<Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Website </Td> </Tr> <P> Broadchurch is an English television crime drama broadcast on ITV . It was created and written by Chris Chibnall and produced by Kudos Film and Television, Shine America, and Imaginary Friends . The first series, which premiered on 4 March 2013, focused on the death of an 11 - year - old boy and the impact of grief, mutual suspicion and media attention on the town . Filming for series two began in late May 2014 and concluded on 12 October 2014 and the series premiered on 5 January 2015 . Series three was confirmed on 23 February 2015, immediately following the series two finale, and premiered on 27 February 2017 . Series creator Chris Chibnall has indicated that the third series will be the last . </P> <P> Series one focused on the search for the boy's murderer by detectives Alec Hardy (played by David Tennant) and Ellie Miller (played by Olivia Colman). Chibnall was inspired by the Jurassic Coast of England to set his crime drama in a fictional, close - knit small town in Dorset . Much of the tone of the series was inspired by the music of Ólafur Arnalds, who also composed the soundtrack for the programme . Writing on spec, Chibnall persuaded ITV to green - light the series in the autumn of 2011 . Auditions soon followed, although some actors were offered roles directly . Principal photography began in August 2012, with location shooting occurring primarily in towns and villages in Dorset, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, and Bristol . The production went to great lengths to keep the identity of the murderer secret . Cast and crew were nominated for many awards for series one; they won several British Academy Television (BAFTA) Awards and a BAFTA Craft Award . </P> <P> Series two was announced when the first series ended . The second series primarily focuses on two plot strands: the trial of the murderer and the reopening of the Sandbrook case . Tennant, Colman and most of the cast of series one returned for series two . New series two cast members include Marianne Jean - Baptiste, James D'Arcy, Eve Myles, Charlotte Rampling, Meera Syal, and Phoebe Waller - Bridge and location shooting again occurred primarily in North Somerset, Devon, Dorset, and Berkshire . When it comes to success it was a massive hit for broadcaster ITV, Series 3 received nearly 11 million views, making it ITV's most watched crime drama . </P>

Where does the tv series broadchurch take place