The first official preview of Broadchurch's third series is about as broody and bleak as you'd expect.

First Broadchurch series 3 picturepinterest
ITV

Front and centre in the newly-released photo are Broadchurch's crack crime-fighting duo David Tennant and Olivia Colman - but zoom in behind them and you'll spot another familiar face.

Gazing off into the distance is none other than Coronation Street legend Julie Hesmondhalgh, who is joining the ITV drama as the mysterious Trish Winterman.

The third series reunites detectives Hardy and Miller to investigate a sexual assault in the aftermath of the tragic Danny Latimer murder case.

Among the other favourites returning to Broadchurch will be Arthur Darvill, who took a hiatus from Legends of Tomorrow across the pond to reprise his role as reverend Paul Coates.

David Tennant, Olivia Colman, Broadchurch, Series 3pinterest
ITV

"This series, I think, is just going to be brilliant," he recently told Digital Spy. "I can't tell you too much about it, but the subject matter of it is really heavy.

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"I loved the second series of Broadchurch - I think it was really necessary to tell that part of the story - but I think this series has more of the feel of the first series."

Joining the cast alongside Corrie's Hesmondhalgh for series three are comedy icon Sir Lenny Henry and Casualty's Sunetra Sarke.

Broadchurch returns for its final series in 2017, and then showrunner Chris Chibnall is off to replace Steven Moffat on Doctor Who for its 11th series (and presumably beyond).


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Justin is a freelance entertainment journalist and writer. He first joined Digital Spy as a freelance entertainment reporter in 2010 and also worked as a sub-editor for the brand, serving as Night News Editor from 2016 to 2024. Over more than a decade, Justin has covered numerous major entertainment events from the US and has interviewed a wide-ranging group of public figures, from comedian Steve Coogan to icons from the Star Trek universe, cast members from the Marvel Cinematic Universe and reality stars from numerous Real Housewives cities and the Below Deck franchise. Justin has also been on the ground to cover major pop culture events like the Star Wars Celebration and the D23 Expo. He's written for titles across the Hearst network, plus the likes of CBR and Us Weekly.