McDonald & Dodds stars address series future: "We're not complacent"
Tala Gouveia and Jason Watkins have high hopes beyond season 4.
![mcdonald-dodds-season-4 McDonald & Dodds imposed on a background showing the Bath skyline](https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2024/08/mcdonald-dodds-season-4-c83fdb4.jpg?quality=90&resize=980,654)
McDonald & Dodds stars Tala Gouveia and Jason Watkins have weighed in on the future of their ITV detective drama, telling fans that they hope to continue for some time longer.
The season 4 finale aired last night, which saw DCI Lauren McDonald (Gouveia) and DS Dodds (Watkins) unravel a series of murders blighting wedding ceremonies all over Bath.
The climactic episode, which was billed as a "personal" case for both detectives, may not be the end of the story, with the two lead actors telling RadioTimes.com that they are eager to return for more.
"I think 10 is a nice number," joked Gouveia, when asked how many seasons of McDonald & Dodds she'd like to make. "I think what felt really apparent with series 4 is that people are just striving to make it the best it can be.
"If that energy continues, then I think it could have longevity and still be really enjoyable. It's when people get complacent and think, 'Oh, we can just bash it out' – that's when a series has to stop. And also, when the stories stop."
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She added: "[But] if the ideas are still there and the drive is still there and the audience is still there, then I think it could last a long time."
![mcdonald-dodds-finale McDonald and Dodds having an argument in a leafy outdoor area](https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2024/07/mcdonald-dodds-finale-f3b2971.jpg?quality=90&fit=700,466)
Watkins agreed that the McDonald & Dodds team are still firing on all cylinders in their fourth year of production, concluding that there's "so much appetite" from the writers and from viewers for more mysteries.
He explained: "I think it’s right that we're not complacent about it. We're very fortunate to have got four series and I think the reaction from audiences all over the world now is starting to build.
"You know that there's an audience for us and they're really appreciating the things that we're offering them – and that's all you want really, isn't it? To spread a bit of joy and a bit of intrigue and maybe hold the mirror up to nature a little bit.
"We're very fortunate to have that. I think."
ITV is yet to officially confirm whether McDonald & Dodds will return for season 5, but we'll continue to bring you updates on the hit drama as they come in.
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