This could be the last Time, says crime drama creator Jimmy McGovern

Time creator Jimmy McGovern has said series three of the show is likely to be its last.

The anthology crime drama has been a success for the BBC, with the upcoming third series starring David Tennant and Siobhan Finneran.

Speaking to Radio Times, McGovern said: “I think this will be the last Time.

“I have said that many a time before, though, because these are also stories I feel bound to tell.”

The new episodes will follow Tennant and Daniel Ryan as Bobby Bailey and Freddie Jennings, custodial managers of a young offenders institution.

Finneran will reprise her role as Prison Chaplain Marie-Louise from series two.

When tragedy strikes the prison, Marie-Louise clashes with Bailey, who is in the midst of his own crisis and knows about the events that led to the incident.

The new series will also follow two teenage young offenders, Peter and James, struggle through the terrifying first weeks and months of their incarceration.

Discussing his thoughts on the prison system, Tennant said: “It’s a necessary part of a civilised society, I suppose, but what does that do to the human beings that are incarcerated?

“I’m not saying they don’t deserve to be there, but it’s an extraordinary thing that we do to each other.”

Finneran added: “I’ve probably always thought the system was broken.

“Especially doing this series, you think: these boys are damaged when they go in there and there’s not enough time or resources to help them while they’re there.”

The first series of time aired in 2021 and starred Sean Bean and Stephen Graham.

Series two followed in 2023 and starred Jodie Whittaker, Tamara Lawrance, Bella Ramsey and Finneran.

Episode one of Time series three will launch on BBC iPlayer at 6am on Sunday October 11 and on BBC One at 9pm.

Episode two will follow on Monday October 12, with episode three airing on Sunday October 18.

Published: 06/10/2026 by Radio NewsHub