DVD review: Broadchurch

Broadchurch follows events in a small community after a boy is found murdered on a beach.

Is there anyone left who doesn't know who the killer in Broadchurch was? Well, it's for you that the DVD box set of the critically acclaimed ITV drama has been created.

Somehow, I missed the fuss over Broadchurch until the day of the final episode, where I couldn't switch on the TV or radio, glance at my Twitter feed or look at a newspaper without reading speculation about whodunnit.

And so, determined to not just join in at the last episode, I somehow kept myself spoiler free, which meant I came to the box set without any idea of what I was about to see, but with incredibly high expectations.

In a small town in Dorset called Broadchurch, a young boy is found dead on the beach. Called in to investigate is ornery detective Alec Hardy (David Tennant), known for failing to convict a child murderer in a nearby town. He is assisted by Ellie Miller (Olivia Colman), the local girl turned friendly police officer whose promotion he took.

David Tennant and Olivia Colman play the police officers investigating the case.

As the pair try to solve the crime, suspicion is turned on everyone in the village, secrets are revealed, and lives are ruined left, right and centre.

Broadchurch isn't the height of sophistication - the identity of the murderer or murderers isn't as big a shock as you expect - but it is the height of great storytelling.

At the forefront of that is Chris Chibnall's script, which tightly binds together a number of different stories, some in ways you didn't see coming.

That is paired with top-notch acting, namely from Tennant and Colman, who are stunning in the lead roles. Tennant plays the efficient, damaged Alec Hardy with restraint, while Colman's Ellie is a lesson in likeability paired with steely-eyed determination to see justice done in her community.

And the supporting cast are brilliant too - Andrew Buchan and Jodie Whittaker are heartbreaking as the parents of murdered Danny Latimer, whose pain can be felt in every word they say and in those they don't. Pauline Quirke, Arthur Darvill, Will Mellor and more all help to build a well-rounded world.

It's that world that is convincing, and that makes Broadchurch the addictive drama it is. If you can keep from finding out who killed Danny Latimer, then settle in for a marathon weekend of Broadchurch viewing - you won't want to stop until you get to the end.

•Broadchurch is out on DVD on May 20.