Summary

• Broadchurch was a critically acclaimed crime drama with strong writing and performances, consistently delivering across its three seasons.
• The series shared many cast with Doctor Who, showcasing the best talent in nearly every role.
• Notable Doctor Who cast in Broadchurch include Jodie Whittaker, David Tennant, Olivia Colman, and Arthur Darvill, who all delivered standout performances.

Before she played the Doctor, Jodie Whitaker starred on Broadchurch, and she wasn't the only Doctor Who cast member to appear in the popular crime drama. Debuting in 2013, the detective series is set in the sleepy titular town and follows the detectives who are tasked with investigating gruesome crimes that disrupt the Dorset community. Across its three-season run, Broadchurch elevated the crime-a-season format through brilliant writing and strong performances from the cast. Though it was relatively short-lived compared to many American crime dramas, Broadchurch consistently delivered across its 24 episodes.

Broadchurch was an instant hit with fans and critics alike, with many commenting on the strong cinematography and praising the acting (via The best characters on Broadchurch were emotionally rich and helped to carry many of the stories, and their struggles were just as important as the grisly cases being investigated. Interestingly, Chris Chibnall not only created Broadchurch but was a showrunner for Doctor Who as well, and the program shared many cast both major and minor. While many British shows share a roster of familiar actors, Chibnall's influence guaranteed that both popular series would have the best talent in nearly every role.

Jodie Whittaker (The Doctor) - Beth Latimer

Instantly recognizable for her three-season run as the Doctor on Doctor Who, Whittaker actually rose to prominence during her stint as Beth Latimer on Broadchurch. Beth Latimer was the mother of Danny Latimer, the young boy whose murder started the events of the series, and she was also a close friend to DS Ellie Miller. Throughout the three seasons, she continued to be a constant presence in the show, and her storyline was one of the most compelling parts of the entire series.

David Tennant (The Doctor) - DI Alec Hardy

Jodie Whittaker isn't the only Broadchurch cast member to play a Time Lord, and David Tennant is perhaps best ed for his tenure as the 10th Doctor on Doctor Who. Tennant starred in Broadchurch as DI Alec Hardy, the veteran detective who is called in to investigate the murder of Danny Latimer. Alec Hardy's socially awkward moments made him an endearing lawman, despite the fact that he was somewhat dour and unapproachable. His friendship and work relationship with DS Ellie Miller helped him come out of his shell a bit across the three-season run.

Olivia Colman (Mother) - DS Ellie Miller

Olivia Colman had a one-off role in Doctor Who as the monstrous Mother in the episode "The Eleventh Hour", and her fanged antagonist was pitted against her future Broadchurch co-star David Tennant who was playing the Doctor at the time. Though the big British star had a small role on Doctor Who, she stole the show in Broadchurch as DS Ellie Miller who investigates the crimes alongside DI Hardy. Ellie's warmth and openness were somewhat dimmed by the events of the series, but she was able to provide an insider perspective to the cases that Hardy's by-the-books approach couldn't factor in.

Eve Myles (Gwen Cooper/Gwyneth) - Claire Ripley

Eve Myles appeared in Doctor Who as the servant Gwyneth in the episode "The Unquiet Dead", but is most known in the Whoniverse for her starring role as Gwen Cooper in the spinoff series Torchwood. However, in Broadchurch, Myles was tapped to play the villainous Claire Ripley, the wife of Lee Ashworth who is heavily suspected by DI Hardy to be the kidnapper and murderer in season 2. Changing her story several times throughout the course of the season, Ripley slowly reveals herself to be a culprit.

Adjoa Andoh (Francine Jones/Sister Jatt) - Julie

Though Adjoa Andoh also played the one-off role of Sister Jatt in the Doctor Who episode "The New Earth", she is most known for playing the recurring character of Francine Jones during the 10th Doctor's tenure. Andoh is also known for playing Lady Danbury in the main cast of Bridgerton, and she landed a single-episode role as psychotherapist Julie in season 2, episode 1 of Broadchurch.

David Bradley (The First Doctor) - Jack Marshall

Because of his striking resemblance to First Doctor actor William Hartnell, David Bradley was tapped to play the debut Time Lord in a handful of Doctor Who episodes, as well as the biographical film An Adventure in Space and Time. In Broadchurch, Bradley played the role of Jack Marshall a shopkeeper in town who was harangued by the locals and suspected of being Danny Latimer's killer. The tragic figure only appeared in the first season, but Bradley delivered a powerhouse performance.

Arthur Darvill (Rory Williams) - Rev. Paul Coates

Arthur Darvill is best ed by Doctor Who fans for his recurring role as Rory Williams, Amy Ponds' boyfriend who is brought along for her journeys with the Eleventh Doctor. Stepping into a somewhat darker role, Darvill played Reverend Paul Coates on Broadchurch, the local vicar in town who DI Hardy initially suspects is Danny Latimer's murderer. Coates has a dark backstory of his own which allowed Darvill a lot of creative freedom to grow the character across the show's three seasons.

Tracey Childs (Metella) - CS Elaine Jenkinson

Like many memorable Doctor Who cast , Tracey Childs only appeared in a single episode of the show, but her turn as Metella in "The Fires of Pompeii" was a standout performance. She played an entirely different sort of character in Broadchurch when she appeared in all three seasons as CS Elaine Jenkinson, the superior officer to both DI Hardy and DS Miller. Doubtful of Miller's abilities as a cop, Jenkinson gives a promotion to Hardy which causes friction within the ranks of the police force in Broadchurch.

Meera Syal (Dr. Nasreen Chaudhry) - Judge Sonia Sharma

Making her lone Doctor Who appearance in the episode "The Hungry Earth", Meera Syal played a geologist named Dr. Nasreen Chaudhry who teams up with the Doctor. However, in Broadchurch, Syal appeared in several episodes across season 2 as Judge Sonia Sharma, the judge who is tapped to oversee Joe Miller's trial following the events of the first season and his eventual arrest.

Peter De Jersey (Androgar) - SOCO Brian Young

Peter De Jersey's lone Doctor Who appearance was a big one when he played the Time Lord liaison Androgar in the 50th anniversary special, The Day of the Doctor. De Jersey appeared sporadically across Broadchurch's run, and he played SOCO Brian Young, a forensics analyst who does a lot of the behind-the-scenes scientific legwork for the detectives. He had a crush on Ellie Miller, but they missed their opportunity to connect a few times and never ended up together.