Marie Dompnier: a third series of witnesses likely

Even though series two of Witnesses was a huge mess, there’s no denying that Sandra Winckler is one of our favourite characters in crime drama, and Marie Dompnier is a fine actress. That aforementioned second series of Witnesses took a while to get to our screens (thanks to BBC Four for snapping it up), and there has always been speculation on whether there would be another series. We hope so, and so, it turns out, does Dompnier.

Review: Witnesses (S1 E5&6/8), Saturday 9th December, BBC Four

NB: SPOILERS INSIDE

After last week’s third and fourth episode – where Sandra Winkler and Catherine Keemer went rogue and formed their own crime drama version of Thelma and Louise – things are now bubbling nicely on Witnesses, although Sandra’s torturing of suspect Martin Souriau left a bitter taste in the mouth. You got the sense that these two women, who had formed an unlikely friendship and bond, were being pushed to the absolute limits: their children and personal lives had been threatened and they were willing to do anything – anything – to resolve their situations and protect their families.

Review: Witnesses (S2 E1&2/8), Saturday 25th November, BBC Four

NB: SPOILERS INSIDE

Witnesses – or Les Témoins in its native French – was a big hit with us when the first series aired here in 2015 on Channel 4. The French series had that classic Nordic Noir feel about it, with plenty of those addictive qualities we lap up year after year – a darker than dark murder story, an obsessive female detective lead, bleak landscapes and a twisty-turny plot with plenty of dollops of addictive procedural goodness. Judging by its first series, Witnesses isn’t underpinned by socio-political explorations like many Nordic Noirs. Instead, it focuses on social constructs – like the family and, in likely in this series, marriage and motherhood. We’re delighted that it’s finally back for a second series (it’s been hanging around for a while now), especially now it’s on BBC Four, which feels like a much more natural fit for the show. And if these first two episodes are anything to go by, we’re in for a treat.

BBC Four confirms Witnesses 2 transmission date

Surprise rippled through the crime drama community when BBC Four announced that it had acquired the second series of Witnesses, the superior French series that was highly-rated when it first appeared on Channel 4 two years ago. We loved that first series, but the switch to BBC Four was a surprise especially because we have Spiral and The Bridge waiting in the wings. We now know when the Normandy-based series will be broadcast. Hurrah!

BBC acquires series two of Witnesses for UK transmission

Back in 2014 French series Witnesses came in at number five in our top crime dramas of the year (go here to refresh your memories), and we couldn’t wait to see what series two had up its sleeve. And then we waited. And waited. Channel 4 – who broadcasted the series here in the UK – was quiet. Too quiet. And then we started to hear that series two had begun filming, and Spiral’s magnificent Audrey Fleurot had joined the cast, which was too exciting for words. But the waiting continued and we were eager to find out when it would be arriving in the UK. Now we know, and it’s not going to be on Channel 4.

The Killing Times’ Euro 2016 Of Crime Drama: The Bridge (Sweden) v Hinterland (Wales)

Yesterday saw the closest and most entertaining game of the tournament so far, when two of the favourites – France’s Spiral and Iceland’s Trapped – went head to head. It was a thrilling affair. Now we go back to Group B to check in with another of the tournament’s favourites – The Bridge – who take on a strong contender: Wales’ Hinterland.

Spiral’s Audrey Fleurot joins season two of Witnesses

French crime drama, Witnesses, was one of our favourite dramas of 2015 (see our appraisal here). It was the Normandy-set story of two police officers – one brought out of retirement, the other his protegé from police college – who tried to find the Clown Killer, a perpetrator of some grotesque crimes. It was engrossing, twisty-turny and turned out to be a multi-layered procedural that paid homage to all your favourite Scandi noirs. With filming set to start in the coming weeks in northern France, we’ve got our first sniff at the plotlines and one major piece of casting news.

Review: Witnesses (S1 E6/6), Wednesday 26th August, Channel 4

Within the blink of an eye, this excellent French series found itself at its conclusion – five episodes of fast-moving, multi-layered police procedural with two intriguing characters at its heart had left me breathless, and desperate to find out who was behind the murders of four men. There was lots to tie up and not a lot of time to do it in, but like the rest of the episodes before it this sixth episode didn’t pause for breath in revealing everything. In episode five we had already established that this was a three-layered crime story. On the top layer was Kaz Gorbier the psychopath who had been tormenting Paul Maisonneuve and trying to avenge Maisonneuve’s perceived role in breaking up his family; on the second was Laura, who had been digging up dead bodies and rearranging them in show homes in the Le Tréport area to send Maisonneuve a message; and the third unknown person, who had actually murdered the four exhumed men in the first place. What started off as a macabre set-up involving those carefully arranged cadavers in show homes quickly unpeeled layer upon layer until it made my head spin. We were introduced to another layer of the story at the end of the last episode: the digger-uppers had left Maisonneuve another clue – the press clipping that detailed the suicide of a young woman who the detective had admitted was his first love. So who was she? And how would this all end?

Review: Witnesses (S1 E5/6), Wednesday 19th August, Channel 4

If there’s one thing we know about this excellent French procedural is that it doesn’t muck about. Let’s face it, with only six episodes in the series it hasn’t got time to muck about, but still. Last week we were plunged into a scenario where Paul Maisonneuve – that flinty old detective with more skeletons in his closet than an orthopedic specialist – had been taken captive by his nemesis, Kaz Gorbier, who had brought his ex-wife and son along for the family recreating ride. Maisonneuve’s partner, Sandra Winckler, faced a race against time to find them… or rely on the captives themselves to find a solution to their predicament.

Review: Witnesses (S1 E4/6), Wednesday 12th August, Channel 4

After the tumult in series finales like True Detective and Jordskott this week, it’d be easy to despair at the great, big crime drama-shaped holes these two series are leaving. So thank goodness for Witnesses, Channel 4’s excellent Normandy-set crime drama, which is the best of the lot. It has been full of twists, turns and short, sharp action that has kept us on the edge of our seats, and tonight there were more twists and turns. Sorry… True what? Jords… what?