ITV's Broadchurch to return for second series

Colman starred as detective sergeant Ellie Miller alongside Tennant as detective inspector Alec Hardy

Detective drama Broadchurch has been commissioned for a second series, ITV has announced.

The "whodunnit" starring David Tennant and Olivia Colman will go into production next year but details of the cast are being tightly guarded.

The climax of the investigation into the death of 11-year-old Danny Latimer was watched on 22 April by a peak audience of 8.9 million viewers.

Writer Chris Chibnall said he was "gobsmacked" by the figures.

"There was another very different story we could tell afterwards. I'm really thrilled we're going to tell that story too," he said.

Set in the fictional seaside Dorset community of Broadchurch, the drama had bookmakers running odds on who they thought was responsible for the young boy's death.

ITV's director of television, Peter Fincham, said the channel was "delighted" to be commissioning the second series.

"From the moment the murder scene was discovered, viewers became gripped by the series, and we've been genuinely thrilled by the audience response," he said.

The series, produced by Kudos Film and Television, also starred Jodie Whittaker, Andrew Buchan, Vicky McClure, Pauline Quirke and Matthew Gravelle.

Details of the cast and storyline for the follow-up have not been announced yet.