David Tennant will join Olivia Colman in the sequel to ITV's hit murder mystery Broadchurch, it has been confirmed.

The former Doctor Who actor, who played Detective Inspector Alec Hardy opposite Colman's Ellie Miller, will return to the show after starring in its US remake.

Broadchurch, about the death of 11-year-old Danny Latimer whose body is found at the foot of a cliff on the Dorset coast, was ITV's biggest drama hit since Downton Abbey and the most popular new midweek drama hit for a decade.

Jodie Whittaker and Andrew Buchan, who played Danny's parents Beth and Mark Latimer, will also return to their roles, alongside Arthur Darvill as local vicar Paul Coates.

The second series, which is set to begin filming in Dorset, has been penned by Chris Chibnall, who created and wrote the first series which won a hat-trick of awards at the Broadcasting Press Guild earlier this year.

He has previously said that the new run will be "completely different" to the first,

The ITV director of drama, Steve November, said: "We're delighted Broadchurch is back in production, but we're remaining tight-lipped about how the story develops.

"Suffice to say Chris has delivered as always and the scripts are just as exciting as the first series."

Executive producer Jane Featherstone of programme-makers Kudos said: "The reaction to Broadchurch from UK viewers has been incredible.

"So we'd like viewers to enjoy the new series knowing as little as possible about what's to come and for the story to unfold in real time."

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