The popular ITV drama McDonald & Dodds, which is set in Bath, returned on Sunday night, 21st July, with the first of three new two-hour episodes for its fourth series.
Tala Gouveia and Jason Watkins in McDonald & Dodds | Photo courtesy of Mammoth Screen / ITV
The detective series was filmed in locations in Bath and Bristol, as well as The Bottle Yard Studios, with assistance from both city’s Film Offices last year.
The new series consists of three feature-length episodes, each focusing on a different mystery.
Tala Gouveia and BAFTA-award-winning actor Jason Watkins reprise their roles DCI McDonald and DS Dodds, joined by Claire Skinner as their boss, Chief Superintendent Ormond.
Charlie Chambers returns as DC Goldie, while Bhavik C Pankhania joins the cast in the new role of DC Lee.
Guest stars appearing in this series include singer/songwriter Pixie Lott, Toby Stephens, Lydia Leonard, Daniel Lapaine, Dipo Ola, John Gordon Sinclair and Ace Bhatti.
Production company Mammoth Screen based its headquarters at Bristol’s Bottle Yard Studios, where sets were built for the police station precinct.
Bath Film Office assisted filming in numerous locations in and around Bath where the drama is set, including the Temple of Minerva in the Botanical Gardens, Royal Crescent, Abbey Green, Bath Marina, Kelston Village and Compton Dando in the Chew Valley.
Veronica Castillo, Head of Production at Mammoth Screen, said: “We’re thinking of opening a Mammoth Screen branch office at The Bottle Yard Studios as we’re a returner year on year! Very much a home from home.
“TBYS is the perfect base for McDonald & Dodds, the consummate fit of great facilities, excellent studio space, highly talented local crew, fabulous and historic locations both city and rural within easy reach and a wonderfully supportive Bottle Yard team led by Laura, Katherine & Emma. Who wouldn’t want to come back again?!”
In the first episode, titled ‘The Rule of Three”, McDonald & Dodds have just tied up a case after a local scandal-breaking journalist dies of anaphylaxis at a party, but their work isn’t over as a woman is separately found dead in a rented flat.
McDonald & Dodds series 4 began on Sunday 21st July on ITV1. You can catch up via ITVX. Episodes are being shown weekly.
