When a detective drama makes you want to binge it in one go, you know you're onto a good thing - and The Coroner is the series that will do exactly that. Set in the fictional coastal town of Lighthaven in South Devon, the drama, which first aired on the BBC in 2015, whisks us off to the seaside where Jane Kennedy (Claire Goose) is the go-getting solicitor who turns her hand to working as the local coroner when she returns to her hometown. It's smart, escapist - and even more watchable than the nation's favourite Midsomer Murders.
In her role as coroner, Jane works tirelessly to uncover the truths behind unexplained deaths, often working alongside her ex-boyfriend Detective Sergeant Davey Higgins (Matt Bardock) to solve the mysteries. With new cases to solve every episode and a “will-they-won’t they” tension between Jane and Davey, it's a detective drama that even the most discerning viewers will enjoy.
With the series now available to binge on Sky, here’s everything you need to know about The Coroner before you watch it, including the plot, cast and how to tune in.
What is The Coroner about?
Over the course of two series, The Coroner follows ambitious solicitor Jane Kennedy (Claire Goose), who drops her hectic life in London for her childhood hometown of Lighthaven after the collapse of a long-term relationship. She's hired as the fictional coastal town’s coroner, investigating sudden, violent or unexplained deaths. There's a new case every episode, including a teen found at the foot of a tower, a man found in a walk-in freezer and many more baffling mysteries that will keep you on your toes.
The cases can sometimes be gruesome, but there's also plenty of romantic tension between exes Jane and Detective Sergeant Davey Higgins (Matt Bardock). Despite being teenage sweethearts, the pair have many professional clashes due to Davey's black-and-white approach to police work and Jane's unconventional methods.
Speaking to PA, Claire said: “What’s so lovely about this show is it has different elements: a policing aspect and another side from the angle of the coroner. Before this, I didn’t even know what a coroner did. But the script is really focused on regular characters, people and relationships; that’s the heart of the piece.”
Who’s in the cast of The Coroner?
The main cast of The Coroner includes:
- Claire Goose (Casualty, Waking the Dead) as Coroner Jane Kennedy
- Matt Bardock (Casualty, A Touch of Frost) as Detective Sergeant Davey Higgins
- Beatie Edney (Highlander, Poldark) as Jane’s mother, Judith Kennedy
- Ivan Kaye (The Borgias, Vikings) as Mick Sturrock, landlord of The Black Dog
- Oliver Gomm (Hope Springs) as Coroner’s Officer Clint Holman
- Grace Hogg-Robinson (The Other Bennett Sister) as Beth Kennedy, Jane's daughter
Is there a trailer for The Coroner?
Yes, you can watch the trailer for The Coroner below:
Is The Coroner any good?
Yes - if you're a fan of shows like Midsomer Murders and Death in Paradise, you'll like The Coroner. Claire Goose is fantastic as ambitious solicitor-turned-coroner Jane Kennedy and her performed earned her a 2016 Royal Television Society Midlands Award for Best Acting Performance. Fans have called the series "splendid" and have said it "never disappoints" - and we wholly agree with them.
How can I watch The Coroner?
The Coroner series one and two are available to watch now on Sky and NOW.
What other detective dramas can I watch now?
If you fancy a series that doesn't take itself too seriously, you'll enjoy Murder in Provence. Set in the picturesque Aix-en-Provence in the South of France, the series follows an investigating judge and his psychologist girlfriend who investigate murders, sometimes over candle-lit dinners. Murder in Provence is available to watch now on ITVX. You'll find another great detective duo in McDonald & Dodds, which follows ambitious DCI McDonald ((Tala Gouveia) and quietly brilliant DS Dodds (Jason Watkins) as the mismatched detective duo solve mysterious crimes. McDonald & Dodds is available to watch now on ITVX.
