Series 3 is the final production for the show, announced today.

The BBC has announced the return of hit drama Doctor Foster for a third and final series. Created and written by Mike Bartlett, the new five-part run will see Suranne Jones reprise her multi-award-winning role as Gemma Foster, opposite Bertie Carvel as Simon and Tom Taylor as Tom. Made by Drama Republic (Riot Women, One Day, Steal) for BBC iPlayer and BBC One, filming will begin later this Spring.

Ten years ago, on discovering her husband Simon was having an affair, Gemma Foster enacted a masterful revenge. But the fallout was devastating when her 15-year-old son Tom disappeared. Now, in series three, Gemma is still a GP, still in the same house, but on the brink of a fresh start: she has met someone new and is getting married. 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?

On returning to Doctor Foster, Suranne Jones says: “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. 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.”

Writer, creator and executive producer Mike Bartlett, says: “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…”

Roanna Benn and Jude Liknaitzky, executive producers/co-CEO’s for Drama Republic, say: “We are so excited to be bringing the finale of Doctor Foster to the screen. Mike Bartlett has written thrilling, gripping, audacious scripts that see Gemma and Simon re-encounter one another ten years on and it is electrifying!!! We cannot wait to watch the phenomenal Suranne and Bertie together on screen once again. And to meet the grown-up Tom. It is honestly going to be an amazing ride!”

Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama, says: "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!"

Doctor Foster was a UK sensation when it aired in 2015 and 2017, with nearly 10 million people watching the finale of series two. It also achieved critical acclaim and National Television Awards for both series, with Suranne Jones winning a BAFTA for her role as Gemma Foster.

Series three (5x60) is produced by Drama Republic, a Mediawan Group Company, and is created and written by Mike Bartlett, who is also an executive producer. It will be directed by John Hardwick (One Day, Buccaneers), with Nige Watson (Killing Eve, The Assassin) as producer. Executive producers are Roanna Benn and Jude Liknaitzky (for Drama Republic), Mike Bartlett and Suranne Jones. Series three was commissioned by Lindsay Salt, BBC Director of Drama. BBC Studios is handling global sales of the series and the format, which has been successfully adapted in 15 territories worldwide, underscoring the drama’s strong resonance with international audiences.

Filming will take place in and around Hertfordshire. Series one and two of Doctor Foster are available to stream on BBC iPlayer.

I really enjoyed this and can't wait for episode 2. Don't think he'll be having an affair but it'll be something else.

Saw last night's episode and it's really intriguing! Soaps could definitely learn a thing or two from this about how to make affair storylines interesting.

 

I see it's Karen from Corrie in the main role - she seems thinner, her voice is different and a few more wrinkles since I last saw her but still recognisably her.

Yes she's certainly lost weight. Very intruiging drama with, I think, plenty more twists and turns still to come.

From the trailer it seems she finds a blonde hair on her own scarf, so assumes her husband is having an affair.

Loving this at the moment, I wasn't sure when it first started if this was going to be one of those Sunday night kind of dramas but I'm hooked...can't wait to see where this goes and what other twists there'll be!

 

Suranne Jones is fantastic in this but I'm slightly biased as I love Scott & Bailey too

It is superb acting from Surrane Jones, I really like how often her character changes and the scene where she told him that she knows was excellent.

 

I'm really intrigued into where this will go now with a few episodes still to go. It's interesting that we're seeing it all from her perspective too and so we don't know what really happened when he was on the phone hearing about the baby, there has to be more to it than just the affair.

I feel (for the most part) it would have ended with the last episode in a standard drama, with him apparently breaking up with the girl and the wife being happy and comfortable with the current situation, especially after she basically cheated on him too. So very interesting to see where this goes now, especially with the money situation!

An EXCELLENT final episode, a perfect hour of drama which had me gripped throughout. Perfect writing and excellent performances from all involved. Surrane Jones has been particularly fantastic throughout the series.

 

It was so tense to see her go slightly psychotic and to have that doubt that she might have actually killed her child. :o

Been a bit disappointed with it on the whole but what a fantastic final episode! So thrilling and tense!

An EXCELLENT final episode, a perfect hour of drama which had me gripped throughout. Perfect writing and excellent performances from all involved. Surrane Jones has been particularly fantastic throughout the series.

 

It was so tense to see her go slightly psychotic and to have that doubt that she might have actually killed her child. :o

 

Agree with all of this!

 

Fantastic series, I've been gripped from episode one and the writing and acting have been incredible!

 

Only thing I wanted to know was the song used at the end of the episode I really want to know who sings it!

I've loved the whole series so was kinda worried the ending would be a let down but it was in fact more gripping than I could imagine! I loved the way she finally made him see how he made her feel; that was extremely satisfying if not terrifying when we weren't too sure her kid was alive or not! I'm so ready to see Suranne in a lot more dramas, as I'm sure a lot will be wanting to book her after this series has been so well received.

I enjoyed it (and Suranne Jones was excellent) but I found the final episode a bit of a damp squib! I'm not sure I found Suranne's character entirely worthy of being liked. I don't like the way she brought her son into the argument! Also - the dinner party - was there any reason to bring that family's son into the conflict? She seemed a bit of a drama queen who put the importance of her relationship with her partner before the importance of her relationship with her child! No mother would do that - unless they were a bit deranged!

Edited October 11, 201510 yr by Kath

I thnk not entirely warming/agreeing with Surrane Jones' actions was a main part of the drama! I remember seeing an interview with Surrane before the show started where she said the audience are meant to question whether she is actually a good person or something along those lines.

 

I like that aspect of it as not everyone would react to the situation in a perfect way!

Excellent doesn't begin to cover it. One of the best BBC dramas in recent years.

Brilliant, one of the best dramas I have seen on tv in a while

Been reviewed for a second series. I really wish it hadn't because this worked so well as one series; I really don't know where they can go from here without the quality taking a sharp U-turn.

Well, we didn't really know where the first series was going to go, did we?

There's loads of stuff they could explore.. Finding Gemma a new partner, how her and her son adapt to his fathers newborn baby..

It could also follow her ex-husband and his bitchy little girlfriend and, my god, I hope they split them up and leave him with nothing.

Edited November 3, 201510 yr by Scherz

Yeh, I was a bit annoyed that they'd announced a second series because, even though it was an excellent drama and I thoroughly enjoyed it, I wasn't crying out for another series as I didn't think it was necessary. The story was perfectly told in the 5 episodes and it can get annoying when a series is renewed purely because of the ratings rather than there being a need for it in the story.

 

However, after seeing your post Scherz, it COULD have the potential to be great as well. I guess we'll have to see. Might be in a better position to judge after the second series of Happy Valley airs.

I'm not happy they've ordered a second series. I just think it's going to ruin the impact of the first series. It was best left alone.