McDonald & Dodds season 4 cast: Meet the characters and guest stars

There are plenty of new and returning cast members too, with one character – played by The Crown star Victoria Hamilton – serving as a potential new love interest for Dodds.

Watkins told RadioTimes.com: "Dodds fancies her a bit. He actually has a sort of dalliance, or it looks like he's heading that way, which is very unusual because he's been shut down in that respect for such a long time. There’s potential with this character."

Elsewhere, guest stars in episode 1 include an actor from Gentleman Jack, a former James Bond baddie, and a coach from The Voice Kids.

For more information about the McDonald & Dodds cast and who they play, read on.

McDonald & Dodds season 4 cast

Below are the main stars of McDonald & Dodds season 4. Read on for more information on the actors and their characters, as well as guest stars for the new run.

• Jason Watkins plays DS Dodds
• Tala Gouveia plays DCI Lauren McDonald
• Claire Skinner plays Chief Supt Ormond
• Charlie Chambers plays DC Goldie
• Bhavik C Pankhania plays DC Lee

Jason Watkins plays DS Dodds

Who is DS Dodds? Described as "shy" and "unassuming", DS Dodds has "happily languished on the shelf for most of his working life".

He's been working quietly and diligently at his desk in Bath for years without anyone taking much notice, but now his boss is hoping to push him into early retirement – so he's been paired with DCI Lauren McDonald and forced out into frontline action, which is quite a shock to the system.

However, instead of giving up and taking his pension, Dodds proves himself a talented detective with "a hidden talent for deciphering puzzles".

What else has Jason Watkins been in? Jason Watkins has had a prolific acting career across screen and stage, winning a BAFTA and bagging an Olivier nomination. He starred alongside David Tennant in the ITV crime drama Des (as Brian Masters), while international viewers might recognise him as Prime Minister Harold Wilson in season 3 of The Crown.

He's also played Roger in Hold the Sunset, Gavin in Trollied, Tim Ifield in Line of Duty, and Emlyn Hooson in A Very English Scandal, as well as starring in Channel 5 dramas Coma and The Catch.

Other major roles have included William Herrick in Being Human, Simon Harwood in W1A, and the lead role in The Lost Honour of Christopher Jefferies, while the actor has also been in Taboo, Our Zoo and Doctor Who.

Tala Gouveia plays DCI Lauren McDonald

Who is DCI Lauren McDonald? A "wildly ambitious" detective chief inspector transferred from the "mean streets of South London" to the quiet streets of Bath. She is young, talented, often underestimated, and is described as "a tough, driven battering ram of a cop who cracks cases through sheer force of will".

McDonald isn't initially pleased to be paired with Dodds, but the two soon form an unlikely partnership.

What else has Tala Gouveia been in? She's been in Tracey Ullman's Show, Cold Feet, Go Jetters, Arrivals, EastEnders, Plebs and Scream Street.

Claire Skinner plays Chief Supt Ormond

Who is Chief Supt Ormond? Ormond is the chief superintendent, described as "contained", "private" and "tough". She's still ruffling a few feathers among the squad following her arrival, but they've largely grown accustomed to her ways.

What else has Claire Skinner been in? Skinner is best known for her role as Sue Brockman in Outnumbered, but has also appeared in Doctor Who, Ted Lasso, Midsomer Murders and Bridget Jones's Diary, among many other roles.

Charlie Chambers plays DC Goldie

Who is DC Goldie? He works alongside McDonald and Dodds.

What else has Charlie Chambers been in? He's best known for EastEnders.

Bhavik C Pankhania plays DC Lee

Who is DC Lee? The newest member of McDonald and Dodds' team.

What is Bhavik C Pankhania been in? He appeared in BBC war drama World on Fire.

Read more:

• McDonald & Dodds star rejects 'cosy crime' label: 'It's a complex show'
• McDonald & Dodds stars remember their first ever roles in EastEnders

McDonald & Dodds season 4 guest stars

Episode 3 - Wedding Fever

• Victoria Hamilton (The Crown) plays Dora Lang - a photo journalist
• Comedian Bill Bailey plays Paul Watt - a radio host
• Richard Harrington (Hinterland) plays Lenny Wood - his daughter is getting married
• Esme Coy (Bridgerton) plays Lotty Wood - her wedding day is disrupted by a murder
• Lucinda Dryzek (Holby City) plays Lynn Wood and Holli Dempsey (Harlots) plays Lilith Wood - Lotty's sisters
• Charlie Coombes (Silo) plays William Bridges - Lotty's partner
• Piotr Baumann (Coronation Street) plays a man with a snake tattoo
• Jason Hughes (Midsomer Murders) plays Clive Saunders - his sister is also getting married
• Isaura Barbé-Brown (Guilt) plays Sandra Blake - Clive's soon-to-be sister-in-law
• Joy Richardson (Silent Witness) plays Janet Blake - Sandra's mother
• Akshay Sharan (The Effects of Lying) plays Sahir Hassan - a groom whose wedding is also disrupted by a murder

Episode 2 - Jinxy Sings the Blues

• Hugh Quarshie (Holby City) plays Clarence Adderly - esteemed US history professor and bluesologist
• Sophia Myles (Silent Witness) plays Geraldine Bridget DeVere - one half of an "eccentric" sibling duo who operates in the world of art auctions
• Singer Will Young plays Greg DeVere - Geraldine's sister
• Charley Webb (Emmerdale) plays Hilary McLean - a nurse and a witness to a murder
• Rilwan Abiola Owokoniran plays Nicolas Olayinka - an academic

Episode 1 - The Rule of Three

• Singer Pixie Lott plays Lola Baker - she's accused of murdering her mother
• Dipo Ola (We Hunt Together) plays Cal Baker - Lola's partner
• Daniel Lapaine (Catastrophe) plays Brad Coleman - Lola's stepfather
• John Gordon Sinclair (Traces) plays Nevis McLintock - a tree surgeon
• Toby Stephens (James Bond) plays Mark Holgate - his sister, who went missing 30 years ago, is shot dead
• Lydia Leonard (Gentleman Jack) plays Lucy Holgate - Mark's wife
• Ace Bhatti (Line of Duty) plays George Sharma - Lucy's lawyer
• Rico Canadinhas (Deep Water) plays Luke Hegarty - his mother is murdered

McDonald & Dodds airs on ITV1 and ITVX. Seasons 1-3 are available to watch now on ITVX.

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