Broadchurch series 2: Jodie Whittaker says new series will not be like Midsomer Murders

The star suggests that it will be a rocky road for her character and their family

Jodie Whittaker plays Beth Latimer in Broadchurch series 2 (ITV)

Actress Jodie Whittaker has dropped hints about what fans can expect from the second series of Broadchurch, saying that the show will not be like detective drama Midsomer Murders.

“I can completely say it’s not going to be like Midsomer Murders – no disrespect,” she said.

Broadchurch 2: What we know so far

However, a trailer for the new series seems to suggest that DS Ellie Miller and DI Alec Hardy will be investigating a new case focusing on the disappearance of two girls. And much like Midsomer Murders, Broadchurch will be returning to the same town with the same cast.

The actress, who stars as bereaved mother Beth Latimer, went on to say that the relationship between her character and husband Mark, played by Andrew Buchan, will undergo some ups and downs.

Whittaker explained that the couple are “sometimes on the same page and sometimes not” as they grieve for their son Danny, who was killed in the first series. She added that “grief is explored a lot” but that writer Chris Chibnall “doesn’t repeat anything”.

“The family are still very much in a sense of grief but it’s moved. It hasn’t necessarily moved forward but it’s somewhere different,” Whittaker said.

This second series will also feature new cast members, including Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Charlotte Rampling, James D'arcy and Eve Myles.

According to Whittaker, most of the characters overlap with the new cast members ‘in some sense’.

“I ticked a couple of huge boxes. I got to do scenes with Marianne and Charlotte, so I was really excited. That’s been great. There’s been very few times where we haven’t overlapped at some point.”

Chibnall has remained tight-lipped about the new series and has even kept the actors in the dark about the direction of the story. Arthur Darvill, who stars as vicar Reverend Paul Coates on the show, admitted that even the cast were allowed to watch the second series in full.

To further ensure secrecy, the cast were all required to sign non-disclosure contracts to prevent them from letting anything slip out about the plot.

But tonight audiences will finally find out what series two has in store for them.

Series 2 of Broadchurch airs tonight at 9pm on ITV.