Heartstopper season 3: Release date, cast, plot and trailer

Talking about what's to come, Connor told the Radio Times Podcast that the new episodes won't suddenly feel like we're in a scene from HBO's Euphoria.

He said: "We still approach sex in a very Heartstopper [way]. It doesn't suddenly sort of switch to Euphoria all of a sudden. We still approach it in a very optimistic and light hearted approach to it, I suppose."

He added: "I think we really focus on the difficulties of knowing when one is ready and what that might feel like and what it is to be a young queer person. Because there isn't as much representation in the industry of queer sex."

To celebrate the release of season 3, Netflix have also even treated fans to the first couple of minutes of episode 1, which you can watch below.

It's also been confirmed that Charlie's battle with an eating disorder, which was first brought up in season 2, will be a plot thread carried through to this instalment as his condition worsens.

"The not-fun content is almost the most fun stuff to do," Locke added of this hard-hitting storyline. "What I love about Alice's writing is she can cover quite hard topics, but you always know that it’s going to be OK."

And aside from our returning cast of familiar faces, there's also some starry new additions to season 3 with the likes of Jonathan Bailey and Hayley Atwell joining for their own dramatic arcs.

Want to know more? Read on for everything we know so far about Heartstopper season 3.

Heartstopper season 3 release date: When will it air?

Heartstopper season 3 debuts on Thursday 3rd October on Netflix.

Heartstopper season 3 episodes: How many are there?

There are eight episodes in total.

Heartstopper season 3 cast news: Who's returning?

The main cast is as follows:

• Kit Connor as Nick
• Joe Locke as Charlie
• William Gao as Tao
• Yasmin Finney as Elle
• Corinna Brown as Tara
• Kizzy Edgell as Darcy
• Tobie Donovan as Isaac
• Jenny Walser as Tori
• Rhea Norwood as Imogen
• Leila Khan as Sahar

In exciting news, Hayley Atwell (Avengers: Endgame) has joined the show as Nick's aunt Diane, Bridgerton's Jonathan Bailey is playing Jack Maddox, an Instagram-famous classicist who Charlie has a crush on, and Eddie Marsan (Back to Black) has been cast as Charlie's therapist, Geoff.

But sadly, Olivia Colman will not feature in season 3. "I couldn’t do number three. I couldn’t fit it in," she told Forbes. "I feel awful about that."

Likewise, co-star Sebastian Croft has also departed the show, with the story of his abusive character Ben Hope concluding at the end of season 2. His exit was confirmed last year.

Heartstopper season 3 plot: What will happen?

Charlie wants to tell Nick that he loves him, while Nick also has something he wants to say to Charlie – but will they get an opportunity to open up to one another?

"As the summer holiday ends and the months race on, the friends begin to realise that the school year will come with both its joys and its challenges," reads the official synopsis.

"As they learn more about each other and their relationships, plan social events and parties and start thinking about university choices, everyone must learn to lean on those they love when life doesn't go to plan."

Read more:

• Joe Locke on Heartstopper season 3, filming sex scenes and famous fans
• Kit Connor on "sweet and tender" sex scenes in Heartstopper season 3
• Heartstopper's Alice Oseman opens up on tackling sex and mental health in season 3

Heartstopper season 3 is thought to draw inspiration primarily from volumes 4 and 5 of the graphic novels, with author Alice Oseman recently confirming that the sixth will be the last.

Oseman told People that, while she finds the idea of concluding the series – and how readers might react to the news – "a little bit scary", she is "really looking forward to writing about adults".

She added: "That is something that I've just never had the opportunity to do... I'd love to try writing more for screen.

"I've really enjoyed writing the TV show and I would love to do more of that, whether that's something original or I would love to try adapting someone else's book. I think that could be really fun. It's all a mystery right now, so we'll see."

Heartstopper actor Joe Locke has also teased a "more grown up" season, which will address sex and related topics more directly than previous chapters have.

Heartstopper season 3 trailer: Can I watch it?

Yes! Netflix dropped the trailer for Heartstopper season 3 in September, giving fans a glimpse at what's in store – unfortunately, it isn't all rosey.

Previously, we got a release date announcement teaser featuring Billie Eilish's new song Birds of a Feather from her latest album Hit Me Hard and Soft.

Heartstopper season 3 arrived on Netflix on Thursday 3rd October. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on.

Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.