Ivan Radford | On 21, Jul 2024

Season 4 begins on Sunday 21st July 2024 at 8pm on ITV, with episodes arriving weekly.

If ever there were a TV show that started with a name, it’s surely McDonald & Dodds, a detective drama that works like fast food for ITV viewers – efficiently delivering the goods without any major surprises. While that might sound quite run-of-the-mill, though, there’s a real charm and wit to the series that makes it worth tuning in for.

The perennially busy Jason Watkins stars as Dodds, a bespectacled police veteran who hasn’t been out from behind a desk for years. He’s paired with Tala Gouveia’s McDonald, a confident up-and-comer determined to make arrests quick and climb the career ladder even quicker. Needless to say, they clash, but Watkins underplays any conflict with a gentle smile that goes a long way.

Writer Robert Murphy (Vera, Shetland) has a knack for coming up with the kind of mildly absurd premises that made Jonathan Creek such a wonderful teatime staple. The supporting cast are all game for such shenanigans, with Season 1 featuring Robert Lindsay as an enjoyably out-and-out villain, while Season 2 introduces Rob Brydon (having fun as a Dodds-a-like recluse), Rupert Graves (hamming it up as a selfish socialite) and Martin Kemp (having a ball as a callous, swaggering suspect). Season 3 includes Alan Davies, Sian Phillips and Paul McGann, while Season 4 boasts Toby Stephens.

While there isn’t always much mystery to the mystery, and the depiction of Bath is very superficial, there’s consistent fun in seeing Watkins outsmart the police, selling his old-timer’s overlooked knack for spotting crucial clues with a refreshingly understated presence. Sherlock or Monk, this ain’t. The lead duo also have an endearing ability to mix light and shade, with lightweight humour and gentle joshing on offer the more that the ambitious and driven McDonald softens to her once-unwanted colleague. Their friendship evolves with a mutual respect and understanding bringing a charming heart to go with their amusing interactions.

The result is an entertaining collection of crime-solving adventures that are just on the right side of familiar and just on the fun side of serious.

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