Broadchurch to be remade for American audience

Broadchurch is to get the US treatment with a remake planned for American audiences.

Olivia Colman and David Tennant starred in the critically praised ITV drama, a whodunnit about the mysterious murder of an 11-year-old boy, and a second series is being made after it proved a massive hit - pulling in up to nine million viewers.

The show's creator Chris Chibnall will write the first episode, and will act as executive producer on the US version, with casting details to follow, reported Deadline.

The news was announced by Fox entertainment chairman Kevin Reilly at the Television Critics Association summer press tour.

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.

"We love the layered characters, we've seen how well-received it's been in the UK and we're lucky to be able to bring a new version of this mystery to the US audience."

Like the UK programme, the US version - which will begin filming in January and air later in the year - will follow the tragic death of a young boy found dead on an idyllic beach, but relocated to an American town.

The second series of the UK show returns in April, but it is not known if there will be an all new cast and a different setting as Chris originally wrote it as a stand alone miniseries.

PA