Judge Sonia Sharma

Judge Sharma presides over the trial at the centre of Broadchurch's second series, and she runs her courtroom like a fortress. Brisk, exacting and impatient with theatrics from either barrister, she has no interest in the town's grief or the press outside — only in procedure being followed to the letter.

Meera Syal plays her with a dry, unshowy authority that cuts through the show's more operatic instincts; a raised eyebrow or a flat 'Move on' does more work than a speech. Against all that seaside anguish, her total lack of sentiment is oddly bracing, and very funny in small doses.