ITV Orders More McDonald & Dodds

ITV has commissioned a second season of the detective drama McDonald & Dodds, starring Tala Gouveia and Jason Watkins.

Set in Bath, McDonald & Dodds pairs feisty DCI McDonald (Gouveia), who has recently transferred from London’s Met Police, with the modest and unassuming DS Dodds (Watkins), who has been happy in the background for most of his working life. Thrown together with seemingly nothing in common, they forge a highly effective crime-solving partnership.

McDonald & Dodds, created and executive produced by lead writer Robert Murphy, will once again be filmed in the West Country. The new episodes will be directed by Alex Pillai (Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Riverdale), Rebecca Rycroft (Malory Towers, Danny and Mick) and Ian Aryeh (In The Long Run, Andy and the Band). The first season of the series, produced by ITV Studios company Mammoth Screen, is available to view via the Britbox streaming platform.

ITV’s Drama Commissioner Huw Kennair Jones said: “We’re delighted with the audience reaction to the first series of McDonald & Dodds. The two characters couldn’t be further apart, which is what makes the series so intriguing to watch. They shouldn’t have chemistry, but they do, and they work brilliantly in partnership, which is testimony to Robert’s script and Tala and Jason for bringing McDonald and Dodds to life.”

Preethi Mavahalli, Mammoth Screen’s director of drama, added: “We are thrilled that Robert Murphy’s clever storytelling was a hit with audiences earlier this year. McDonald & Dodds are a quirkily unique investigative team brought to life beautifully by Tala Gouveia and Jason Watkins. We’re really pleased ITV has commissioned more films and look forward to returning to film in Bath.”