Broadchurch, which made West Bay a TV star, will return for a second series, ITV has confirmed.

The successful series, written and created by Bridport resident Chris Chibnall, starring a strong ensemble cast lead by David Tennant and Olivia Colman has gripped the nation with viewers intrigued by the circumstances surrounding the death of young Danny Latimer.

The new series will go into production next year. As with the first series, details of the story, and which characters will return, are currently being kept tightly under wraps.

Chris Chibnall said: "The whole Broadchurch team has been delighted and properly gobsmacked by the response from ITV viewers. When I first talked to Peter Fincham and Laura Mackie, ITV’s Director of Drama about Broadchurch, I mentioned that if people liked it, there was another very different story we could tell afterwards. I'm really thrilled we're going to tell that story too."

Since launching on March 4, the drama has never been far from everyday conversation, becoming compelling viewing as the audience have dissected and analysed the cleverly crafted scripts, which implicated many of the locals living in the small picturesque seaside Dorset community of Broadchurch, home to the Latimer family.

The first episode rating of 9.1 million (31% audience share) saw Broadchurch achieve the highest weekday launch of a new drama across all broadcasters since ITV’s Whitechapel in January 2009.

More than 9 million viewers have watched the popular drama unfold. Only two other dramas on television launching during weekday have rated higher since 2002, both from ITV, Life Begins and Doc Martin.

The series, produced by Kudos Film and Television, which also starred, Jodie Whittaker, Andrew Buchan, Vicky McClure, Arthur Darvill, David Bradley, Pauline Quirke, Jonathan Bailey, Carolyn Pickles and Will Mellor, had bookmakers running odds on who they thought was responsible for Danny’s death.

Commissioned for ITV by Acting Director of Drama Commissioning, Steve November, Broadchurch is executive produced by Chris Chibnall, and Kudos Film and Television’s Jane Featherstone.

The series was produced by Richard Stokes and the lead director was James Strong. Euros Lyn also directed three episodes of the series.

“We’re delighted to be commissioning a second series of Broadchurch,” said ITV’s Director of Television, Peter Fincham.

“From the moment the murder scene was discovered, viewers became gripped by the series, and we’ve been genuinely thrilled by the audience response. David and Olivia’s performances and Chris’s cleverly crafted scripts have created a truly compelling drama.”

Executive producer, Jane Featherstone for Kudos Film and Television commented: “It’s such a privilege for Kudos to be able to work with Chris and ITV to bring the next chapter of Broadchurch to our screens. And although we’re giving nothing away right now, I can tell you it’s going to keep on delivering surprises and scale.”