ITV has renewed its drama series Broadchurch for a second season, set to air in 2014. Details of the plotline for the show’s second season and which characters will return are being kept tightly under wraps.

Created by Chris Chibnall (Law & Order: UK), the first season of Broadchurch told the story of a small community which is rocked when the dead body of Danny Latimer is found on the beach. Whilst his death remains unresolved, the picturesque coastal town of Broadchurch is at the heart of a major police investigation and a national media frenzy.One by one the community of Broadchurch are drawn into the police enquiry. Local hoteliers and business people are implicated as the effects of a death in the community begins to impact on their hard-earned livelihoods. But can the town survive such a seismic shock during its economically crucial summer months? As the case drags on, the whole town will come under pressure: personal, economic, professional and emotional. The drama series is produced by Kudos Film & TV in association with BBC America and stars David Tennant, Olivia Colman, Vicky McClure, Jodie Whittaker, Andrew Buchan, Will Mellor and Arthur Darvill.

Despite initally being envisioned and commissioned as a one-off drama, the renewal of Broadchurch comes as no real surprise given the critical and commercial success of the series. The premiere episode drew an average audience of 9.1 million total viewers, ranking as the highest weekday launch of a new drama across all broadcasters since ITV’s Whitechapel in January 2009. Only two other TV dramas that have launched during the week have rated higher since 2002, both from ITV, Life Begins and Doc Martin.

“We’re delighted to be commissioning a second series of Broadchurch,” said ITV’s Director of Television, Peter Fincham. “From the moment the murder scene was discovered, viewers became gripped by the series, and we’ve been genuinely thrilled by the audience response. David and Olivia’s performances and Chris’s cleverly crafted scripts have created a truly compelling drama.”

Creator and writer Chris Chibnall commented: “The whole Broadchurch team has been delighted and properly gobsmacked by the response from ITV viewers. When I first talked to Peter Fincham and Laura Mackie, ITV’s Director of Drama about Broadchurch, I mentioned that if people liked it, there was another very different story we could tell afterwards. I’m really thrilled we’re going to tell that story too.”

While Executive producer Jane Featherstone added: “It’s such a privilege for Kudos to be able to work with Chris and ITV to bring the next chapter of Broadchurch to our screens. And although we’re giving nothing away right now, I can tell you it’s going to keep on delivering surprises and scale.”