It's been called one of the BBC’s best dramas (for good reason!) and now Time is bringing us more TV brilliance with a third series. With Happy Valley’s Siobhan Finneran reprising her role as Prison Chaplain Marie-Louis and Broadchurch’s David Tennant joining the cast as Prison Officer Bailey, Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama, has promised the new instalment will be “another powerful and memorable piece of work” – and judging by the newly-released trailer, we're in for something truly special!
If you’re new to the series, Time is created and co-written by the brilliant Jimmy McGovern (Accused, Unforgivable) and follows the lives of inmates and staff in the British prison system. The first series premiered in 2021 and starred This City is Ours star Sean Bean and Adolescence’s Stephen Graham, while series 2, which aired to great acclaim two years later, saw Toxic Town’s Jodie Whittaker and The Last Of Us star Bella Ramsey lead the cast.
Now, series 3 is set to take us inside a Young Offenders Institution and we've got all the latest details, including the cast, plot and release date. So sit back, and enjoy.
What is Time about?
As we mentioned, the Jimmy McGovern drama premiered in 2021 and sheds light on the systematic failings in the under-resourced British prison system, while also delving into what life is like as a prisoner. In series 1, we met teacher Mark Cobden (Sean Bean), a first-time prisoner, who was consumed by guilt after killing a cyclist while drink-driving. A mild and unassuming man, he struggled to adapt to the violent and unpredictable life behind bars. In a parallel storyline, we also met Prison Officer Eric McNally (Stephen Graham), whose principles were tested when an inmate discovered his family member was in prison and began blackmailing him.
Meanwhile, the second series – which covered themes of motherhood, addiction and mental health - followed three different women as they arrived at the fictional Carlingford Prison on the same day. They were Orla (Jodie Whittaker), a single mother who had been given a surprisingly hefty sentence for a minor crime, teenage heroin addict Kelsey (Bella Ramsey), and Abi (Tamara Lawrance), a lifer who was put behind bars for murdering her baby son, Daniel.
What will happen in Time series 3?
Time series 3 will consist of three new episodes and is set in a Young Offenders Institution, where disillusioned Prison Chaplain Marie-Louise (Siobhan Finneran) has lost her faith in the system. Things take a turn for the worse when tragedy strikes within the prison and Marie-Louise clashes with veteran officer Bailey, a man in the midst of his own crisis. According to the BBC's official synopsis: "Bailey knows more about the circumstances that led to this major incident – but will he come clean before the guilt gets too much?
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“Meanwhile, two teenage young offenders, Peter and James, struggle through the terrifying first weeks and months of their incarceration. Can James ever face his broken parents after an unforgivable act of violence and will Peter tell the truth about the death of an innocent man, or does family loyalty mean more? An unlikely friendship between them looks to shift the trajectory of their futures, but in an increasingly unstable environment, is change ever possible?"
Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama, has teased what to expect from Time’s new instalment, saying: “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.”
Robert Schildhouse, President of BritBox, added: “We’re excited to partner with the BBC on this next chapter of the acclaimed series, featuring David Tennant and Siobhan Finneran in roles we know will be powerful and unforgettable. With Jimmy McGovern and Sam Bailey’s masterful writing and an exceptional cast coming together, this third season will be a must-watch.”
Who’s in the cast of Time series 3?
The cast of Time series 3 includes:
- David Tennant (Rivals, Thursday Murder Club) as Prison Officer Bailey
- Siobhan Finneran (Out of the Dust) as Prison Chaplain Marie-Louise
- Daniel Ryan (The Bay) as Freddie Jennings, a Custodial Manager at the YOI
- Jo Joyner (Little Disasters) as Nicola
- Vinette Robinson (Six Four) as Erica
- Louis McCartney (Hope Street) as James
- Ollie McNulty (newcomer) as Peter
- Chukwubuikem Molokwu (newcomer) as Christopher
Is there a trailer for Time series 3?
Yes, you can watch the trailer for Time series 3 below.
Is Time any good?
Yes – Time really is one of the BBC's best dramas! Not only is the series an emotionally powerful watch, it also raises important questions about the prison system. On Rotten Tomatoes, the drama has a score of 96% across critics’ reviews – which isn't easily done. The show was also nominated for several awards, winning the BAFTA TV Award for Best Mini-Series in 2022.
How can I watch Time series 3?
Time series three will launch on BBC iPlayer at 6am on Sunday 11th October and on BBC One at 9pm. In the meantime, you can catch up on Time series 1 and series 2 on BBC iPlayer now.
What other dramas can I watch now?
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For another superb drama about failing justice systems, we'd recommend The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox, which is available to watch now Disney+. Starring Grace Van Patten as Amanda Knox and the ever-brilliant Sharon Horgan as Amanda’s mother, Edda Mella, the eight-part drama charts the real-life Amanda’s battle to be believed after being falsely imprisoned in Italy for the murder of her roommate Meredith Kercher. Sheridan Smith’s latest ITV drama, I Fought the Law, is also well worth catching up on. Sheridan plays the real-life Ann Ming, who spent 15 years fighting to finally see the man that murdered her daughter brought to justice. All four episodes are available to watch on ITVX.
