Broadchurch series 2: Meera Syal joins cast in 'pivotal' role 

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Broadchurch series 2: Meera Syal joins cast in \'pivotal\' role

The Kumars actress has begun filming her part in the crime drama

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Meera Syal is to appear in the second series of the hugely popular crime drama

The British comedian and actress, who is renowned as a member of the team that created

, will join a cast including Davis Tennant and Olivia Colman,

It is unknown what character Syal, who also starred in

, is playing in the ITV murder series, but one insider told the publication that her role will be “pivotal”.

Series one saw the small coastal town of Clevedon, Somerset, rocked to the core by the murder of an 11-year-old boy.

The new series, which is currently being filmed in Somerset and Dorset, will open amid the aftermath of the events from last year.

And it will be “vastly different” to other murder mystery television series, said one of the stars of the show.

Andrew Buchan, who plays bereaved father Mark Latimer, told

: “But by that, I just mean plot-wise, it’ll be vastly different. I can’t give anything away about the plot.”

Jodie Whittaker will reprise her role as Andrew’s wife Beth, while Arthur Darvill will again play local vicar Paul Coates.

Other new additions include Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Eve Myles, James D\'Arcy and Charlotte Rampling.

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