ITV drama Broadchurch has a star-studded cast including Olivia Colman, David Tennant, and Jodie Whittaker, but journalist Jess Flaherty was distracted after spotting an unknown actor who’s now made it in Hollywood
Jess Flaherty Senior News Reporter
15:47, 25 Nov 2025
West Bay cliffs in Dorset, UK, where the TV drama Broadchurch was filmed.(Image: Education Images, Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
The popular ITV drama Broadchurch has made its way onto Netflix, so I decided to re-watch it for the first time since its initial release in 2013 – and I was taken aback by one unexpected cast member. The gripping first series, which comprises of eight episodes, had the country hooked and went on to secure rave reviews while sparking a nationwide obsession among viewers.
The story starts with the murder of 11-year-old Danny Latimer, portrayed by Oskar McNamara, and rather than being a standard “whodunnit”, it takes a look at 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 murderer until the final three episodes were filmed, and even then, not everyone on set was informed.
This strategy served to amplify the tension among the characters – people they had once trusted were now viewed as potential killers, with secrets and lies unrelated to the young boy’s death gradually surfacing.
Olivia Colman and David Tennant were chosen for the leading roles of Detective Sergeant Ellie Miller and Detective Inspector Alec Hardy, respectively, bringing a crucial blend of emotional depth and wit to the show.
As an audience member, you find yourself deeply connected to 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, providing a stark contrast to Colman’s warm, motherly yet resilient Miller.
The relationship between Miller and Hardy starts off on a rocky note, with Miller harbouring resentment towards Hardy for being chosen over her for the DI position. However, they gradually learn to appreciate and understand each other amid the challenging and stressful circumstances.
From left to right: Will Mellor, Tanya Franks, Chris Chibnall, Joe Sims, Simone McAullay and Jonathan Bailey, after winning the Best of British TV Programme at The Freesat Awards for Broadchurch at One Mayfair on July 10, 2013 in London(Image: Gareth J Davies, Getty Images)
The rest of the cast also delivered stellar performances – Jodie Whittaker is impeccable as grieving mother Beth, while Andrew Buchan, portraying her husband Mark Latimer, perfectly embodies a father lost in the aftermath of his own ennui and bad decisions.
Olivia Colman was awarded a BAFTA for Best Actress for her turn on the show, while Harry Potter and Game of Thrones veteran David Bradley scooped the Best Supporting Actor award for his portrayal of the wrongfully accused shopkeeper Jack Marshall.
However, it was the casting of the ambitious, rising reporter Oliver ‘Olly’ Stevens that left me staring at the screen with my mouth slackened in shock.
Despite having watched the show during its initial airing, I had completely forgotten that this determined local journalist was played by Jonathan Bailey, who has since become a familiar face 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 work in the West End’s gender-swapped revival of the acclaimed musical, Company.
In Broadchurch, Bailey more than matched the calibre of seasoned stars like Tennant and Colman and, in hindsight, his trajectory towards A-list fame appeared far more predictable than the mystery surrounding Danny Latimer’s killer.
On Reddit, one Jonathan Bailey fan shared: “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.
