BROADCHURCH wouldn't be the same show without its stirring soundtrack composed by Olafur Arnalds.

The Icelander tells Joanna Davis why he is so looking forward to seeing off season two in style with a special concert at the 'home' of the ITV drama in Bridport.

IT has been a frustrating season of Broadchurch.

Just at that point where you feel like giving up on the show, you couldn't care less about the Sandbrook storyline and the characters' mumbling becomes even more indecipherable, something draws you back in.

Namely the perfectly complementary soundtrack as the show reaches its latest cliffhanger - reminding us all why we became hooked in the first place.

The Nordic Noir element that made us all fall in love with the show is still there, embedded in those imposing West Bay cliffs thanks to Olafur Arnalds' first-class soundtrack.

The music enabled the show to be compared to the likes of compelling, dark Scandinavian drama series like The Killing and The Bridge.

It is fittingly composed by Nordic musician Olafur Arnalds, who was emailed out of the blue by Broadchurch creator Chris Chibnall and asked to create a chilling ambience for the first series that would accompany the Who Killed Danny Latimer storyline.

And Olafur didn't hesitate when he was asked to compose for the second series.

“I am a fan of the show,” he said.

“I have a very different perspective because I read the script before I watch the show so I can start devising the music.

“Whenever I'm in London I still watch the show and when it came to doing a final song for the finale I sat down and watched it.

“I was on the edge of my seat even though I knew what was going to happen!”

Born in Mosfellsbaer, Iceland, Olafur started off playing drums in a 'hardcore' band and fell into classical music composition when he was asked to write piano and string intros and outros for German metal band Heaven Shall Burn.

This set Olafur out on a path which led to him working on ITV's highest rated drama series of 2013 - and winning a BAFTA TV Craft award for Best Original Music.

“I couldn't believe how big the first series was. It was literally everywhere.

“In terms of reaching new audiences it's been a huge step for me in reaching people who are not aware of what I'm doing,” he said.

And Olafur is looking forward to calling into Bridport on Monday, February 23.

He said: “I've never seen the famous cliffs of West Bay but I've been to Bridport before.

“When I'm there I shall go and see West Bay because I've been told it's not very far away.

“I have been to the main set in Bridport to see them filming. “When I went they were filming in the Broadchurch Echo office!

“I also met Olivia Colman and David Tennant - they are really nice people and strangely David's brother is one of my colleagues - his brother helps take care of my contract.

“When I was on the set I was talking to them both in the trailer and they are both very nice people and amazing actors.”

The audience attending Olafur's concert at the Electric Palace in Bridport will be able to enjoy the series two finale of Broadchurch after hearing him perform.

He said: “Before we weren't even aware that the concert was going to coincide with the series finale.

“It's a happy coincidence that it's the same night.

“We put the show forward to 7pm so I will start doing the music, then after that people can get a drink and then they will be able to watch the finale.

“I will be performing other material besides the Broadchurch soundtrack too.”

Olafur has been touring all over Europe - taking in Denmark, the Netherlands, Turkey and Germany as part of his tour.

He combines the soundtrack from Broadchurch, accompanied by vocalist Arnor Dan with other material.

“There are eight of us on the tour all together - we have a string quartet, a brass section and of course it's not just the straightforward Broadchurch soundtrack we'll be doing.

“There's a different spin on it, we've done the music in a very showy and cinematic way,” he said.

Speaking of the cinema, you might be hearing some familiar stirring music in an auditorium near you soon.

The main theme of Broadchurch is featured in the trailer of new superhero movie The Fantastic Four - proof that Olafur's television work has attracted Hollywood's attention.

He said: “People do it a lot (use the same soundtrack) they are always looking for something that grabs people's attentions.

“They are looking for a song that works with the picture.

“I think it's great and I feel so honoured that it's been used for what will be one of the biggest films of the year.”

Having also seen one of his songs used in The Hunger Games soundtrack, Olafur is hoping to get involved in more films.

“I'm hoping to take a step back from television and do more film.

“I'm hoping to do a film or two this year but I want to concentrate more on making music,” he said.

And his native Iceland is the perfect place for it, Olafur said.

“I think the secret to my creativity is to turn off the phone, lock the door and don't let anyone disturb you.

“It might take a few tries before anything happens but you just have to unplug the internet, don't go on Facebook and check your emails.

“It does help being in Iceland because the society there is very still, very similar to Dorset.

“It's a slower way of life and people are less stressed, I could never write in London, I love my little place on the harbour in Iceland, it's very simple and it's perfect for writing.”

And just in case Olafur is worried about being left with nothing to do, next up for him is the Chopin Project, in which he has teamed up with classical pianist Alice Sara Ott to re-imagine Chopin's work.

He said: “I wanted to see if I could present Chopin's music in a way that has not been done before - in a more modern way.

“We've created an album of pieces based on Chopin's work and recorded them in a way that modern music is recorded.

“It sounds very different and it comes out next month, we're really looking forward to it.”

*JOIN Olafur at the Bridport Electric Palace on Monday (23) from 7pm for a concert followed by the finale of Broadchurch series two. Contact the venue for tickets.