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

The detective drama stars Jason Watkins, Tala Gouveia and some big-name guest actors.

Tala Gouveia as DCI Lauren McDonald and Jason Watkins as DS Dodds standing in a police office looking off camera

Mammoth Screen for ITV

Published: Friday, 2 August 2024 at 12:44 pm

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After two years off our screens, McDonald & Dodds is back for season 4.

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Tala Gouveia and Jason Watkins play the titular duo, who will have more crime to solve in the beautiful city of Bath in the three new episodes on ITV1 and ITVX.

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

Jason Watkins plays DS Dodds, standing side on

Jason Watkins plays DS Dodds. Mammoth Screen for ITV

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

Tala Gouveia plays DCI Lauren McDonald, talking on the phone

Tala Gouveia plays DCI Lauren McDonald. Mammoth Screen for ITV

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

Claire Skinner as Ormond in police uniform looking into camera

Claire Skinner plays Chief Supt Ormond. ITV

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

Charlie Chambers plays DC Goldie, standing next to a private plane

Charlie Chambers plays DC Goldie. Mammoth Screen for ITV

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

Close up of Bhavik C Pankhania as DC Lee in a black jacket, grey T-shirt

Bhavik C Pankhania plays DC Lee. Mammoth Screen for ITV

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 season 4 guest stars

Episode 3 - Wedding Fever

Jason Watkins and Victoria Hamilton in McDonald & Dodds crouching together and looking off camera

Jason Watkins and Victoria Hamilton in McDonald & Dodds. Mammoth Screen for ITV

Episode 2 - Jinxy Sings the Blues

Hugh Quarshie plays Clarence Adderly, sat outside at a table holding a glass of wine

Hugh Quarshie plays Clarence Adderly. Mammoth Screen for ITV

Episode 1 - The Rule of Three

Pixie Lott as Lola Baker, standing in a garden, wearing a white top

Pixie Lott plays Lola Baker. Mammoth Screen for ITV

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

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Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.

Authors

A head and shoulders shot of Abby Robinson. She is in front of a grey background, looking at the camera and smiling. She wears a black zipped-up jacket with an elaborate gold and maroon design

Abby RobinsonDrama Editor

Abby Robinson is the Drama Editor for Radio Times, covering TV drama and comedy titles. She previously worked at Digital Spy as a TV writer, and as a content writer at Mumsnet. She possesses a postgraduate diploma and a degree in English Studies.

Eleanor Bley GriffithsDrama Editor, RadioTimes.com

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