we’re told Ellie and Hardy can “feel the vice tightening”, which sounds a tad painful…

When is Broadchurch season 3, episode 7 on?

Monday 10th April, 9pm, ITV

Broadchurch season three, episode eight

Series three of Broadchurch hasn’t quite been the juggernaut we all expected, but whatevs, we’ve enjoyed it all the same. Tonight, Hardy and Miller uncover the truth about who it was who raped Trish Winterman. So many loose ends to tie up, so little time. The ex, Jim ‘Mechanic’ Atwood, Lenny Henry Shop Man, or even Miller’s damaged son. Whodunnit? That’s the question…

When is Broadchurch season 3, episode 8 on?

Easter Monday, 9pm, ITV

Broadchurch: How many series are there?

Despite the fact that Broadchurch was one of the best shows on British TV, like, ever, only three series were ever made.

Broadchurch: How many episodes are there?

Each of the three series of Broadchurch consisted of eight episodes, meaning there are a blissful 24 episodes of Broadchurch altogether.

Broadchurch: Where can I watch Broadchurch online?

Unfortunately, Broadchurch is no longer available on ITV player. Boo! However, you can buy a box set featuring all three series and 24 episodes of Broadchurch for the totally bargain price (IOO) of £24.99 on Amazon.

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