McDonald & Dodds season 4: cast, plot and everything we know

Tala Gouveia as DCI McDonald and Jason Watkins as DS Dodds, who star in McDonald & Dodds season 4
TV's best crime duo?! Tala Gouveia as DCI McDonald and Jason Watkins (Image credit: ITV)

McDonald & Dodds season 4 is on the way once again featuring 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.

Watkins previously said of his bumbling but brilliant cop alter ego: "He's such a great character to play, I always enjoy it. He's such an interesting man — seemingly quite straight-forward, but actually rather complicated and I think audiences enjoy that about him. He's often the one who you think is least likely to solve the case and yet he ends up having the little bit of insight that cracks it."

Set in Bath, the drama is returning for three new two-hour adventures. You can stream the past series on ITVX 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


We don’t have an official release date. With filming currently taking place now, it looks like it will be back either later this year or early 2024.

What’s the plot?

The makers have teased the plot of the first case, saying: "McDonald and Dodds begin to investigate when a middle-aged woman is found shot dead in a rented flat. The killer has removed all clues to her identity, but DNA reveals she went missing over 35 years ago. Where has she been all those years? And who with?"

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 turning up at one point. Plus other guest stars include Toby Stephens, Daniel Lapaine, Ace Bhatti, Lydia Leonard, Dipo Ola and John Gordon Sinclair. 

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."

David Hollingsworth
Editor

David is the What To Watch Editor and has over 20 years of experience in television journalism. He is currently writing about the latest television and film news for What To Watch.

Before working for What To Watch, David spent many years working for TV Times magazine, interviewing some of television's most famous stars including Hollywood actor Kiefer Sutherland, singer Lionel Richie and wildlife legend Sir David Attenborough. 

David started out as a writer for TV Times before becoming the title's deputy features editor and then features editor. During his time on TV Times, David also helped run the annual TV Times Awards. David is a huge Death in Paradise fan, although he's still failed to solve a case before the show's detective! He also loves James Bond and controversially thinks that Timothy Dalton was an excellent 007.

Other than watching and writing about telly, David loves playing cricket, going to the cinema, trying to improve his tennis and chasing about after his kids!