The BBC has confirmed a third season of Jimmy McGovern’s BAFTA-winning prison drama Time, this time fronted by David Tennant, and with Happy Valley star Siobhan Finneran again reprising her role as prison chaplain Marie-Louise.
Time season three will be set in a young offenders’ institution and will focus on two teenagers as they struggle through the “terrifying first weeks and months of their incarceration”, the BBC has revealed. Tennant will take on the role of Prison Officer Bailey, who is said to be “a man in the midst of his own crisis”.
The synopsis has teased that “tragedy strikes within the prison”, which will lead to a “clash” between Marie-Louise, who is new to working in the prison, and officer Bailey, who is a veteran. “Bailey knows more about the circumstances that led to this major incident,” it adds, “but will he come clean before the guilt gets too much?”
Time first premiered on our screens back in 2021, with Stephen Graham and Sean Bean starring as characters on opposite sides of the law, and the drama unfolding against the backdrop of a men’s prison.
At the time, Digital Spy‘s review called it a “a visceral and brutally violent depiction of life on the inside”, also pointing to “the claustrophobic feeling that builds across the series”.
The drama was widely critically-acclaimed, currently sitting with a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Time also won big at the 2022 BAFTAs, taking home the prize for Best Miniseries, as well as Best Actor for Sean Bean’s performance. Stephen Graham was also nominated in the Supporting Actor category, but the award went to Succession‘s Matthew Macfadyen.
The second season of Time followed in 2023, moving the story to a women’s prison, with the lead characters portrayed by Jodie Whittaker, Bella Ramsey and Tamara Lawrance.
Now the hit drama is coming back and, as part of the season three announcement, Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama, has said: “Jimmy McGovern is a master at creating brave, thought-provoking dramas that deeply resonate with BBC viewers, so we are thrilled to be back for a third run of Time.
“With David Tennant and Siobhan Finneran leading the cast, Samuel Bailey co-writing, Paul Whittington directing and the team at BBC Studios Fiction producing, we are all set for another powerful and memorable piece of work from Jimmy.”
Time season three will film in Belfast, and will be written by McGovern and Samuel Bailey (Shook).
Time season three will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Time seasons 1 and 2 are available now on BBC iPlayer.