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'McDonald & Dodds' series 3: When is it on TV? Who's in the cast? What happens?

McDonald & Dodds returns for series three. (ITV)
McDonald & Dodds returns for series three. (ITV)

Detective drama series McDonald & Dodds returns to ITV for a third series this weekend.

Leading the cast once again are Jason Watkins and Tala Gouveia as the title characters - but who's joining them and what will they be investigating this time?

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Here's all you need to know about series three of McDonald & Dodds.

When is McDonald & Dodds series 3 on TV?

The third series of the detective drama begins on Sunday, 19 June on ITV at 8pm with a two-hour episode.

After that, there will be three more two-hour episodes airing weekly at the same time.

Who stars in McDonald & Dodds series 3?

McDonald & Dodds stars Jason Watkins and Tala Gouveia. (ITV)
McDonald & Dodds stars Jason Watkins and Tala Gouveia. (ITV)

Fans of the show will be pleased to know that Tala Gouveia and Jason Watkins are both returning as title characters DCI Lauren McDonald and DS Dodds.

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The crime-fighting duo are joined by Jack Riddiford as DC Darren Craig, Claire Skinner as Chief Superintendent Ormond, Lily Sacofsky as DC Milena Paciorkowski and Danyal Ismail as DC Martin Malik.

Episode one guest stars Alan Davies and Catherine Tyldesley. (ITV)
Episode one guest stars Alan Davies and Catherine Tyldesley. (ITV)

An impressive cast of guest stars also appears in series three - look out for Alan Davies, Catherine Tyldesley and Sian Phillips in episode one.

Paul McGann stars in episode two, and episode three features Sarah Parish.

What happens in McDonald & Dodds series 3?

The first visit back to McDonald & Dodds launches with a young woman dying in a busy park in broad daylight, strangely with a smile on her face - how is it possible that so many people witnessed her death but it remains a mystery?

McDonald and Dodds find the case leads them to linguistic anthropologist George Gillan (Davies) whose mother is about to turn 100, with all signs pointing to their rambling mansion being somehow implicated in the death.

Episode two enters the fast-paced world of Formula 1. (ITV)
Episode two enters the fast-paced world of Formula 1. (ITV)

Episode two changes things up by entering the fast-paced world of Formula 1, where a driver has died during a short pitstop.

Formula 1 fan McDonald is determined not to be bullied away from the case by the driving team management, but she's thrown by the reappearance of someone from her past.

McDonald & Dodds returns to ITV for series 3 at 8pm on 19 June.

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