The Tower season 3: Release date, plot and latest news
The ITV crime drama is returning for a third instalment.
The Tower season 3 is in full swing on ITV, with a fast-paced release schedule planned over four consecutive days this week.
The new instalment picks up just under two years after The Tower season 2 left off, throwing DS Sarah Collins (Gemma Whelan) back into action as she’s tasked with a stabbing as well as navigating conflict with DI Kieran Shaw (Emmett J Scanlan).
Things will be a bit different for Collin this time around, however, with Whelan previously teasing that her character may have a bit of a shaky moral compass this season.
Talking to RadioTimes.com and other press in a Q&A for the new season, Whelan explained: "Of course, as we know, her moral compass is so – although, it’s quite possibly a bit shaken this season but her moral compass is very north-south."
She added: "She’s unwavering in her policing by the book but I think this calls that into question a bit this season. It hits her personally this kid and how she can’t – normally she can make a difference because she follows the police book and things work out because you follow the rules."
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"And this time, it’s so messy. She’s shown a mirror this season and for the first time, Sarah can’t fix it.”
Whelan and Scanlan aren’t the only returning faces in the new instalment, with Tahirah Sharif and Jimmy Akingbola also back in their roles as Lizzie Adama and DC Steve Bradshaw, respectively.
And that's not all there is to look forward to: fans will be thrilled to hear that The Tower writer Patrick Harbinson has revealed he’s “already writing” season 4, which is based on London's latest novel The Misper.
But for now, read on for everything you need to know about season 3's episodes – including their release date on ITV1 and ITVX, and more information on the plot.
The Tower season 3 release date: When is it on TV?
The first episode landed at 9pm on ITV1 on Monday 2nd September 2024.
The four-part drama will air at the same time on subsequent nights, ending on Thursday 5 September at 9pm.
Season 3 will also be available to stream on ITVX.
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Who stars in The Tower season 3?
The third season sees the return of all the main players, as well as the addition of a few new faces.
Speaking to RadioTimes.com and other press ahead of season 3, writer Patrick Harbinson also promised some further "brilliant" actors, saying: "Daniel Adegboyega is joining us, as well as a young actor, Lamar Waves - some brilliant new actors."
The full list of stars is as follows:
- Gemma Whelan as DS Sarah Collins
- Tahirah Sharif as PC Lizzie Adama
- Jimmy Akingbola as DC Steve Bradshaw
- Emmett J Scanlan as DI Kieran Shaw
- Ella Smith as DC Elaine Lucas
- Michael Karim as PC Arif Johar
- Stuart McQuarrie as DCI Jim Fedden
- Bobby Lockwood as DC Lee Coutts
- Camilla Beeput as Julie Woodson
- Laurie Delaney as Mary Shaw
- Karl Davies as DCS Tim Bailie
- Lamar Waves as Ryan Kennedy
- Emmanuella Cole as Loretta Kennedy
- Omar Malik as Ujal Jarral
- Robbie Gee as DS Mark Angel
- Daniel Adegboyega as Shakiel Oliver
- David O'Reilly as DS Ash Curren
- Rawdat Quadri as Tia Kennedy
- Max Fincham as Spencer Cardoso
- Kwabena Peprah as Jermaine King
- Chord Melodic as Owen Pierce
- Allie Aylott as Lexie Moss
- John Gully as DC Archie Rivers
- Ged McKenna as Victor Grimes
The Tower season 3 trailer: Can I watch it?
Yes, you can watch the tense trailer for the new episodes below.
The Tower season 3 plot: What's it about?
The new season is based on Kate London's third novel, Gallowstree Lane.
The action picks up almost two years after the season 2 finale. Sarah Collins is investigating the stabbing of a teenager, which brings her face to face with Lizzie (Tahirah Sharif), who is doing her best to manage being a detective and a mother.
Gemma Whelan, who plays DS Sarah Collins, teased "shocks", "surprises" and a moral compass that's "shaken" at a recent press conference promoting the third season.
"Of course, as we know, her moral compass is so – although, it's quite possibly a bit shaken this season – but her moral compass is very north-south," she explained to RadioTimes.com and other press.
"She's unwavering in her policing by the book, but I think this calls that into question a bit this season.
"It hits her personally, this kid [who's been stabbed] and how she can't... Normally, she can make a difference because she follows the police book, and things work out because you follow the rules – and this time, it's so messy.
"She's shown a mirror this season, and for the first time, Sarah can't fix it."
The character will also be brought "into conflict with DI Kieran Shaw, who is running Operation Perseus, an undercover police task force set up to bring down South London drug kingpin Shakiel Oliver", according to the official synopsis.
"Kieran is working with DC Steve Bradshaw, who has gone undercover to infiltrate Shakiel's empire. The focus of Sarah and Kieran's conflict is 15-year-old Ryan Kennedy, who witnessed the fatal stabbing but is also a key part of Shakiel's inner circle.
"As Perseus heads to its shocking climax, Ryan will have a surprising role to play."
Speaking to RadioTimes.com and other press about what's in store, Harbinson said: "There is a wonderful, dark gangster storyline, if you like, with Jimmy and Emmett.
"Sarah and Lizzie have heartbreaking storylines, and the whole business of Farah Mehenni's phone, the tower, the reason I called it The Tower – what happened there does reverberate right the way through every character's life.
"A lot of these threads are beginning to come together, rather devastatingly. It's a real thriller, season 3. It's an exciting story – many, many good things. So we're delighted. I think everyone will enjoy it."
The Tower season 3 airs on ITV1 and ITVX from Monday 2nd September to Thursday 5th September at 9pm.
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