McDonald and Dodds called out by fans over wardrobe error

What did you miss?

The final episode of crime drama McDonald and Dodds series 4 aired on ITV on Sunday evening.

Played by Tala Gouveia and Jason Watkins, the titular Detective Chief Inspector and Detective Sergeant’s latest assignment had them investigating a spate of wedding-based murders, yet the first victim wasn’t receiving much sympathy from viewers typing on social media platform X.

That’s because his priestly costume was inaccurately coloured. Apparently, a purple clergy stole is only adorned as a calming measure during moments of grief and repentance, not for the joining of families.

What, how and why?

The first of the bodies, Mitchell Morrison, was discovered with six fatal stab wounds in the vestry of his church – a mysterious local photo journalist named Dora Lang finding him.

When Dodds arrived at the scene though – his partner was still in bed suffering from sleep deprivation – several fans of the show immediately targeted the Vicar’s knee-length scarf because of its coloration. Had the wardrobe department of McDonald and Dodds missed a trick here, or did Mitchell foretell his own death by wearing an associated variety of stole that day?

“Trying to work out whether the liturgically incorrect use of a purple stole for a vicar who is murdered shortly before officiating at a wedding is lazy investigation or an integral part of the plot,” wrote one fan, before another replied: “I always associate them with Funerals!”

Someone else went on to half-joke: “Perhaps it was filmed in purple stole season!”

“#McDonaldandDodds – the murder victim is a vicar conducting a wedding. And he is wearing a PURPLE stole! Don’t these people do any investigation?” raged an actual vicar, before explaining: “Vicars wear white stoles at weddings, purple at funerals. We would never wear purple at a funeral. Very shocking.”

Away from religious garments, the series 4 finale treated us to a vocal cameo from Bill Bailey as the radio host Paul Watts. After each killing he was heard reporting on the events across the airwaves, and two social media posts questioned whether they’d recognized the comedian’s jovial tones.

“Watching #McDonaldandDodds from the start. Was that Bill Bailey as the radio DJ?” read one of them. “#McdonaldAndDodds the radio host sounds like Bill Bailey?” echoed a second individual.

It seems like @_Janet_ was taking more notice, who confirmed: “His name was in the opening credits.”

McDonald and Dodds is available to stream on ITVX.

Read more: