Suranne Jones will reprise her role as Gemma Foster, alongside Bertie Carvel as Simon and Tom Taylor as Tom. Filming begins in the spring

he BBC’s hit drama, Doctor Foster, is returning for a third and final season, almost ten years after the last series aired.

Created and written by Mike Bartlett, the upcoming five-part series will see Suranne Jones reprise her multi-award-winning role as Gemma Foster, opposite Bertie Carvel as Simon and Tom Taylor as Tom.

Suranne Jones will reprise her role in season three

The captivating drama, which boasts an impressive Rotten Tomatoes score of 86 per cent, was a huge hit for the BBC when it aired in 2015 and 2017, with nearly ten million people tuning into the season two finale. Fans will undoubtedly be counting down the days until this high-stakes, suspenseful domestic drama returns.

Suranne, who won a BAFTA for her portrayal of Gemma, said the “time was right” to return to the series, which begins filming in and around Hertfordshire this spring.

Keep reading for all we know so far…

What to expect from season 3

The series, made by Drama Republic (Riot Women, One Day, Steal), picks up ten years after the first season, when Gemma discovered her husband Simon was having an affair and enacted a masterful revenge.

The fallout was devastating, as their 15-year-old son Tom disappeared.

Bertie Carvel will return as Simon

In series three, Gemma is still working as a GP and living in the same house, but looks forward to a fresh start as she’s engaged to be married.

The synopsis continues: “But 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?”

© BBC/Drama Republic
Filming begins on season three this spring

Teasing the new season, writer, creator and executive producer Mike Bartlett said it’s been “a joy” to tell the final chapter, where “it turns out there’s still secrets, betrayals, vengeance and perhaps one last dinner party”.

It’s not yet been revealed if Jodie Comer, who played Kate in seasons one and two, will return.

What has Suranne Jones said about returning to the role?

On reprising her role, Suranne revealed that the “time was right” to return to the show. “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,” said the actress.

“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.”

© BBC/Drama Republic
The show first aired in 2015

Meanwhile, executive producers Roanna Benn and Jude Liknaitzky teased the series as “thrilling, gripping and audacious”.