ITV’s Broadchurch has landed a new cast member; Marianne Jean-Baptiste is set to star in the popular crime drama’s second series. Known for Without a Trace, Mike Leigh's Secrets and Lies, The Murder of Stephen Lawrence and this year's remake of the film RoboCop, Jean-Baptiste represents a significant coup.

Marianne Jean-BaptisteMarianne Jean-Baptiste having a big laugh

Broadchurch - which picked up three Bafta television awards at the weekend for Drama Series, Supporting Actor, Leading Actress – is busy ramping up the cast for the highly anticipated follow up season, with British actor Charlotte Rampling also on board. 

Writer and creator Chris Chibnall said: "We're over the moon to have wooed Marianne back from Los Angeles to join us in Broadchurch. Marianne is one of Britain's finest actresses, so it's an honour and a coup for us. It's a role written specifically for her and I would've wept for months if she'd turned us down. Luckily she didn't and her character is going to make an indelible impact on the world of Broadchurch." (Guardian)

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The ITV director of drama, Steve November, said: "We're delighted with the stellar cast assembled for the new series of Broadchurch. There's a real sense of heightened anticipation about what's to come, although we're desperate to protect the secrets of Broadchurch to avoid spoiling what happens next for the viewers."

Jean-Baptiste and Rampling will be joined by James D’Arcy, while Olivia Colman, David Tennant and Jodie Whittaker all return for another series, which – as the show’s creator has already confirmed - will return to the Dorset and North Somerset locations where the first series was filmed.

Olivia ColemanOlivia Coleman will return for series 2

Eve Myles - of Torchwood and Frankie – and Phoebe Waller-Bridge - have also been confirmed for series two. "As if we didn't have enough fabulous actresses, it's a thrill to be joined by Wales's finest, Eve Myles. Having worked together on Torchwood, it's a joy to be able to welcome her to Broadchurch. And anyone who's seen Phoebe Waller-Bridge perform knows she's already on the way to being a superstar. We're lucky to have them both on board".