Stars of hit ITV drama reveals hopes show will be saved by rival channel after brutal axe
FANS of a Bath-based detective series were surprised when ITV bosses revealed it wouldn’t be returning - but the cast are already hopeful the series can live on.
McDonald & Dodds had aired for four series and viewers were left with a storyline that teased that a fifth may be on its way.
The cast included the multi award winning Jason Watkins, known for projects like Nativity! and The Crown as DS Dodds, and Tala Gouveia, known to parents everywhere as one of the BBC Go Jetters, as DCI Lauren McDonald.
The last we saw of the mismatched duo, Detective Chief Inspector McDonald appeared to accept her partner's marriage proposal, but now viewers worry they’ll never see this come to pass.
ITV execs confirmed their decision at the star of the year, saying that the series just hadn’t passed their threshold for a recommission.
Speaking to the Radio Times, Jason seemed to suggest that the decision wasn’t just down to viewing figures.
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He said: “The only thing I'll say is that we did hold our own in terms of numbers. That's a complicated picture, which I don't think I should go into.”
The Bafta winner also said that the team had no idea the decision was coming but he had to reflect on the difficulties the TV industry is currently facing.
He said: “No, we didn't have any inkling. You know, it's television. It's a hard time for TV, so we're glad that we got four wonderful series from that show."
But the cast were optimistic about the future for the unlikely crime fighting couple and they wanted to leave the door open to new possibilities for it.
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Tala said: “I mean, you never know. There could be other channels that want to do it. I guess it all depends on the budgets people have, because it is a show that people will watch.
“So of course it could find another home. I think we wouldn't mind having another stab."
Jason agreed adding: “Who knows? I mean, one of the things that was the strength of the show was our relationship on screen and off. We're very close and I think that always showed on screen.
“That was one of the unique features of our show, that we genuinely have this great relationship. So if somebody wants to pick us up, then that's what we'd bring."
Tala was keen to get the message to the show’s fans that everyone involved appreciated their support.
She said: “Thank you for watching. I mean, so many people come up to us in the street and just love it, and not just a particular demographic.
Crime dramas on ITVX
Crime drama buffs have a wide selection of choices on ITVX - here is a selection of some of the programmes available to binge.
- Professor T: Based on a Belgian TV series of the same name, former Death in Paradise lead Ben Miller plays the title character. Professor Jasper Tempest is a criminologist with OCD who helps the police solve crimes. The cast also includes Emma Naomi, Barney White and Andy Gathergood.
- The Beast Must Die: This series follows a mother's grief for her son, who was killed in an accident. Nicholas Blake's novel of the same name has been adapted for the programme. Stars include Cush Jumbo, Jared Harris, Billy Howle and Geraldine James.
- Red Eye: Starring Richard Armitage, Jing Lusi and Lesley Sharp star in this six-part thriller, which mostly takes place during an all-night flight between London and Beijing. With dead bodies piling up and a mystery to unravel, the heroes must work fast to get to the truth.
- The Twelve: This Australian drama originally aired as a miniseries in 2022, with the episodes dropping in the UK in February 2023. Four months later, the show was renewed for a second season. Jurassic Park star Sam Neill stars in the leading role of barrister Brett Colby.
- Manhunt: Martin Clunes stars in this drama based on true murder investigations. Series one focused on the death of Amélie Delagrange, which took place in 2004, while the second depicted the search for serial rapist Delroy Grant.
"It's been such a family show, so many age groups and people from all around the country – and not just our country, it's still selling all over the world.
"I was once in a tiny village in the mountains of Greece, there was someone that couldn't speak English, but was still typing being like, 'Television'. They remember us. It was a fun run. And just everyone that watched, thank you!"
McDonalds and Dodds is available on ITVX.