THE British are once again conquering the French – this time thanks to the writing skills of Broadchurch creator Chris Chibnall and the scenery of West Bay.

The second series of Broadchurch is currently airing on TV across the channel and this week’s episodes have been watched by 5.5 million viewers – something that’s never happened with a British TV show before, says Mr Chibnall.

Last week the French sent their cameras over here to film a documentary about the making of the crime drama and spent time interviewing Mr Chibnall and reporters on the Bridport News.

Mr Chibnall, who is busy on research for the third series, said the French were showing it in blocks of three and after the finale would be airing the documentary.

He said: “The 45-minute documentary will look at how we make the show and lots about West Bay and Dorset.

“They wanted to know about the origin of the story and why I wanted to set it here, what is so special about the area and little bit of background details for French viewers who aren’t as familiar with the Jurassic Coast.

“Hopefully it is a great opportunity to show case Dorset and West Bay for French viewers.

“I told them it was about the uniqueness of the landscape and how extraordinary, how beautiful it is and how there is nowhere else like it on the planet.

“That is why it is a UNESCO World Heritage site, they don’t give those things out easily.

“That beauty and that wildness is very cinematic and that is a huge part of why the show keeps travelling all around the world to be honest.”

Mr Chibnall was philosophic about some of the criticism levelled at the second series.

“That was always going to come I think we were so bowled over by the first series. Nobody expected that.

“We didn’t expect that reception to be repeated. I think the key thing for us to tell the story we want to tell and keep surprising people.

“I understand that people would rather see the same thing again but that is not the story we are telling.

“It is about a community, it is not a traditional formatted police show. It is about something else.”

Mr Chibnall said he was busy with the research for the third series but no shooting was scheduled for this year.

He added: “I have known what I wanted to do with it for a long time. So it will be very different again. I am looking forward to writing it.

“It is still called Broadchurch so you would expect West Bay to be featuring!”

The director of the French documentary Christophe Maillet, who with sound cameraman Bob Foresta and journalist Sophie Claude, spent the week in and around West Bay, said they had enjoyed their week interviewing people in the area.