![\"David](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/PRI_182075431-3c51-e1763655129686.jpg\")
\n\t\tDavid Tennant is about to do time (Picture: ITV\/Rex)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\tDavid Tennant is about to do time (Picture: ITV\/Rex)<\/p>\n
Key Points<\/p>\n
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BBC confirms third series of award-winning drama Time, featuring David Tennant as Prison Officer Bailey<\/p>\n
The new series will be set in a young offenders institute<\/p>\n
Both previous seasons were critically acclaimed, with high ratings and multiple Baftas won<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\tCreated with AI assistance. Quality assured by Metro editors.\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
If you love hard-hitting prison dramas and David Tennant<\/a>, then we\u2019ve got some amazing news for you.<\/p>\n The BBC<\/a> has officially announced a third series of their Bafta-winning drama Time, with Tennant joining the show as Prison Officer Bailey.<\/p>\n Tennant won\u2019t be alone, however; he\u2019ll be joined by Siobhan Finneran, who is reprising her role as prison chaplain Marie-Louise.<\/p>\n This new three-part series will be set in a young offenders institute and follow two new inmates, Peter and James, as they navigate the terrifying first weeks and months of their incarceration.<\/p>\n However, when tragedy strikes, Marie-Louise finds herself at odds with Bailey, who may know more about this incident than he first lets on.<\/p>\n Will he come clean before the guilt gets too much? We\u2019ll have to watch to find out.<\/p>\n \t\t \t\t In a statement shared with Metro, series creator and writer Jimmy McGovern expressed his excitement to be working on a new series.<\/p>\n \u2018Siobhan Finneran is back! And we\u2019ve got a wonderful leading man in David Tennant,\u2019 he said. \u2018And a brilliant director in Paul Whittington. I think it\u2019s going to be wonderful.\u2019<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Andrew Morrissey, Executive Producer for BBC Studios Fiction, added that it is a privilege to be making a third series of Time with such a fantastic team.<\/p>\n We are excited to introduce the audience to a whole new part of the prison system, he continued. \u2018Once we started the research, we knew there were stories that demanded to be told.\u2019<\/p>\n \t\t Time is an anthology series where each season is set in a different prison, following different characters.<\/p>\n Season One told the story of Mark Cobden (Sean Bean<\/a>), a new inmate at Craigmore Prison who\u2019s jailed after killing someone by dangerous driving.<\/p>\n Once in prison, he befriends officer Eric McNally (Stephen Graham<\/a>), but things are complicated when a drug dealer realises he can extort the prison guard.<\/p>\n The second season, meanwhile, followed Orla (Jodie Whittaker<\/a>), Abi (Tamara Lawrance) and Kelsey (Bella Ramsey<\/a>), three very different women, as they began their sentences.<\/p>\n \t\t Both series were wildly successful, attracting millions of viewers and plenty of critical praise. The first season has a perfect 100% on Rotten Tomatoes<\/a>, while the second has a very respectable 93%.<\/p>\n In his Observer<\/a> review, Euan Ferguson wrote: \u2018This was a triumph, if at times an appallingly hard watch. The casting didn\u2019t hurt.\u2019<\/p>\n While Carol Midgley at The Times<\/a> called it \u2018compelling television,\u2019 adding \u2018it has a premium cast and is written like a punch to the face. In a good way.\u2019<\/p>\n What\u2019s more, both series brought home plenty of Baftas<\/a>, including a Best Mini-Series gong and acting awards for Bean, Lawrance, and Ramsey.<\/p>\n It\u2019s not just critics and awards panels who love the show, though plenty of regular TV viewers were charmed by it.<\/p>\n \u2018Often difficult to watch, but nonetheless an absolute triumph that demonstrates the very best of British drama,\u2019 Danielbellamy-58059 wrote about the first series.<\/p>\n \t\t \u2018Sean Bean and Stephen Graham demonstrate why they are two of the most respected names in the industry today with absolutely stellar performances and never let up for a second.\u2019<\/p>\n \u2018Amazing acting, compelling stories,\u2019 added ASuiGeneri. \u2018Both Season 1 & 2 were phenomenal. Rare for a series to maintain the high calibre from episode to episode, let alone multiple seasons! Bravo to the BBC.\u2019<\/p>\n D-Penn, meanwhile, called both series \u2018must watch\u2019 saying it\u2019s \u2018a show that will stay with you long after you\u2019ve finished watching it.\u2019<\/p>\n Time series one and two are available to stream on BBC iPlayer and BritBox now.<\/p>\n Got a story?<\/p>\n If you\u2019ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk<\/a> entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff<\/a> page \u2013 we\u2019d love to hear from you.<\/p>\n Arrow Arrow Arrow![\"TIME](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/SEI_82472059-0e56.jpg\")
\n\t\tJimmy McGovern wrote and created the series (Picture: BBC\/Matt Squire\/James Stack)<\/p>\n![\"Time,06-06-2021,1,Eric](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/SEI_218206200-8613.jpg\")
\n\t\tStephen Graham starred alongside Sean Bean (Picture: BBC\/Matt Squire)<\/p>\n![\"WARNING:](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/SEI_80317728-ef39.jpg\")
\n\t\tSiobhan Finneran is also returning (Picture: BBC\/James Stack)<\/p>\n![\"WARNING:](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/SEI_85353729-1a2b.jpg\")
\n\t\tBoth series of Time received critical acclaim and awards attention (Picture: BBC\/James Stack)<\/p>\n![\"Mandatory](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/SEI_274590723-4cb0.jpg\")
\n\t\tDavid will play Prison Officer Bailey, a guard at a young offenders institute (Picture: Amy Muir\/Shutterstock)<\/p>\n
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