Meera Syal has signed up to join TV drama Broadchurch.

The Goodness Gracious Me and Kumars star will join David Tennant and Olivia Colman in the second series of the hit ITV show, RadioTimes.com said.

It said that Meera will play a "pivotal" role in the next run of the murder mystery series, being filmed in Dorset and North Somerset.

The stars of the new series, which also includes Jodie Whittaker, Andrew Buchan and Arthur Darvill, recently reunited for a read-through of the scripts. .

Also joining the second series are Charlotte Rampling, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Eve Myles and James D'Arcy.

Details about the new characters and plot are being kept under wraps and w riter Chris Chibnall has appealed to members of the public who spot any clues, if they come across filming, to keep it that way.