Chris Chibnall on his most controversial Broadchurch decision – and whether the show could ever return

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As a big fan of British TV, I’ve really enjoyed the work of Chris Chibnall over the years. He’s the mind behind the new Agatha Christie adaptation, Seven Dials, but I first really noticed him when he was showrunning Doctor Who. Before that, though, he created Broadchurch, that fantastic crime drama that aired on ITV1 from 2013 to 2017 – it was a huge hit, and for good reason!

The initial season felt like a complete story, so many viewers were surprised when it continued for two more seasons. However, the showrunner, Chris Chibnall, always intended for the show to be one long story told over three seasons.

I recently watched an interview with Chris Chibnall as part of the The TopMob Writers’ Room series – it’s a fascinating look inside the minds of screenwriters. He confirmed something I’d heard before, but what really struck me was when he admitted he honestly didn’t think they’d make it past the second episode! It’s amazing to hear that kind of honesty from someone who ultimately delivered so much.

Chibnall explained that the success of the first season didn’t alter his plans for the second. He’d always intended season 2 to focus on the trial of Joe Miller, the murderer from season 1, a storyline that proved divisive among viewers.

Chibnall noted a unique reaction in the UK to the second season, specifically when viewers understood the show wasn’t simply repeating the ‘body under the cliffs’ mystery from previous storylines.

He explained that he always presented the story as not being about a high number of murders, but more about the impact of the legal process on victims. He’d noticed, after researching similar cases, that trials often re-traumatized those affected, and that achieving a sense of justice wasn’t always the most crucial outcome.

I was interested in exploring what happened next and following both the family and the detectives as they worked to bring the killer to justice. It was a surprising and debated decision at the time, but it ultimately remained unchanged.

I simply stated that was the end of the story. My conversation with ITV confirmed they weren’t planning any further deaths or continuations of that particular storyline. They suggested if we wanted to continue, it would have to be a new phase of the overall narrative.

I quickly realized the third season would also address sexual assault, as it’s a sadly common occurrence, and we were collaborating closely with the Dorset sexual assault referral center. I wanted to ensure the storyline was handled sensitively and didn’t simply focus on the victims as just ‘bodies on the beach’.

When asked if he ever thought about coming back for a fourth season, Chibnall confirmed he hadn’t, but admitted he’d sometimes wondered over the years if there were other stories to tell.

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He added that it’s also important to recognize when you’ve created something truly special. He felt they achieved that with Broadchurch, and looking at the cast now, he believes it’s something you just can’t recreate – the talent was exceptional.

It’s a real gift when a show unexpectedly becomes successful, especially when it happens organically. I still feel that way about ‘Born and Bred,’ which became a regular Sunday night show for four seasons. But you have to be careful not to push too hard after that, or assume you know what the audience wants next – it’s easy to misstep.

What works today might not work tomorrow, because audiences change. Simply repeating past successes isn’t a reliable path forward. Sometimes, something was great at the time, but trying to recreate it years later isn’t necessary.

In an interview for The TopMob Writers’ Room, Chibnall discussed his future series, Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials, and reflected on past work like Born and Bred, Life on Mars, Doctor Who, and Torchwood.

The full interview with Chris Chibnall for The TopMob Writers’ Room will be released on Thursday, January 15th.

Don’t miss Agatha Christie’s ‘Seven Dials’! Add it to your watchlist on the TopMob: What to Watch app. Download the app today for daily TV suggestions, articles, and more.

Authors

James HibbsDrama Writer

James Hibbs writes about TV dramas for TopMob, covering shows on streaming services and traditional channels. Before becoming a writer, he worked in public relations, first at a business-to-business agency and then at Fremantle, a global TV production company. He holds a BA in English and Theatre Studies, as well as a Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.

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2026-01-09 09:37