Created by scriptwriter Robert Murphy (DCI Banks), McDonald & Dodds is a British mystery drama set in the beautiful town of Bath — in the west of England — and launched in 2020. The series is produced by Mammoth Screen (Endeavour) for ITV and Britbox.
McDonald & Dodds is a most pleasant take on the mismatched detective duo, where the crime-solving genius isn't in the foreground. The smart and effective DCI Lauren McDonald teams up with the unassuming DS Dodds (no first name known), a middle-aged man who dips his chips in butter and has a keen eye for details.
« Back home, we had a massive argument about Spotify etiquette.
- Spot...? »
Series 1 of McDonald & Dodds consists of 2 x 90 minute episodes. The ever brilliant Jason Watkins (The Crown, The Lost Honour of Christopher Jefferies) is Dodds, alongside an excellent regular cast: Tala Gouveia (Cold Feet) as McDonald, James Murray (Cucumber, Primeval) as Chief Superintendent John Houseman and Jack Riddiford (DC Darren Craig). Pearl Chanda (DC Laura Simpson) was replaced by Lily Sacofsky (Sanditon) as DC Milena Paciorkowski in Series 2 (1). Jane Crawford, a patient of an expensive rehab clinic, is found hanged in her room. DCI McDonald rules out suicide when Sergeant Dodds notices an important detail... at the cost of a water pipe.
« Have you ever met anyone who's evil?
- Twice. »
The detectives meet Kelly Mulcreevy, the therapist in charge of the group which included Jane. They interrogate the remaining members: Miles Stevens, Mary Costair, Alison Speirs and Maheeda Abaasi. Lauren and Dodds must find out what is "the 13th step". Their investigation is complicated from the inside of the police station, and not only because of Houseman's management. McDonald "weaponises" the little sergeant, who knows the game of boules, the History of Bath and reads French. The likeable tandem faces a devious adversary in A Wilderness of Mirrors, thoroughly written by series creator Robert Murphy.
We learn a bit more on Lauren's life with her (unseen) boyfriend but also about Dodds. McDonald & Dodds is an affectionate
homage to Columbo in a superb setting reminiscent of Inspector Morse's Oxford. Of course, the guest cast of this episode is first class: Caroline Catz (Doc Martin) as Alison Speirs, Hugh Dennis (Not Going Out, Outnumbered) as George Holden, Michele Dotrice (Mary Costair), Freddie Fox (Miles Stevens), Suzanne Packer (Jane Crawford), Charlotte Ritchie (Call the Midwife) as DS Irene Ross, Joanna Scanlan (Kelly Mulcreevy) and Kiran Sonia Sawar (Murdered by my Father) as Maheeda Abaasi.
Produced by Amy Thurgood. Co-produced by Sarah Lewis. Exec produced by Preethi Mavahalli, Robert Murphy and Damien Timmer.
Music by Blair Mowat (Happy!). Cinematography by Tim Palmer BSC. Editing by Andy Morrison. Titles by Liquid TV. Distributed by ITV Studios. McDonald & Dodds will premiere in Switzerland on RTS Un on Saturday, October 23rd and in France the day after. Filming of Series 3 has started this week. A Wilderness of Mirrors was helmed by Laura Scrivano.
(1) 3 x 90 minute episodes.
See also:
https://tattard2.blogspot.com/2021/03/mcdonald-dodds-series-2-episode-1-man.html (Series 2, Episode 1)
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