McDonald & Dodds season 4 finally has a release date, which sees the return of arguably TV's most underrated crime-busting duo.
If you've not seen the previous series, it's well worth a watch, as Tala Gouveia as DCI McDonald and Jason Watkins as DS Dodds are brilliant fun.
Talking about the new series, Tala tells What to Watch: "I loved the fact that we find out that Dodds goes to the pub every week, and he's got all these mates. I wasn't sure he had any mates! So although we previously thought he was a bit of a loner. It's actually McDonald who's the loner because she's moved from London to Bath."
Jason adds: "And Dodds' friends are quite a varied group! He has probably found the intensity of romantic relationships difficult, but not friendships."
Set in Bath, the drama is returning for three new two-hour adventures. You can stream the past series on ITVX in the UK and BritBox in the US and check out our best ITV dramas article for more shows to enjoy. Here's everything we know about McDonald & Dodds season 4...
McDonald & Dodds season 4 release date
McDonald & Dodds season 4 is released on Sunday, July 21 at 8 pm on ITV1 and will also be on ITVX.
It was released on BritBox in the US on Thursday 23 May.
What’s the plot for episode 1?
The episode is called "The Rule of Three" and the makers tease: "McDonald and Dodds have spent their weekend tying up a case after a local scandal-breaking journalist dies of anaphylaxis at a party in her own home. They swiftly deduce that there’s foul play afoot, expose the murderer and call it a day, satisfied with another job well done. But their work isn’t over yet…
"Separately, a middle-aged woman is found shot dead in a rented flat in Bath. The killer has removed all clues to her identity, but DNA reveals she’s a missing person; Anne Holgate, who vanished on her way home from school, 38 years ago. McDonald and Dodds are intrigued. Where has she been all those years? And who with? And who, after all this time, would want her dead?
"The trail begins with her only living relative, her twin brother Mark Holgate, now a wealthy financier living the dream in one of Bath’s most prestigious addresses. Despite his obvious grief and trauma, it becomes clear Mark may be concealing a dark and long-buried secret of his own…
"McDonald and Dodds will have to unlock the deeply private Mark Holgate and navigate through the tightly wound social circles of Bath’s elites if they are to discover what happened to Anne. If they do, they may be able to put one of Bath’s most wanted professional criminals behind bars. However, McDonald’s drive and Ormond’s personal connection to the case may jeopardise the entire investigation."
What happens in episode 2?
When Ian Andrews gets on at his usual stop, nothing is out of the ordinary, but when his bus pulls into the station, he is dead. Despite it being the busiest route of the day, there isn't a single eyewitness to his death, and the detectives face a mammoth challenge, with their only clue a ticket stub for a local arts and culture festival. "In this episode of Dodds' friends has been murdered," reveals Jason. "It adds another layer to the case."
Who's in the cast?
Tala Gouveia and Jason Watkins are both back as the leads. Returning to the cast this series are Claire Skinner (Outnumbered) who plays Chief Superintendent Ormond and Charlie Chambers (EastEnders) who plays DC Goldie. Bhavik C. Pankhania (World On Fire) joins the lineup as DC Lee.
We also have some guest star cast information, with singer/songwriter Pixie Lott, ex Bond star Toby Stephens and John Gordon Sinclair featuring in the first episode.
Singer Will Young is in episode 2. Episode three features The Crown's Victoria Hamilton and ex-Midsomer Murders star Jason Hughes.
Is there a trailer?
Sadly not yet. But here's a trailer for a previous series to give you a taster of what the show's like if you've not seen it...
What else do we know?
The series has been commissioned for ITV by Polly Hill and Huw Kennair Jones and will be produced by Joe Shrubb. Executive producers are Robert Murphy, Damien Timmer and Charlotte Webber. The first film is written by Robert Murphy and directed by Khurrum M. Sultan.
Huw Kennair Jones said: "We’re thrilled to be returning to the beautiful city of Bath for more original and inventive crimes for McDonald and Dodds to solve. And it’s great to be working with Mammoth Screen, Robert Murphy and Tala and Jason once again on what promises to be another brilliant series."
