Broadchurch to 'move away from being a murder mystery'

The new series of Broadchurch will move away from being a murder mystery, its creators have revealed.

The critically-acclaimed drama, starring David Tennant and Olivia Colman, is set to return on January 5 after the success of the first series in which nine million viewers tuned in to see who killed 11-year-old Danny Latimer.

The killer was eventually revealed to be Joe Miller, the husband of Colman's character - Detective Sergeant Ellie Miller.

Writer Chris Chibnall and producer Richard Stokes have told fans to expect a similar tone in the second series but a move away from a "whodunnit-style" mystery.

"People have said, 'Don't turn it into Midsomer Murders in Broadchurch'," Stokes told Radio Times magazine.

"We have nodded in that direction. It's not Midsomer in Broadchurch."

Chibnall added: "I promise we do not start with the discovery of another body beneath the cliffs."

Chibnall said the new series would stick closely to the original story and the continuing repercussions.

"I will not betray that," Chibnall said.

"That's always been my pact with the viewer - this (Danny's murder) is an unusual event that has massive repercussions."

The pair also disclosed new details about the roles of new cast members Charlotte Rampling and Eve Myles.

"They are not grieving relatives, they aren't the relatives of another body, it's not another crime case," Chibnall said.

Colman said she wanted to avoid crying as much in the second series.

""I've really tried not to cry. I don't want people to turn on the telly and go, 'Oh, it's her (again), she cries."

Tennant, who plays DI Alec Hardy, teased that it would be a "different sort of suspense" in the new series.

"We're back in the same situation, though it's a different sort of suspense this time."