INTERVIEW: David Tennant & Olivia Colman On Chris Chibnall's Writing

David Tennant and Olivia Colman have explained how Chris Chibnall’s incredible writing skills first drew them to the award winning drama series Broadchurch. Speaking in interviews included on the DVD and Blu-Ray release of series 2 (released on March 16th in the UK) they explained that they each recognised the quality of the scripts straight away.

“I think good writing is quite hard to actually define. You just know it when you see it really,” says David. “Obviously there are lots of reasons why it’s good, the way that he draws characters, the way that the plots pull you in and wrong foot you and thrill you and confound you, the emotional connection and the emotional believability that all of those characters have. But there’s also that bit of alchemy that just defines a good bit of writing.”

“The first time you read something you get that gut feeling,” Olivia adds. “I’m not sure I could ever put my finger on what it is that makes me go ‘Ooh, I love this!’. But definitely with this I couldn’t put it down and wanted to get the part. I wanted to be able to say the words that he had written.”

They also talk about Chris’s skill in setting up threads in the first series that would go on to lead into something crucially important in the second.

“It’s so intricate and tightly woven that stuff we never even thought about in the first series pops up and is really important now. He thought about all of this, “ says Olivia.

They both agree that the quality of writing and the richness of the characters contribute hugely to the way that the cast relate to one another on set

“Everyone does genuinely get on, it’s fun,” says Olivia.

David explains further: “I think that comes back to what Chris has written as well, because everyone has got something to do. It’s a massive cast; it’s got even bigger this season. There’s a lot of actors, a lot of actors who you would expect to be leading a series in their own right, and everyone mucks in because everyone has got something juicy to get their teeth into. It feels like they’ve got a proper rounded character to embody, so nobody’s sitting around feeling like they’re observing the plot. All those characters are rich and fully realised and they’re part of the texture of this community.”

Broadchurch Series 2 will be released on DVD and Blu-Ray in the UK on Monday 16th March. It will also be available as a box set together with Series 1.

Bonus features include:
The Making of Broadchurch Part One
The Making of Broadchurch Part Two
The Latimers
David Tennant and Olivia Colman Interview
Andrew Buchan and Jodie Whittaker At The Latimer House
Jodie Whittaker Interview
Andrew Buchan Interview
Eve Myles Interview
Charlotte Rampling Interview
Marianne Jean-Baptiste Interview
Writer Chris Chibnall Interview
Producer Richard Stokes Interview
David Tennant and Olivia Colman’s Promos
Deleted scenes - 30 mins approx.
Picture gallery
Gracepoint trailer

Pre order the Series 2 DVD here 

Pre order the series 2 Blu-ray here

Pre order the Series 1 & 2 Box Set DVD here  

Pre order the Series 1 & 2 Box Set Blu-ray here