ITV commissions second series of detective drama McDonald & Dodds

ITV commissions second series of detective drama McDonald & Dodds, starring Tala Gouveia and Jason Watkins

ITV has greenlit a second series of contemporary detective drama, McDonald & Dodds, following the success of the feature-length films which aired earlier this year produced by leading independent production company, Mammoth Screen. 

The new series sees Tala Gouveia (Cold Feet) and BAFTA award winning actor Jason Watkins (The Lost Honour Of Christopher Jefferies, The Crown) reprise their roles as the ambitious DCI McDonald and the humble, and quietly brilliant DS Dodds in three new murder mysteries.

Set in picturesque Bath, the series pairs fiesty DCI McDonald, who has recently transferred from London’s Met Police, with the modest and unassuming DS Dodds, who has been happy in the background for most of his working life.  Thrown together seemingly with nothing in common, they forge a rumbustious, and ultimately highly effective crime solving partnership. 

Created and executive produced by Robert Murphy, who is the lead writer for the series, McDonald & Dodds will once again be filmed in the West Country. The brand new episodes will be directed by Alex Pillai (Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Riverdale), Rebecca Rycroft (Malory Towers, Danny and Mick) and Ian Aryeh (In The Long Run, Andy and the Band).

The new series has been commissioned by ITV’s Drama Commissioner Huw Kennair Jones and Head of Drama, Polly Hill.  Huw will oversee production of the drama from the channel’s perspective. 

Commented Huw Kennair Jones:

“We’re delighted with the audience reaction to the first series of McDonald and Dodds. The two characters couldn’t be further apart, which is what makes the series so intriguing to watch.  They shouldn’t have chemistry, but they do, and they work brilliantly in partnership which is testimony to Robert’s script and Tala and Jason for bringing McDonald & Dodds to life.” 

Commented Mammoth Screen’s Director of Drama, Preethi Mavahalli:

“We are thrilled that Robert Murphy’s clever storytelling was a hit with audiences earlier this year. McDonald & Dodds are a quirkily unique investigative team brought to life beautifully by Tala Gouveia and Jason Watkins. We’re really pleased ITV have commissioned more films and look forward to returning to film in Bath.” 

Damien Timmer (Endeavour, Noughts + Crosses, World on Fire) and Preethi Mavahalli (McDonald & Dodds, Noughts + Crosses, The War of the Worlds) are the executive producers for Mammoth Screen, an ITV Studios company, alongside writer Robert Murphy (McDonald & Dodds, Vera, Shetland, DCI Banks). The producer of the new series is Sarah Lewis (Noughts + Crosses, McDonald & Dodds, Victoria). 

The first series is available to view via streaming platform Britbox.  Series one launched with a consolidated rating of 6.4m and a 26% share of the available audience and boasted an impressive guest cast list alongside Tala Gouveia and Jason Watkins which included Robert Lindsay, Rosalie Craig, Ellie Kendrick, Susannah Fielding, Joanna Scanlan, Michele Dotrice, Freddie Fox and Hugh Dennis.

ITV Studios will distribute the drama internationally.