History Trivia / Broadchurch

* CreatorChosenCasting: Creator/ChrisChibnall wrote the role of Reverend Paul Coates with Creator/ArthurDarvill in mind and he was the first role to be cast. DS Ellie Miller was second role to be cast and Creator/OliviaColman was Chibnall's first choice, so she got the role without an audition. DI Alec Hardy was the third role cast and Creator/DavidTennant was also offered the role without an audition.

* NamesTheSame: Chloe's boyfriend [[Literature/HarryPotter Dean Thomas]]. Alfred Enoch, who plays Dean in the movies, shows up at one point as well, to add to the confusion.

* AuthorsSavingThrow: The complete lack of Susan and any of the lawyers in Series 3, despite some big hints in Series 2 that there was more planned for them, is viewed by many fans as a tacit admission from the show's crew that they seriously screwed up whatever they were going for with the characters and it was best to just drop them completely.

** Almost all of the actors in season one took their parts with the understanding that they might be Danny's killer. Only Creator/JodieWhittaker, who played the victim's mother, was told definitely that she wasn't (and she wasn't told who was). Acording to Creator/ChrisChibnall, "Jodie asked me around episode six of series one, 'Am I a grieving mother or a secret killer crying {{crocodile tears}}?' I told her it wasn't her, but only then."

** Almost all of the actors in season one took their parts with the understanding that they might be Danny's killer. Only Creator/JodieWhittaker, who played the victims mother, was told definitely that she wasn't (and she wasn't told who was). Acording to Creator/ChrisChibnall, "Jodie asked me around episode six of series one, 'Am I a grieving mother or a secret killer crying {{crocodile tears}}?' I told her it wasn't her, but only then."

!!Trivia tropes:
* ActingInTheDark: The actors were not told who the actual murderer is.

!!Misc. tropes:
* ''Series/DoctorWho'' cast reunited:
** Creator/DavidTennant (Tenth Doctor), Creator/OliviaColman (Prisoner Zero from "The Eleventh Hour"), Creator/ArthurDarvill (Rory Williams), Jonathan Bailey (Psi from "Time Heist"), Creator/EveMyles (Gwyneth from "The Unquiet Dead" and Gwen Cooper from ''Torchwood''), Meera Syal (Dr Nasreen Chaudhry from "The Hungry Earth"/"Cold Blood"), Adjoa Andoh (Francine Jones), Peter De Jersey (Androgar from "The Day of the Doctor") and Creator/DavidBradley, who played Creator/WilliamHartnell in ''Film/AnAdventureInSpaceAndTime'' (plus the villain in "Dinosaurs on a Spaceship" and the First Doctor in "Twice Upon A Time"), all appear here.
** A few ''Series/{{Torchwood}}'' cast members are also reunited: As well as Eve Myles, Susan Brown (Bridget Spears), Lucy Gohu (Alice Carter), and Matthew Graville (Doctor from "End of Days") appear.
** Creator/JodieWhittaker, one of the few cast members who hadn't been on ''Doctor Who'', retroactively became an example after being announced as the Thirteenth Doctor.
* During production of Season 1, nearly everyone - including Creator/DavidTennant himself - was LockedOutOfTheLoop concerning the killer's true identity to prevent potential leaks. Creator/OliviaColman was one of the few people told early on, with most not finding out until TheReveal was looming.

* ActorAllusion:
** The first time Hardy finds a clue that is a big lead in the case he [[Series/DoctorWho pulls out a pair of]] [[PurelyAestheticGlasses glasses]] [[Series/DoctorWho and his voice gets more doctor-ey.]]
** He also says "No, don't do that" in the beginning of Season 2.

* PlayingAgainstType: David Bradley makes a rare appearance as an extremely sympathetic character, albeit one set up to look like a creep.

* During production of Season 1, nearly everyone - including Creator/DavidTennant himself - was LockedOutOfTheLoop concerning the killer's true identity to prevent potential leaks. Creator/OliviaColman was one of the few people told early on, with most not finding out until TheReveal was looming.

** He also says "No, don't do that" in the beginning of season 2.

* PlayingAgainstType: David Bradley makes a rare appearance as an extremely sympathetic character.

** Creator/DavidTennant (Tenth Doctor), Creator/OliviaColman (Prisoner Zero from "The Eleventh Hour"), Creator/ArthurDarvill (Rory Williams), Jonathan Bailey (Psi from "Time Heist"), Creator/EveMyles (Gwyneth from "The Unquiet Dead" and Gwen Cooper from ''Torchwood''), Meera Syal (Dr Nasreen Chaudhry from "The Hungry Earth"/"Cold Blood"), Adjoa Andoh (Francine Jones), Peter De Jersey (Androgar from "The Day of the Doctor") and Creator/DavidBradley, who played Creator/WilliamHartnell in ''Film/AnAdventureInSpaceAndTime'' (plus the villain from "Dinosaurs on a Spaceship"), all appear here.

** [[spoiler:Creator/JodieWhittaker, one of few cast members who hadn't been on ''Doctor Who'', retroactively became an example after being announced as the Thirteenth Doctor.]]
* During production of Season 1, nearly everyone - including Creator/DavidTennant himself - was LockedOutOfTheLoop concerning the killer's true identity to prevent potential leaks. Creator/OliviaColman was one of few people told early on, with most not finding out until TheReveal was looming.

** [[spoiler:Jodie Whittaker, one of few cast members who hadn't been on ''Doctor Who'', retroactively became an example after being announced as the Thirteenth Doctor.]]

** Creator/DavidTennant (Tenth Doctor), Creator/OliviaColman (Prisoner Zero from "The Eleventh Hour"), Arthur Darvill (Rory Williams), Jonathan Bailey (Psi from "Time Heist"), Creator/EveMyles (Gwyneth from "The Unquiet Dead" and Gwen Cooper from ''Torchwood''), Meera Syal (Dr Nasreen Chaudhry from "The Hungry Earth"/"Cold Blood"), Adjoa Andoh (Francine Jones), Peter De Jersey (Androgar from "The Day of the Doctor") and Creator/DavidBradley, who played Creator/WilliamHartnell in ''Film/AnAdventureInSpaceAndTime'' (plus the villain from "Dinosaurs on a Spaceship"), all appear here.

* Doctor Who cast reunited:
** Creator/DavidTennant (Tenth Doctor), Creator/OliviaColman (Prisoner Zero), Arthur Darvill (Rory Williams), Jonathan Bailey (Psi), EveMyles (Gwyneth and Gwen Cooper), Meera Syal (Dr Nasreen Chaudhry), Adjoa Andoh (Francine Jones), Peter De Jersey (Androgar) and David Bradley, who played Creator/WilliamHartnell in ''Film/AnAdventureInSpaceAndTime'' (plus the villain from "Dinosaurs on a Spaceship"), all appear here.
** A few Torchwood cast members are also reunited: As well as Eve Myles, Susan Brown (Bridget Spears), Lucy Gohu (Alice Carter), and Matthew Graville (Doctor from 'End of Days') appear.
** [[spoiler:Jodie Whittaker, one of few cast members who hadn't been on DW, retroactively became an example after being announced as the Thirteenth Doctor.]]

** [[spoiler:Jodie Whittaker retroactively became an example after being announced as the Thirteenth Doctor.]]

** Jodie Whittaker retroactively became an example after being announced as the Thirteenth Doctor.

* NamesTheSame: Chloe's boyfriend [[HarryPotter Dean Thomas]]. Alfred Enoch, who plays Dean in Harry Potter, shows up at one point as well, to add to the confusion.

* ActorAllusion: The first time Hardy finds a clue that is a big lead in the case he [[Series/DoctorWho pulls out a pair of]] [[PurelyAestheticGlasses glasses]] [[Series/DoctorWho and his voice gets more doctor-ey.]]

* Doctor Who cast reunited: Creator/DavidTennant (Tenth Doctor), Creator/OliviaColman (Prisoner Zero), Arthur Darvill (Rory Williams), Jonathan Bailey (Psi), EveMyles (Gwyneth and Gwen Cooper), Meera Syal (Dr Nasreen Chaudhry), Adjoa Andoh (Francine Jones), Peter De Jersey (Androgar) and David Bradley, who played Creator/WilliamHartnell in ''Film/AnAdventureInSpaceAndTime'' (plus the villain from "Dinosaurs on a Spaceship"), all appear here.

* Doctor Who cast reunited: Creator/DavidTennant (Tenth Doctor), Creator/OliviaColman (Prisoner Zero), Arthur Darvill (Rory Williams), Jonathan Bailey (Psi), EveMyles (Gwyneth and Gwen Cooper), Meera Syal (Dr Nasreen Chaudhry), Adjoa Andoh (Francine Jones), Peter De Jersey (Androgar) and David Bradley, who played Creator/WilliamHartnell in AnAdventureInSpaceAndTime (plus the villain from "Dinosaurs on a Spaceship"), all appear here.

* Doctor Who cast reunited: Creator/DavidTennant (Tenth Doctor), Creator/OliviaColman (Prisoner Zero), Arthur Darvill (Rory Williams), Jonathan Bailey (Psi), EveMyles (Gwyneth and Gwen Cooper), Meera Syal (Dr Nasreen Chaudhry), Adjoa Andoh (Francine Jones), Peter De Jersey (Androgar) and David Bradley, who played WilliamHartnell in AnAdventureInSpaceAndTime (plus the villain from "Dinosaurs on a Spaceship"), all appear here.

* CastingGag: ArthurDarvill plays a character in DoctorWho that eventually doesn't believe in anything except his love for his wife. In this series, he's a firm believer in the almighty.

* HeyItsThatGuy: [[Series/DoctorWho The Doctor and and Prisoner Zero]] investigate the murder of [[Film/AttackTheBlock Sam]]'s son, while [[Film/HarryPotter Argus Filch]] deals with a paedo-hunting mob, [[TwoPintsOfLagerAndAPacketOfCrisps Gaz]] thinks he has psychic powers, [[ThisIsEngland Lol]] is now an annoying reporter, [[Series/GameOfThrones Septa Mordane]] is Danny's grandmother and [[Series/GameOfThrones Grey Worm]] is Chloe's boyfriend. Oh, and [[Series/DoctorWho Rory]] is the local priest.
** [[Theatre/{{Hamlet}} Horatio]] is the SOCO man to [[Creator/DavidTennant Hamlet]]'s detective. Also, [[Series/{{Lewis}} Jean Innocent]] can be seen in the finale during Hardy's speech to the police department. [[Series/{{Torchwood}} Gwen]] joins in series two, along with her husband [[Series/AgentCarter Edwin Jarvis]].
** [[Series/WithoutATrace Johnson]] is a defence barrister.
** Ellie doesn't drop sexual innuendos at any given opportunity, unlike [[Film/HotFuzz the last time Olivia Colman played a policewom... officer]].
** Alternatively, it seems like [[Series/PeepShow Sophie has finally gotten away from Mark and Jez]].

* Doctor Who cast reunited: Creator/DavidTennant (Tenth Doctor), Olivia Colman (Prisoner Zero), Arthur Darvill (Rory Williams), Jonathan Bailey (Psi), Eve Myles (Gwyneth and Gwen Cooper), Meera Syal (Dr Nasreen Chaudhry), Adjoa Andoh (Francine Jones), Peter De Jersey (Androgar) and David Bradley, who played WilliamHartnell in AnAdventureInSpaceAndTime (plus the villain from "Dinosaurs on a Spaceship"), all appear here.
** A few Torchwood cast members are also reunited: As well as Eve Myles, Susan Brown (Bridget Spears), Lucy Gohu (Alive Carter), and Matthew Graville (Doctor from 'End of Days') appear.
* During production of Season 1, nearly everyone - including Creator/DavidTennant himself - was LockedOutOfTheLoop concerning the killer's true identity to prevent potential leaks. Olivia Coleman was one of few people told early on, with most not finding out until TheReveal was looming.

* Doctor Who cast reunited: DavidTennant (Tenth Doctor), Olivia Colman (Prisoner Zero), Arthur Darvill (Rory Williams), Jonathan Bailey (Psi), Eve Myles (Gwyneth and Gwen Cooper), Meera Syal (Dr Nasreen Chaudhry), Adjoa Andoh (Francine Jones), Peter De Jersey (Androgar) and David Bradley, who played WilliamHartnell in AnAdventureInSpaceAndTime (plus the villain from "Dinosaurs on a Spaceship"), all appear here.
** A few Torchwood cast members are also reunited: As well as Eve Myles, Susan Brown (Bridget Spears), Lucy Gohu (Alive Carter), and Matthew Graville (Doctor from 'End of Days') appear.