The popular ITV drama Broadchurch has recently arrived on Netflix, prompting me to revisit it for the first time since its initial airing in 2013 – and I was surprised by one unexpected detail. The gripping first series – made up of eight episodes – captivated the country, earning rave reviews and sparking a nationwide fixation among viewers.
The story kicks off with the murder of 11-year-old, Danny Latimer, portrayed by Oskar McNamara, and delves into the life-changing aftermath of the brutal crime on a once tight-knit community. The cast and crew were kept in the dark about the identity of the killer until the final three episodes were filmed, and even then, not everyone on set was informed. This strategy effectively amplified the tension among the characters – friends and neighbours they had previously trusted were now viewed with suspicion, as unrelated secrets and lies began to emerge in the wake of the young boy’s death.
Olivia Colman and David Tennant were brilliantly cast in the main roles of Detective Sergeant Ellie Miller and Detective Inspector Alec Hardy, respectively, providing a crucial blend of emotional depth and wit. As an audience member, you find yourself invested in both characters – Hardy is a newcomer to the fictional town of Broadchurch, fresh from another high-profile murder case which he failed to crack.
He’s awkward, abrasive and reserved, offering a stark contrast to Colman’s warm, motherly yet resilient Miller. They initially clash – Miller resents Hardy for being given the DI job over her, but they gradually learn to appreciate and understand each other under the challenging and stressful circumstances.
The rest of the cast also gave outstanding performances – Jodie Whittaker is impeccable as the grieving mother Beth, while Andrew Buchan, playing her husband Mark Latimer, perfectly portrays a bewildered father dealing with the devastating aftermath of his own ennui and deception. Olivia Colman scooped a BAFTA award for Best Actress for her role, while Harry Potter and Game of Thrones veteran David Bradley clinched the Best Supporting Actor award for his portrayal of wrongly accused shopkeeper Jack Marshall.
However, it was the casting of the ambitious, rising reporter Oliver ‘Olly’ Stevens that caught my attention and had me shouting, “oh my god!” at my telly.
Despite having watched the show during its initial airing, I had completely forgotten this determined local journalist was played by Jonathan Bailey, who is now more familiar on the Hollywood big screen.
The actor, now 37, followed his role on the acclaimed crime series with a popular part in the comedy, Crashing, created by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, before cementing his status as a household name in shows like Bridgerton and Fellow Travelers. He launched his career as a child performer and even holds a prestigious Laurence Olivier award for his performance in the West End gender-swapped revival of the acclaimed production, Company.
In Broadchurch, Bailey comfortably matched the calibre of established stars such as Tennant and Colman and, in retrospect, his trajectory towards A-list recognition appeared far more predictable than the identity of Danny Latimer’s killer.
On Reddit, one Jonathan Bailey admirer commented: “Love that Jonny got to work in Broadchurch with the national treasures that are Olivia Coleman and Phoebe Waller-Bridge. It was almost certainly working with PWB here that got Jonny the part as Sam in Crashing”.
All three series of Broadchurch are available to stream on Netflix.
