Chris Chibnall defends Broadchurch series 2 against critics: 'I knew it was a big risk'

by Daniel Falconer | 4 March 2015

The writer of Broadchurch Chris Chibnall has defended his second series of the hit show and the portrayal of the trial process involved.

Credit: ITV

Speaking in his guest column for The Guardian, he insists that the episodes which saw Joe Miller (Matthew Gravelle) on trial for murder were "devised as the result of months of research and consultation".

"Before we started to plot or write, we researched trials of the past 20 years and attended criminal proceedings.

"Alongside a respected police adviser from the first series, we brought on highly-qualified, experienced and practising members of the legal profession.

"Critics argued the defence wouldn't be allowed to suggest Mark Latimer (Andrew Buchan) as an alternate killer. Our advisers were - and remain (I checked) - adamant on this: if they were defending, they could and would run this approach.

"Others thought the cross-examination of Ellie Miller (Olivia Colman) in the witness box was unrealistic: our police adviser told me, after watching: 'I've been there, that's exactly what it's like'. Of course, in the legal profession, every opinion is open to argument. But we were not cavalier."

Whilst acknowledging that it was a "big risk" to have the trial as such a big storyline in the second series, he argued: "Broadchurch has always been about the impact of crime, on all those affected."

He continued: "I knew it would be a big risk to develop and reshape the show this way.

"It would also mean taking a different approach to legal drama: favouring the experience and point of view of the victim's family. So court scenes would only be one component.

"That choice meant complex procedure had to be compressed. Every writer has compressed time and procedure, and used clarifying dialogue. That's not a scandal: it's a legitimate dramatic technique.

"Lawyers have howled their objections in the press (they're professional advocates, after all). That's fine. Such criticism is not unique to Broadchurch: legal dramas have always been attacked by lawyers. We knew it would happen and were steeled for it.

Broadchurch's second series came to an end last month, with the finale drawing an overnight audience of 7.6 million.

A third series has already been commissioned by ITV, and is confirmed to again star David Tennant and Olivia Colman.