Julie Hesmondhalgh and Georgina Campbell join ITV drama.

ITV has announced the cast for the third and final series of Broadchurch.

Joining original cast members David Tennant, Olivia Colman, Jodie Whittaker and Andrew Buchan in the eight-part series will be, Julie Hesmondhalgh (Happy Valley), BAFTA winner Georgina Campbell (Murdered By My Boyfriend), Sarah Parish (Atlantis), Charlie Higson (The Fast Show) and Mark Bazeley (Home Fires).

The ensemble cast also sees the return of Arthur Darvill as local Vicar Paul Coates; Carolyn Pickles as newspaper editor Maggie Radcliffe; and Adam Wilson as Ellie’s son Tom.

The new series will see a brand new case for DS Ellie Miller (Colman) and DI Alec Hardy (Tennant) reunite to investigate a serious sexual assault. The storyline is based on a year of research with Dorset-based organisations ‘The Shores’ and ‘Dorset Rape Crisis’, who specialise in dealing with victims of sexual assault, and police advisors who specialise in investigating crimes of sexual violence.
Creator, writer and executive producer Chris Chibnall, said: “This is the final chapter of Broadchurch. We have one last story to tell, featuring both familiar faces and new characters. I hope it’s a compelling and emotional farewell to a world and show that means so much to me.”

Broadchurch is a co-production with Kudos, an Endemol Shine Group company. Jane Featherstone who executive produces the series alongside Chibnall, said: “Broadchurch has been an important part of my life and I am so delighted and privileged to be working with Chris and the team again as we embark on the very final series. We will return to the town and characters we know so well as they find themselves caught up in a new and compelling story which will test the strength of the community and the people who live there, and will, I hope, be a fitting end to this trilogy.”

Broadchurch Series 3 will begin filming this summer in Bridport, West Bay and Clevedon.