If you were one of the many millions who tuned into Doctor Foster's series 2 finale, you'd be forgiven for think that was it - the end. But, a whole nine years on, the hit BBC drama is returning for an epic third instalment and, according to star Suranne Jones, the wait is going to be worth it. In what's set to be the best series yet, Suranne is stepping back into the shoes of Dr Gemma Foster and she's about to get married again - only her fresh start is far more complicated than she anticipated.
If you’re new to the world of Doctor Foster, the drama originally aired for two series in 2015 and 2017 to great acclaim and followed Gemma, whose perfect family life unravelled when she discovered her husband, Simon (Bertie Carvel), was having an affair with the much younger, Kate Parks (Jodie Comer). This time around, Gemma has seemingly put all that behind her to embark on a better life with a new partner - until history threatens to repeat itself.
Ahead of Doctor Foster’s much-anticipated return to our screens, here’s everything you need to know about the third series, including the plot, cast and how to watch it.
What is Doctor Foster about?
As we mentioned, Doctor Foster first arrived on BBC One in 2015, introducing us to titular character, Dr Gemma Foster (Suranne Jones), a GP in the town of Parminster. On paper, she has it all: a great job, a loving husband, Simon (Bertie Carvel), and a teenage son, Tom (Tom Taylor). But that all changes when she finds a mysterious strand of blonde hair on Simon’s scarf and immediately becomes concerned he's having an affair.
Unfortunately, Gemma’s suspicions are indeed soon confirmed, and she discovers Simon’s mistress is 23-year-old Kate Parks (Jodie Comer). Over the course of five episodes, Gemma collects evidence of Simon’s infidelity, which she ultimately exposes at an awkward family dinner party. In the aftermath, Simon and Kate move to London, while Gemma tries her best to patch up her life in Parminster. But it’s not over yet…
In the second series, which debuted in 2017, Simon and Kate return to Parminster after two years in the capital with their new daughter, Amelie, destabilising Gemma’s newfound peace. Rather than doing their best to amicably co-exist, Gemma and Simon engage in all-out war, with the five-part series exploring how far the former couple will go to come out victorious over their ex. As their toxic battle wages on, Gemma and Simon overlook the toll it's having on their son, who disappears in the dramatic finale.
What will happen in Doctor Foster series 3?
The third and final series of Doctor Foster is set 10 years on from the fallout between Gemma and her cheating husband, Simon, that led to the disappearance of their 15-year-old son, Tom. Now, Gemma is still a GP and living in the same house – but she’s met a new partner and is getting married. If only the latter was quite so simple...
According to the official synopsis: "As the wedding day draws closer, and friends and family gather, shadows from the past begin to re-emerge threatening both her happiness and her reputation. As Gemma fights to protect those she loves and expose whoever’s intent on hurting her, will she be able to put the past to bed, dispense justice, and claim the future she deserves, before it is too late?"
Sharing further insight into Doctor Foster’s return, writer, creator and executive producer Mike Bartlett, promised “secrets, betrayals and vengeance”, adding: “I always hoped that we’d get to tell the final part of Gemma’s story - which is about a woman seeking justice in an unfair world. That feels as relevant now as when Gemma first found a blonde hair on the scarf.
"It’s been a joy to team up once again with the hugely talented Drama Republic, the now very grown-up and brilliant Tom Taylor, the inimitable Bertie Carvel and of course, the incomparable Suranne Jones, to tell the final chapter of this story and revisit Parminster - where it turns out there’s still secrets, betrayals, vengeance and perhaps one last dinner party…”
Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama, added: "It’s a privilege to welcome Doctor Foster back to the BBC after almost a decade away. The extent to which the first two series gripped the nation is a credit to Mike’s writing, the talented team at Drama Republic and our magnificent cast – and now we’re ready do it one more time in this epic final chapter. Bring it on!"
What has Suranne Jones said about Doctor Foster series 3?
Despite being one of the busiest British actresses, with all sorts of offers on her plate, Suranne revealed she didn’t hesitate to say “yes” to return to Doctor Foster. She explained: “When I got the call to ask if I wanted to return as Gemma Foster, I knew the time was right. We needed space from the first two series, and we needed Tom - Gemma and Simon’s runaway son - to return as an adult with questions. “
She continued: “For me, this time around it’s about accountability and questioning - ‘can we ever truly sever ties with our past and the damage or traumas that haunt us, so we can fully move forward?’ Gemma and Simon have so much to unpick! It’s been an exciting time working with the brilliant Mike Bartlett again, and the team at Drama Republic, on the scripts and now I can’t wait to start filming.”
Who’s in the cast of Doctor Foster series 3?
So far, the confirmed cast of Doctor Foster series 3 includes Suranne Jones (Frauds, Hostage) as Gemma Foster, Bertie Carvel (The Crown, Dalgliesh) as Simon Foster and Tom Taylor (The Bay, Close to Me) as Tom. As soon we have more cast updates, we’ll update you here.
Is Doctor Foster any good?
Yes - in fact, it's one of the best British dramas of the past decade. When it aired in 2015 and 2017, it had viewers on the edge of their seats and nearly 10 million people watched the series 2 finale. Doctor Foster also won National Television Awards for both series, while Suranne won a BAFTA for her role as Gemma.
How can I watch Doctor Foster series 3?
While the BBC hasn't yet shared a release date for Doctor Foster, we're expecting it to arrive on BBC One and BBC iPlayer at the end of the year at the earliest. As soon as we have a confirmed date, we'll share it here. In the meantime, you can watch the first two series on BBC iPlayer.
What other relationship dramas can I watch now?
For a seriously twisty watch, we'd recommend The Girlfriend. The series revolves around Laura (Robin Wright), whose perfect life is blown apart when her son, Daniel (Laurie Davidson), brings home his new girlfriend, Cherry (Olivia Cooke), who she suspects isn't exactly as pleasant as she seems. You can watch The Girlfriend now on Prime Video. We'd also recommend Wild Cherry, which follows two best friends and their teenage daughters whose loyalties are pushed to the breaking point when a scandal breaks out at their private school. You can watch Wild Cherry now on BBC iPlayer.
