The BBC has unveiled the additional cast for Time season three – and viewers can't wait for the gripping crime drama to return.
Known for charting the lives of prison inmates and staff, Time season three has started filming in Belfast and stars David Tennant (Broadchurch) and Siobhan Finneran (Happy Valley). The new instalment explores the impact of incarcerating teenagers and the effect it has on those responsible for their care.
Season one of the hit series starred Sean Bean and Stephen Graham, while season two featured Jodie Whittaker and Bella Ramsay. The third series sees screenwriter Jimmy McGovern (Unforgivable, Cracker, The Street) return, joined by Samuel Bailey (Shook) as co-writer.
You know you're in for a treat when a show features some of the very best British talent has to offer, and David Tennant and Siobhan Finneran are no exception. With a near-perfect 96% score on Rotten Tomatoes and another strong supporting cast, season three is set to be just as unmissable. Read on for more details about the new season…
What is Time season 3 about?
This time, the anthology crime series is set in a Young Offenders Institution, where viewers will see the impact of incarceration on teenagers' lives.
The BBC synopsis reads: "Prison Chaplain Marie-Louise comes to the YOI having lost her faith. When tragedy strikes within the prison, Marie-Louise clashes with veteran officer Bailey, a man in the midst of his own crisis. Bailey knows more about the circumstances that led to this major incident – but will he come clean before the guilt gets too much?
© Getty"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?"
Who stars in Time season 3?
Alongside David Tennant and Siobhan Finneran, the newly announced supporting cast includes Vinette Robinson (Boiling Point, The Lazarus Project) as Erica and Jo Joyner (Little Disasters, Stay Close) as Nicola.
Daniel Ryan (Such Brave Girls, The Bay) plays Custodial Manager Jennings, while Warren Brown (Ten Pound Poms, The Responder) stars as Albie and Louis McCartney (Stranger Things: The First Shadow, Hope Street) plays James.
Other names include Ethaniel Davy (Chicken Town, Hollyoaks) as Jayden, alongside newcomers Ollie McNulty and Chukwubuikem Molokwu, who play Peter and Christopher.
Rounding out the cast are Victor Zhao, Paul Smith Junior, Finn Kearns and Jack Barnes, who make their screen debuts as Jietang, Toby, Mark and Chaz respectively.
Time Rotten Tomatoes Score
The BBC crime drama has proven a huge success with viewers, achieving a 96% critics' score and an 89% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
© James Stack, BBC"Absolutely riveting drama, a must-watch from start to finish. Brilliantly acted and excellent plot," wrote one viewer, while another added: "Overall, Time is a very effective and heartfelt series. It's the definition of short and sweet. Prison dramas can be difficult to watch, but while this is tough in places, the series has such heart too."
A third added: "Superb acting, writing and production. This is much more than 'another' prison drama."
What have the creatives said?
Speaking about the third instalment, series creator and writer Jimmy McGovern said: "What a wonderful cast. I am utterly delighted!"
Meanwhile, co-writer Samuel Bailey added: "It's been an absolute honour to work with Jimmy on Time series three, and with the brilliant cast put together by the team, I think this series will be just as impactful and devastating as Time one and two.
© BBC/Sally Mais"I'm particularly excited for audiences to meet the lads playing our young offenders, who are all remarkable actors that I know we're going to be seeing a lot more of in the future."
Filming for season 3 is underway in Belfast, with a release date yet to be announced. Time series one and two are available to stream on BBC iPlayer in the UK and on BritBox in North America.
