BBC America Acquires Drama Starring Doctor Who’s David Tennant and Arthur Darvill

BBC America has acquired the eight-part drama Broadchurch starring Doctor Who alums David Tennant and Arthur Darvill, the cable network announced Saturday at the winter TV previews.

Broadchurch will focus on how a small British seaside town is impacted by the murder investigation of a young boy and is subsequently thrown into the limelight. Tennant, who played The Doctor from 2005 to 2010, will play Detective Inspector Alec Hardy, a by-the-book investigator who is new to the team and the newly appointed boss of his partner on the case, Detective Sergeant Ellie Miller (Hot Fuzz's Olivia Colman).

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Darville, who played companion Rory Williams to Matt Smith's Timelord on Doctor Who from 2010 to 2012, will portray town priest Paul Coates. The cast also includes Vicky McClure of This Is England.

"We're proud to have cast an outstanding array of Britain's finest performers to appear in Broadchurch," executive producer Jane Featherstone said in a statement. "The drama is a snapshot of modern Britain. Its community represents a microcosm of life as we know it with the character of Ellie part of the fabric of Broadchurch. She's lived amidst the people in this coastal town all her life so when the fabric begins to tear, it's Ellie who will feel the impact the hardest."

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Featherstone, of The Hour and Law & Order: UK, will executive-produce Broadchurch along with creator and writer Chris Chibnall (Doctor Who, Torchwood). Richard Stokes (Law & Order: UK, Torchwood) will produce, and Doctor Who director James Strong will direct several episodes.

Broadchurch will premiere sometime this year on BBC America.