Broadchurch will air tonight on BBC America. The British 8 part crime drama is due to be adapted by Fox for the US audience but the original has already proved popular with American critics.

David Tennant
David Tennant at the London premiere of Nativity 2.

Broadchurch, originally aired earlier this year on ITV, tells the story of a small Dorset coastal town and the murder of a boy. The murdered boy, Danny Latimer, is found on the beach and follows the many leads and red herrings two detectives working the case encounter. The show follows the aftermath of the murder and the reaction of the townspeople. 

The two detectives in question Alec Hardy and Ellie Miller, played respectively by David Tennant (Doctor Who) and Olivia Colman (Peep Show), have a difficult and frequently awkward relationship which creates humour in a show otherwise rather desolate. 

USA Today has compared the series to many American shows and seem surprised a British television company could create Broadchurch. Just to clarify for our American readers: we do have pretty good television here too. Robert Bianco, writing for the website, described the series as having "found a way to examine the darkest corners of the human condition with a bracing honesty without becoming dreary, hopeless or oppressive."

Olivia Colman
Olivia Colman at the premiere of The World's End in London.

The show was hugely popular in the UK and created widespread debate as to who the murderer was. It seems likely, with the reaction of critics, the airing of the original series and Fox's adaptation will prove popular in the US too. 

Fox's adaptation of Broadchurch was announced last Thursday (1st August) at the Fox's panel at the Television Critics Association press tour. Kevin Reilly made the announcement, of the original show he said: "Broadchurch is the kind of storytelling that grabs your attention and keeps you riveted with every minute - which is exactly what we look for in an event series." 

Filming for the series is due to begin in January 2014 with the hope the show will be aired later on in the year. 

Kevin Reilly
Kevin Reilly at the Jonsson Cancer Center Foundation 'Taste For A Cure' held at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, L.A.