The BBC has unveiled a teaser for the third season of Vigil, the hit drama starring Suranne Jones and Rose Leslie, which returns this year

he wait is nearly over. The BBC’s smash-hit drama Vigil is making a long-awaited return later this year. To keep us going, the BBC has unveiled a chilling first look at the upcoming third season, teasing a new high-stakes investigation for DCI Amy Silva (Suranne Jones) and DI Kirsten Longacre (Rose Leslie).

Expectations are sky-high for the upcoming third season – and for good reason. The Emmy-winning series, which comes from the makers of Line of Duty and Showtrial, was watched by over 12 million viewers when it first debuted back in 2021, becoming one of the UK’s most successful dramas this decade.

© BBC / World Productions / Mark Mainz

Season one, which viewers hailed as “nail-biting”, saw Amy Silva investigate a murder on a navy submarine in Scottish waters. Meanwhile, in season two, which aired in 2023, Amy and Kirsten were drawn into the world of drone warfare after multiple unexplained deaths at a Scottish military facility.

If the trailer is anything to go by, viewers can expect another high-octane thrill ride. Keep reading to find out all we know about the new season.

What happens in Vigil season 3?

In season three, a new investigation takes DCI Amy Silva and DI Kirsten Longacre to a remote Arctic research station, where a member of a covert British special forces mission has been shot dead.

© BBC / World Productions / Mark Mainz

The synopsis continues: “Amy and Kirsten will need to catch the killer and defuse a potential international confrontation, driven by a land-grab for energy and resources in the changing polar climate, with both their careers and relationship on the line.”

Who stars in Vigil?

Suranne Jones stars as DCI Amy Silva, alongside Rose Leslie, who plays her on-screen colleague and partner, DI Kirsten Longacre.

Whilst speaking at a Q&A event ahead of series two, Suranne shared the similarities between herself and Amy, saying there’s a lot she can relate to.

“I have a child, we share that. I am constantly trying to balance my life and my career. I’ve had issues with anxiety, which Amy has had,” Suranne shared. “So there’s a lot of things I can relate to. I think that’s the beauty of finding the characters and going, ‘That’s the one’.”

Also reprising their roles for season three are Gary Lewis (DS Robertson) and Dominic Mafham (Sir Ian Downing).

They’re joined by some new faces, including Shetland actor Steven Miller, The Trip‘s Jeppe Beck Laursen and Maigret‘s Benjamin Wainwright.

© BBC / World Productions / Mark Mainz

Other cast members include Naomi Yang (Under Salt Marsh, Wolfe), Tornike Gogrichiani (Extraction 2, Drops of God), Danusia Samal (Red Eye, The Great), Artur Zai Barrera (The Old Man, Lucky), Jordan Duvigneau (Mood, Stolen Girl), Kaisa Hammarlund (Hijack, Grace) and Conor Berry (Karen Pirie, Schemers).

© BBC / World Productions / Mark Mainz

Rounding out the cast are Adam Fidusiewicz (FBI International, A Gentleman in Moscow), Eric Godon (In Bruges, Anna), Amy Manson (Rebus, Bodies), Jason Tobin (A Thousand Blows, The Ballad of a Small Player), Steven Cree (All of You, Heads of State), Killian Coyle (Shetland, Endeavour) Derek Riddell (Industry, Happy Valley), Alma Prelec (Secret Service, Fifteen Love) Dawn Sievewright (Undertow, Shetland) and Shereen Cutkelvin (Summerwater, Crime).

When will Vigil season 3 be released?

The BBC has yet to confirm a release date for season three, which will arrive later this year on BBC One and iPlayer.