“As good as Broadchurch”: Deadwater Fell is the “fantastic” crime drama to binge this week

If you’re missing Broadchurch and need something to fill the television void, we’ve found the perfect replacement. David Tennant swaps detective work in Dorset and plays doctor in Deadwater Fell, a fantastic crime drama from Grantchester’s creator, Daisy Coulam. When a horrific murder takes place, the close-knit Scottish village where he lives is plunged into suspicion as everyone starts questioning what they thought they knew.

The series, which first aired on Channel 4 in 2020, introduces us to local GP Tom Kendrick (David Tennant), whose wife Kate (Anna Madeley) and three children are found dead after a devastating house fire. Tom is the only survivor and soon becomes the prime suspect. As the truth begins to emerge, the drama takes us behind the closed doors of a family who were seemingly perfect.

With all four episodes available to watch now, here’s everything you need to know about Deadwater Fell, including the cast, plot and how to watch it.

What is Deadwater Fell about?

In Deadwater Fell, David Tennant swaps Dorset’s coast for the fictional village of Kirkdarroch in Scotland, where he works as local GP Tom Kendrick. The drama opens to true suburban bliss. Children paint posters in primary school to go and cheer on a bike race, before going to a barnyard party. But, something sinister is brewing. The laughter is interrupted with scenes of a forensic officer inspecting evidence.

On the surface, Tom has the perfect family life: he’s married to beloved primary school teacher Kate (Anna Madeley), with whom he has three little girls. The couple are best friends with Jess (Cush Jumbo), a fellow primary school teacher, and local detective sergeant Steve (Matthew McNulty), who has two little boys.

One fateful night, smoke and flames billow from a house and the panicked community makes its way towards the source – Kate and Tom’s home. Devastatingly, Kate and their three children die and Tom is rushed to hospital.

It soon becomes apparent that the mother and her children didn’t lose their lives in a fluke accident, but something more calculated unfolded. Meanwhile, fingers are pointing at Tom, the only survivor. As much as the drama is about unravelling the mystery of a dark crime, it’s also a portrait of two relationships breaking down.

Across four episodes, we learn more about Kate’s past and each of the relationships through a series of flashbacks. The façades each of the characters present to their neighbours crack to reveal dark, hidden secrets.

It’s revealed that Kate has been struggling with her mental health, while her best friend Jess (Cush Jumbo) has her own problems. Jess and Steve are struggling to have a baby, and they’re going through the painstaking IVF process. Meanwhile, resentments are growing between Jess and Steve’s ex-partner, who’s the mother of his two boys.

David Tennant previously opened up about playing Tom. ‘He is very much the centre of the community of Kirkdarroch. He’s respected, well liked and seems to be the perfect family man with a happy marriage,’ he told Channel 4. ‘There doesn’t seem to be anything untoward in his family life. To the outside world, he’s the perfect father, the perfect husband, he’s popular and admired and people look up to him, and his world revolves around that,’ he added.

Who’s in the cast of Deadwater Fell?

The cast of Deadwater Fell includes:

• David Tennant (Broadchurch, The Escape Artist) as Tom Kendrick
• Cush Jumbo (Stay Close, Vera) as Jess Milner
• Matthew McNulty (The Rising) as Police Sergeant Steve Campbell
• Anna Madeley (The Chelsea Detective) as Kate Kendrick
• Maureen Beattie (Fear) as Carol Kendrick
• Jamie Michie (Borderline) as Simon Wells
• Laurie Brett (Traces, EastEnders) as DC Gemma Darlington
• Gordon Brown (Trust Me) as DCI Spencer Collins
• Lorn Macdonald (Bridgerton, Coldwater) as PC Taylor Clarke
• Lindy Whiteford (Official Secrets) as Ruth McKenzie
• Ron Donachie (Screw) as Callum McKenzie

Is Deadwater Fell any good?

Yes, if you’re missing Broadchurch, this series is the perfect replacement. The drama unpacks how one single evil crime can send shockwaves through a close-knit community, and a satisfying whodunnit unfolds. While it’s hard-hitting, it’s an important watch. It addresses themes such as coercive control, mental health and isolation.

How can I watch Deadwater Fell?

You can watch Deadwater Fell now on Channel 4.

Is there a trailer for Deadwater Fell?

You can watch the trailer for Deadwater Fell below.

What other crime dramas can I watch now?

For a tense thriller, try Out There. Martin Clunes is brilliant as Welsh farmer Nathan Williams, a father who ends up going head-to-head with gangsters when his son is lured into a county lines drug operation. Out There is available to watch now on ITVX. If you can’t get enough of gritty investigations, we’d recommend White Lies. The drama follows journalist Edie Hansen (Natalie Dormer) as she investigates an exclusive gated community in Cape Town after her brother’s murder. White Lies is available to watch now on Channel 4.