The return of ITV’s McDonald and Dodds

If you enjoyed ITV's drama McDonald and Dodd's, you'll be pleased to know it's back for three new episodes.

The new series of McDonald & Dodds sees Tala Gouveia and Jason Watkins reprise their roles as the smart and ambitious DCI McDonald and the humble and quietly brilliant DS Dodds in three new murder mysteries.

He’s a bumbling, West Country-loving, eccentric yet brilliant underdog of a detective sergeant, while she’s his impatient, instinctive, high-flying, city-girl boss. The personification of chalk and – most probably Cheddar – cheese. It shouldn’t work and yet it does. Gloriously so.

McDonald and Dodds cast

Tala Gouveia as DCI McDonald

DCI McDonald is an ambitious, driven police officer.

Speaking about her character Tala says, "She is a great female lead and as a young woman of colour, is the boss of a middle-aged white man. That’s partly what drew me towards it. It’s a little bit different and not necessarily the representation I have seen growing up or watching detective shows."

For Tala, playing a lead role in such a popular show is her big break.

“I did get a bit of recognition when the first series came out last year,” she recalls. “I went to the pub, got recognised and then coronavirus hit and I didn’t go out again! Thank goodness we got a second series otherwise it would have felt like the whole thing didn’t happen!

“Hopefully there will be a third series so I can keep finding out more about McDonald,” says Tala. “I think the show really has the potential to keep going and evolving, so long as the writers can keep coming up with ideas. I don’t know how they do it.”

Jason Watkins as DS Dodds

DS Dodds is a quiet and unassuming officer with a clever mind. While he may have the opposite approach to McDonald, nevertheless they work brilliantly together as a professional detective couple. You might recognise Jason from his many crime drama roles including Line of Duty, Des and Safe House. Jason was also in season three of The Crown as Prime Minister Harold Wilson.

“I love playing Dodds," says Jason, "and I really hope to continue to play him for more series. Robert Murphy, the creator, has really created a wonderful character. You could say he is a bit like Columbo, but there is also a bit of Poirot in there too. Dodds has a gentleness to him, a naivety, but in many ways that is his strength. He is able to use his perceived innocence to get information out of whoever he is with and use it to his advantage.

“Once I put the anorak on, the tank top and the glasses on top of my head, I really do feel in character. We have a nice crochet tie this series too - beige of course - and I rather love that.”

James Murray as Chief Supt John Houseman

Returning cast members include James Murray as Chief Superintendent Houseman, (McDonald and Dodds' boss).

As in series one, he isn't exactly the most supportive character on the show and is keen for Dodds to take early retirement.

Jack Riddiford as DC Darren Craig

Jack plays police officer DC Darren Craig. You may recognise him from starring roles in Dunkirk and Murder on the Orient Express. He's also played Billy Pendrick in Doctor Martin and Jago Martin in Poldark.

Lily Sacofsky as DC Milena Pachiorkowski

You may know newcomer Lily from her role in Sanditon. She joins the cast as new police recruit DC Milena Paciorkowski.

Season Two film synopses and cast

Film one: The Man Who Wasn’t There

Barbara, Mick, Gordon and Jackie were rising stars in the 1980s who went on to have high profile careers. Now living in Bath together, there are secrets from the past which could threaten their comfortable existences…

On a surprise day out, the four friends are joined by their other housemate Frankie on a hot air balloon trip. As they ascend above beautiful Bath, disaster strikes and suddenly the balloon lurches out of control.

Panic rises and as the basket strains under the weight of the group, it dawns on them that they can’t all survive. As the balloon crash lands onto the meadow in Bath’s Royal Crescent, it’s revealed that Frankie is not there – has he died in the ultimate act of sacrifice for his friends, or was he pushed?

Tala and Jason are joined in the first film by guest cast members that you'll very likely recognise:

Rob Brydon as Roy Gilbert

Comedian Rob Brydon appears in the new series as aviation expert, Roy. Rob is most well known as Uncle Bryn in Gavin & Stacey.

Rupert Graves as Gordon Elmwood

Rounding off the gang of friends is Rupert Graves, who recently starred in the third season of Riviera. His other TV credits include Sherlock, Last Tango in Halifax and The White Queen.

Martin Kemp as Mick Elkins

You may also know Spandau Ballet star Martin Kemp from his TV appearances in programmes such as Eastenders, Celebrity Gogglebox, Birds of a Feather and films such as The Krays. Martin plays a character not so different from his real life, as a former music industry bigwig.

Patsy Kensit as Barbara Graham

Patsy Kensit makes an appearance in the show as Barbara, a former television presenter now living in Bath along with her famous friends. Viewers will recognise Patsy from her roles on Emmerdale, Holby City and French & Saunders.

Cathy Tyson as Jackie Somner

Cathay Tyson plays another former celebrity who finds herself trying to cover up a crime after the balloon trip goes wrong. The actress is known for her roles in the 1980s dramas Rules of Engagement, Band of Gold, Mona Lisa and Night & Day.

Film two: We Need To Talk About Doreen

Shelley Conn (Liar), Natalie Gumede (Strike), Sharon Rooney (My Mad Fat Diary) and John Thomson (Cold Feet) join the second film.

A birthday weekend away goes devastatingly wrong when Angela and four of her friends travel down from Glasgow to celebrate in Bath.

Angela, always the centre of attention, is delighted to have a weekend away from her husband and small child, and can’t wait to party with her best friend Doreen, her sister-in-law Melissa, her sister Cath and her new step-mum Hilary.

On their first night in town, the ladies meet a group of young rugby players and when the nightclubs close, everyone ends up at a house party at an upscale mansion, near Brunel’s famous Box Hill Tunnel. The next morning they wake to hangovers from hell, and when one of the rugby players is found dead on the railway lines near the house, all the party-goers become suspects.

The film three synopsis is yet to be revealed, although we know Saira Choudhry (No Offence), Rosie Day (Outlander), Nitin Ganatra (EastEnders), Nicholas Goh (Skyfall), Siobhan Hewlett (Sherlock), Sarah Parish (Bancroft) and Rhashan Stone (Finding Alice) guest star in the third film.

McDonald & Dodds is on ITV, Sunday at 8pm. Catch up on series 1 here.

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