BROADCHURCH: Eve Myles, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, James D’Arcy & Phoebe Waller-Bridge Join Series 2 Cast

ITV have announced the latest cast additions to sign up for the hotly anticipated second series of Broadchurch. 

Marianne Jean-Baptiste, James D’Arcy, Eve Myles and Phoebe Waller-Bridge are the latest names to join the cast of multi-award winning Broadchurch for the new series, broadcaster ITV, and production companies Kudos and Imaginary Friends confirmed today.  The new additions will join the already announced David Tennant, Olivia Colman, Jodie Whittaker, Andrew Buchan, Arthur Darvill and Charlotte Rampling.

Marianne Jean-Baptiste

Academy Award, BAFTA and Golden Globe nominated Marianne, who trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, will play a leading role in the new series. Acclaimed for her television and film roles including Without A Trace, Private Practice and The Murder of Stephen Lawrence, Marianne will begin filming for the new series shortly. 

"We're over the moon to have wooed Marianne back from Los Angeles to join us in Broadchurch,” said creator and writer Chris Chibnall. “Marianne is one of Britain's finest actresses, so it's an honour and a coup for us. It’s a role written specifically for her and I would've wept for months if she'd turned us down. Luckily she didn't and her character is going to make an indelible impact on the world of Broadchurch."

James D’Arcy

Acclaimed film and television actor James D’Arcy is known for his roles in Cloud Atlas, Hitchcock and The Making of a Lady.  Renowned for his successful film and television career in the UK and US, James took the lead role in the American drama Those Who Kill.  

 “James' extraordinary recent work in movies such as Cloud Atlas and opposite Anthony Hopkins in Hitchcock makes him another thrilling and important addition to the Broadchurch cast,” said Jane Featherstone, Chief Executive of Kudos and Broadchurch Executive Producer. “It's never easy to tempt actors back from Hollywood, and we feel privileged that James is joining us as a key part of our new story,” she added.

Eve Myles 

Leading television actress Eve Myles (Torchwood, Little Dorrit, Frankie) will also play a central role in the new series.  Eve’s career includes an impressive range of roles in dramas including You, Me & Them, Merlin and Doctor Who. Chris Chibnall said, "As if we didn't have enough fabulous actresses, it's a thrill to be joined by Wales' finest, Eve Myles. Having worked together on Torchwood, it's a joy to be able to welcome her to Broadchurch.”

Phoebe Waller-Bridge

Rising star Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Bad Education, Blandings, The Café) also joins the production when filming begins later this month.  Phoebe wrote and performed in the Olivier nominated show Fleabag, which also won the 2014 Critic’s Circle Award.  As with all the new additions, details of her character will remain under wraps for now.

 “Anyone who's seen Phoebe Waller-Bridge perform knows she's already on the way to being a superstar," said Chris Chibnall.

TV’s Director of Drama Steve November and Controller of Drama Victoria Fea have commissioned the second series.

“We’re delighted with the stellar cast assembled for the new series of Broadchurch,” said Steve.  “There’s a real sense of heightened anticipation about what’s to come, although we’re desperate to protect the secrets of Broadchurch to avoid spoiling what happens next for the viewers,” he added.

Chris Chibnall has also confirmed the series will return to the Dorset and North Somerset locations, which have become intrinsically linked with Broadchurch.

"We're finally able to talk a little about preparations for the next series of Broadchurch and confirm we're coming back to film around West Bay and Clevedon,” he said.“We're all thrilled about returning, especially given how supportive the whole community was last time. And if the community are able to keep our secrets as well as they did last time, we'll be ever so grateful.”

Broadchurch will be executive produced by Chris Chibnall (The Great Train Robbery, Torchwood) for Imaginary Friends and Jane Featherstone (Utopia, The Hour, Spooks) on behalf of Kudos, a Shine Group company.  The Producer is Richard Stokes (Silk, Law & Order: UK) who also produced the first series. James Strong, who directed 5 episodes of the first series including episode one, will be directing episodes one and two of this new series. 

A cast read through is scheduled for tomorrow (Thursday).

For more information about Broadchurch please visit our website.

Source: ITV