The third and presumably final series of ITV’s smash-hit drama Broadchurch begins this week, and TVO regular Jim Howick is amongst the new additions to the cast.

The brainchild of future Doctor Who showrunner Chris Chibnall, Broadchurch stars David Tennant and Olivia Colman as Detectives Alec Hardy and Ellie Miller, and has received international acclaim across the first two series, as well as a US remake (with a French version in the works).

Along the way, the show has also featured appearances by Pauline Quirke, David Bradley, William Andrews, Eve Myles and Meera Syal, and series three also has several big names joining the regular cast, which includes Jodie Whittaker, Andrew Buchan, Arthur Darvill, Carolyn Pickles, Adam Wilson, and Phoebe Waller-Bridge.

Former Coronation Street star Julie Hesmondhalgh (Inside No. 9) is at the centre of the third series, playing Trish – a farm shop worker who suffers a terrifying sexual assault, during a birthday party for her friend Cath (played by W1A‘s Sarah Parish).

Lenny Henry and Charlie Higson join fellow comic Howick, best known to TVO readers for his work on Horrible Histories, Bill, Yonderland and Stag, in the new run, which is naturally wrapped in impeccable secrecy.

True ‘Watercooler Television’, Broadchurch will air on Monday nights at 9pm on ITV1, and be available on ITV Player shortly after transmission. If you’d rather wait to binge watch, then the eight part series will be available on DVD and Blu-Ray from 24th April. You can see the trailer below.