Jimmy McGovern's Time returning to BBC One for a third series

And this time, Siobhan Finneran will be joined by David Tennant.

BBC One has confirmed that Jimmy McGovern's drama Time, will be returning for a third series with a brand new story and brand new cast, including David Tennant as Prison Officer Bailey, and Siobhan Finneran reprising her role as Marie-Louise, a prison chaplain.

Set within a Young Offenders Institution, the new three-part series will explore the impact of locking up teenagers and the effects on those who look after them.

Prison Chaplain Marie-Louise comes to the YOI having lost her faith. When tragedy strikes within the prison, Marie-Louise clashes with veteran officer Bailey, a man in the midst of his own crisis. Bailey knows more about the circumstances that led to this major incident – but will he come clean before the guilt gets too much?

Meanwhile, two teenage young offenders, Peter and James, struggle through the terrifying first weeks and months of their incarceration. Can James ever face his broken parents after an unforgivable act of violence and will Peter tell the truth about the death of an innocent man, or does family loyalty mean more? An unlikely friendship between them looks to shift the trajectory of their futures, but in an increasingly unstable environment, is change ever possible?

Speaking ahead of the new series, series creator and writer Jimmy McGovern said "Siobhan Finneran is back! And we've got a wonderful leading man in David Tennant. And a brilliant director in Paul Whittington. I think it's going to be wonderful."

To which the BBC's Director of Drama, Lindsay Salt, added "Jimmy McGovern is a master at creating brave, thought-provoking dramas that deeply resonate with BBC viewers, so we are thrilled to be back for a third run of Time. With David Tennant and Siobhan Finneran leading the cast, Samuel Bailey co-writing, Paul Whittington directing and the team at BBC Studios Fiction producing, we are all set for another powerful and memorable piece of work from Jimmy."

Made by BBC Studios Fiction in co-production with BritBox, series three will be written by Jimmy McGovern and Samuel Bailey, directed by Paul Whittington, produced by Amanda Black and executive produced by Josh Cole, Andrew Morrissey and Michael Parke for BBC Studios Fiction, Lucy Richer for the BBC, Jon Farrar and Jess O'Riordan for BritBox, and Jimmy McGovern.

On today's news, Andrew Morrissey, Executive Producer for BBC Studios Fiction said "It is a privilege to be making a third series of Time with such a fantastic team. We are excited to introduce the audience to a whole new part of the prison system. Once we started the research, we knew there were stories that demanded to be told."

To which Robert Schildhouse, President, BritBox added "BritBox is committed to delivering great television to our subscribers, and Time is a perfect example of that promise. We’re excited to partner with the BBC on this next chapter of the acclaimed series, featuring David Tennant and Siobhan Finneran in roles we know will be powerful and unforgettable. With Jimmy McGovern and Sam Bailey’s masterful writing and an exceptional cast coming together, this third season will be a must-watch."

Time will return to BBC One