1Episode #1.1
As the Dorset resort of Broadchurch prepares for the summer season 11-year old Danny Latimer goes missing. Local detective sergeant Ellie Miller returns from holiday with her husband and son to find her desired promotion to inspector has gone to outsider Alec Hardy,anxious to prove himself after gaining a poor reputation. When Danny's corpse is found on a beach the two police officers must tell his parents,Beth and Mark,sister Chloe and grandmother Liz. For Ellie it is especially hard as they are family friends. She is also irked by Hardy's brusque manner with suspects and tendency to call her by her surname. Ellie's nephew,Olly Stevens,cub reporter for the Broadchurch Echo,throws a spanner in the works when he latches onto the investigation and mentions the victim's name on Twitter. This attracts the attention of Karen White from the national Daily Herald,seeking a human interest story,and she arrives at the press conference where Hardy,convinced that Danny was abducted from home before being strangled,swears that the murderer will be brought to justice. Written by
2Episode #1.2
When Echo editor Maggie Radcliffe refuses to let Karen in on local coverage of the murder Karen taps Olly,using the bait that she can advance his career.Ellie finds cocaine and money hidden in Chloe's room and whilst Chloe will not divulge her supplier she admits she got it on behalf of hotelier Becca Fisher for a guest. She is protecting the source,boyfriend Dean Thomas,and she too is approached by Karen in the guise of friendship. Beth,reeling under the twin pressures of grief and excessive community sympathy,confesses to vicar Paul that she is pregnant and accepts his offer to be a confidant. Hardy's investigation leads him to caravan dweller Susan Wright,living near the murder scene,though he dos not see the skateboard in her cupboard. He and Ellie are still at odds over dealing with the case though both are suspicious when telephone engineer and alleged psychic Steve Connelly tells them Danny died in a boat in water. Newsagent Jack Marshall,for whom Danny did a paper round,tells the police he saw the boy argue with postman Kevin but Kevin has an alibi. On the other hand Mark's alibi is shown to be false and his finger-prints are found at the scene of the murder. Written by
3Episode #1.3
Hardy continues to irritate Ellie,especially when he gets her to sit in on Mark's interview. Mark explains his finger-prints were at the murder scene because he did some work there but key-holder Susan Wright denies letting him in and work-mate Nige destroys his alibi. However hotelier Becca Fisher comes forward to admit to an affair with Mark,thus giving him a new alibi. Following Steve's theory the police find that Mark does have a boat,stained with Danny's blood though Mark explains he cut himself on a fishing trip. Beth is approached by Steve,who tells her Danny was killed by somebody close to him,increasing her doubts about her husband. Meanwhile Karen,unable to get any locals to speak to her,tells Maggie and Olly she is gunning for Hardy after he failed to solve a similar case and Hardy tells his doctor he has taken on this investigation as a 'penance'. He does nonetheless accept a dinner invitation with Ellie and her family. Written by
4Episode #1.4
The charred remains of a boat washing up on shore persuades Steve to ask Hardy to take him seriously but,since Steve has previous for fraud,he is ignored though Hardy believes DNA on the boat will lead to Danny's killer.Olly finds evidence that newsagent Jack was tried for sex with a minor and Maggie finds a photo of Jack with his scout troop,assisted by one Elaine Jones,now calling herself Susan Wright but Susan threatens Maggie to back off and seems to have a hold on Nige. Hardy goes for dinner with the Millers and the atmosphere softens but on returning to his hotel he collapses and Becca takes him to hospital though he is anxious nobody knows he is ill. Both he and Ellie are shocked to find that Karen has persuaded Beth to give an emotive story to her paper,as a result of which the national press flocks to Paul's memorial service for Danny. Ellie tells Hardy that evidence on the boat links to a child killing in the area where Jack once lived - as Jack burns all his incriminating photographs of juveniles. Written by
5Episode #1.5
More clues come to light - cigarette butts found near the body and the fact that the burnt-out boat belonged to Ellie's ex- brother-in-law who left his wife Lucy,Olly's mother in debt when he left town. At the same time Tom,Ellie's son,meets Susan Wright,who offers to let him walk her dog. Beth threatens Becca over her affair with Mark and is restrained by Paul.She tells Mark she does not want his baby but later they reconcile over family photos. Jack Marshall comes under increasing suspicion as Karen tutors Olly - with whom she has sex - into writing a piece on the newsagent for her paper. Chloe is convinced of Jack's guilt after boyfriend Dean says Jack was always touching the sea scout boys but Jack later admits to the police and to Mark that his previous conviction was for having sex with a young girl,whom he later married. They had a son who died in a car crash aged six and the boys he hugged are substitutes for his dead son. Not everybody is convinced and as a hate campaign against Jack develops another corpse is found on the beach. Written by
6Episode #1.6
Following Jack's suicide Hardy is dubbed the worst cop in England by tabloids. The town turns out to the funeral,Karen's presence,since she has returned to London being unwelcome in view of her piece on Jack. Paul's sermon lambasts Jack's persecutors but Hardy,seeing him close to sea scouts, is suspicious and discovers that the young vicar is a reformed alcoholic who hit a boy when he was still drinking. As summer turns to autumn Beth bonds with Cate Gillespie,the mother of another murdered child,who hates Hardy for his ineptitude in handling her case. Maggie and Olly discover damning evidence regarding Susan's ex-husband and after she has given Tom Danny's skateboard,saying she was looking after it,she is brought in by the police,Nige stealing her dog. Ellie and Hardy are called out when an intruder is sighted at the murder scene but he evades them and Hardy collapses again. Written by
7Episode #1.7
Hardy wakes in hospital and confesses to Ellie that he has heart arrhythmia but feels he must see the case through and quickly returns to work. He later tells Maggie and Olly that it was his ex- wife,also a police officer,who ruined the Gillespie case and he took the blame for her. Ellie questions Susan,who mistrusts the police after her husband killed their daughter and hanged himself in prison. She is certain that,whilst out walking her dog at night and smoking cigarettes,she saw Nige bring Danny's body ashore in a boat. She also informs the police that she believes Nige is the son she gave up for adoption and that he has inherited his father's murderous ways. Paul advises Beth not to reject her unborn baby and she and Mark feel happier after seeing the results of her scan. Paul also gives Hardy Tom's lap-top,which the boy was trying to destroy and informs him that Tom latterly said he hated Danny. Working late and alone Hardy receives an important email. Written by
8Episode #1.8
Hardy finds Tom's computer,which reveals that he fell out with Danny after the latter found a new friend. At the same time,following an email Hardy traces Danny's phone to the person Ellie's sister Lucy saw dispose of a bundle on the night of the killing. This is the new friend,who makes a confession tying in with what Susan thought she saw and with Steve's psychic vision, a person whose repressed love for Danny led to a terrible conclusion after Danny threatened to expose the relationship. Shock,rather than relief,takes hold of Broadchurch as a result before the town comes together to light beacons in Danny's memory. Written by
1Episode #2.1
When Jo Miller pleads not guilty, the town of Broadchurch have to prepare for a full trial. Meanwhile, a woman called Claire from the Sandbrook case relies on Alec for protection.
2Episode #2.2
A new development in Joe Miller's trial surprises the court. Alec and Ellie set up a meeting between Claire and Lee Ashworth, with consequences to everyone involved.
3Episode #2.3
Hardy is doubly annoyed when Claire appears to be happy to go on seeing Ashworth and Ashworth himself declares his intention to stay in Broadchurch, seeking Hardy's help to try and clear his name. Rejected by Beth Ellie has a night out with Claire and learns the truth about the night the two girls were killed. Next day the trial continues with both barristers having family secrets not known to the public. Ellie takes the stand and has a hard time as Sharon Bishop tries to discredit her.
4Episode #2.4
Hardy is annoyed when reporter Olly questions him about Ashworth's return to Broadchurch whilst Ashworth himself confronts Ellie with accusations regarding Claire and Hardy and the prosecution closes its case with Jocelyn revealing to Beth why she was happy to act. Meanwhile Claire disobeys Hardy's instructions not to see Ashworth as Hardy and Ellie travel to Sandbrook to warn Cate Gillespie, mother of one of the victims, that Ashworth is back in the area. Cate is separated from her husband Ricky and tells Hardy something that could throw doubt on a certain party's guilt. As Sharon Bishop begins her defence a former Broadchurch resident returns to give evidence which stuns everybody.
5Episode #2.5
The surprise defence witness proves to be a liability and vicar Paul, whilst encouraging Beth to address a group of bereaved parents, refuses to testify on Joe's behalf. His son Tom is happy to do so but before he can take the stand a bitter argument breaks out between the two barristers, reopening old wounds and making winning the case personal. Ellie determines to solve the Sandbrook case, establishing that Claire may have lied to protect Ashworth and that Ricky Gillespie, father of one of the victims, may not be as innocent as first thought. Her sleuthing leads her and Hardy to a sinister location.
6Episode #2.6
Tom takes the stand, initially putting Mark in a bad light until Jocelyn questions him but when Mark gives his evidence it almost derails the trial and his marriage, though it reconciles Ellie with Beth and Tom. Meanwhile Jocelyn receives double bad news. Hardy and Ellie find evidence to connect Pippa to Ashworth and Claire, the latter now proving to be very unreliable. Whilst one of Sharon's team dishes the dirt on a local resident Hardy is released from hospital after having a pace-maker fitted and is reacquainted with former colleague and lover Tess Henchard.
7Episode #2.7
Hardy is jubilant when the Sandgate case is officially reopened and, although Claire is evasive when Ellie puts her findings to her, he elicits a confession from her which derails her relationship with Lee Ashworth. Hardy and Ellie also track down Gary Thorp, obsessive boyfriend of one of the victims who now comes into the frame along with the Gillespies. Sharon recalls Ellie to the stand and again tries desperately to discredit her but Jocelyn counters by questioning why Joe was not chosen to give evidence. The jury retires to reach a verdict but just as they return Claire arrives at the court with something for Hardy.
8Episode #2.8
The jury delivers its verdict on Joe Miller, leading to a bitter exchange between the winning and losing barristers. Meanwhile Hardy arrests Claire on the strength of the evidence she has brought him and interviews her, finding she has links to more than one of the suspects in the Sandgate case, the next step being to charge Lee Ashworth. Assisted by a still emotional Ellie and now driven to the point of obsession he questions Ashworth and finally solves who killed the two young girls in Sandgate, putting an end to two years of torment. Broadchurch itself now reverberates to the end of the murder trial and its result, as the residents attempt to move on with their lives.
1Episode #3.1
Divorcee Trish Winterman is raped on her way home from her friend Cath Atwood's party but takes three days before reporting it, due to shock and shame. She can give Ellie and Hardy no clue as to her attacker. They interview Cath and her husband Jim, along with Trish's employer Ed Burnett, but none can offer any ideas as to the identity of the rapist. The case is interrupted when Ellie faces a family crisis but then she is given information by Trish, suggesting the culprit singled her out for the attack.
2Episode #3.2
Ellie and Hardy interview all likely suspects - the party guests, Trish's ex-husband Ian who argued with her and refuses a DNA test, taxi driver Clive Lucas, who took her home and cocky young tackle shop manager Leo Humphries, since Trish's hands were bound with fishing twine. They deploy rape counsellor Beth Latimer to comfort Trish, to the annoyance of Beth's husband Mark. Trish is finally interviewed by the police but confuses them by admitting to consensual sex with a total stranger earlier in the day of the crime. After the police have gone she receives a threatening text, telling her to keep quiet. Meanwhile newspaper editor Maggie finds her job under threat and turns to vicar Paul for help.
3Episode #3.3
Trish reports the threatening text message but refuses to name her anonymous sexual partner whilst her ex-spouse Ian admits to Cath's husband Jim that he blacked out at the party and cannot recall his movements that night. He visits Trish but she hides from him, despite Beth's urging her to take family and friends support. Taxi driver Clive Lucas is recalled and admits to an indiscretion with another woman, ultimately putting him in the frame whilst Ian also has something to hide. Meanwhile Mark Latimer's desire to challenge the court verdict on Joe Miller brings him into conflict with Beth and Trish receives another, puzzling, message.
4Episode #3.4
Trish relives the night of the party, including her row with Ian and chat with the kitchen staff whilst the police discover that convicted rapist Aaron Mayford now lives in the area. Ellie and Hardy visit him but, whilst he is defensive, he is persuasive as to an alibi. They also learn from Beth that Trish found a bouquet on her doorstep the previous night with a message of hope and from Cath that her marriage to Jim is on the rocks, leading to the identification of Trish's anonymous sex partner and that of the sender of the email. Then Laura, another rape victim, comes forward whilst Mark tries to involve Paul in his quest to track down Joe Miller.
5Episode #3.5
As Laura recounts the details of her two year old ordeal Ellie and Hardy suspect her attacker also raped Trish and Mayfield, who has tenuous links to both women, is arrested. His alibi does not check out but Beth's supervisor Sahana tells the police of another, historic rape, which clears him and Leo's girlfriend Danielle gives him an alibi - at a price. Trish feels the need to tell as unsurprised Cath that she had sex with Jim, ending the friendship and the marriage whilst Ian's partner Sarah also throws him out and he breaks into Trish's house. Hardy has a domestic problem of his own but a new piece of evidence comes to light whilst Mark traces Joe Miller to Liverpool.
6Episode #3.6
Ed Burnett admits to assaulting Jim, claiming it was because he was in love with Trish but Ellie finds evidence linking Ed to the rape whilst an indiscretion by constable Katie Harford almost wrecks the case. Meanwhile Sahana and Beth fail to convince the third rape victim Nira help them and Trish's daughter Leah discovers that Ian has stolen her mother's computer. In Liverpool Mark confronts Joe Miller but does not exact revenge, a phone call home leaving him even more in despair whilst the Atwoods decide to leave Broadchurch.
7Episode #3.7
With insufficient evidence Hardy must release Ed and takes out his anger on his daughter's tormentors but Jim now becomes suspect, given the historical rapes and his connection to one of the victims. This, in turn, sets Cath wondering about her husband's guilt, sparking off a call to Trish and visit to the police. Mark's desperate action provokes a positive response from Beth, whilst Maggie makes a brave stand against her greedy new boss, refusing to capitalize on Mark's despair. Ian comes clean with Trish, admitting that his love for her occasioned his involving Leo in his illegal surveillance, leading to Cath and Trish reuniting. Meanwhile the relative of another suspect makes a disturbing find.
8Episode #3.8
Clive Lucas is arrested after his wife finds keys belonging to Trish and other fares hidden in his garage but then CCTV evidence suggests collusion between Clive's shy, virginal son Michael and the shifty Leo Humphries. A statement from Michael goes some way to unmasking Trish's attacker and a link to the other rapes, closing the case at last. Maggie and Paul now compare positive futures whilst the Wintermans and Latimers also decide on the best way to move forward.
