Vigil season 3 unveils chilly first look at new episodes as new cast members join Suranne Jones and Rose Leslie

The new season takes place at a remote Arctic research station.

Suranne Jones as Amy Silva and Rose Leslie as Kirsten Longacre in Vigil, wearing coats and hats, stood in a snowy, mountainous landscape and with shotguns strapped to their backs.

BBC / World Productions / Mark Mainz

Published: Wednesday, 11 February 2026 at 7:00 pm

Subscribe to Radio Times: 10 weeks for £10, including the Christmas double issue

Just over two years after the second season of Vigil debuted, a set of first-look images have been unveiled ahead of the BBC drama's return for season 3.

Ad

The images give us a look at the new setting for season 3, which sees Suranne Jones's DCI Amy Silvs and Rose Leslie's DI Kirsten Longacre investigating the death of a member of a covert British special forces mission at a remote Arctic research station.

The images also show us Jones and Leslie back in character, alongside other returning cast members Gary Lewis and Dominic Mafham, who play DS Robertson and Sir Ian Downing, respectively.

Additionally, they introduce us to the currently unnamed new characters played by Jeppe Beck Laursen (The Trip), Steven Miller (Dept. Q), Naomi Yang (Under Salt Marsh), Benjamin Wainwright (Belgravia: The Next Chapter), Tornike Gogrichiani (Drops of God) and Danusia Samal (Red Eye).

You can find all of the images right here now.

Showing item 1 of 9

previous item

Benjamin Wainwright in Vigil, stood outside at night, wearing a bulletproof vest and a black hat and holding a large gun.

Suranne Jones as Amy Silva in Vigil, stood, wearing a black jacket in a convention centre with a lot of people wearing suits sat behind her.

Rose Leslie as Kirsten Longacre in Vigil, wearing a coat and scarf, stood in a snowy, mountainous landscape and with a shotgun strapped to her back.

Suranne Jones as DCI Silva, Gary Lewis as DS Robertson and Rose Leslie as DI Longacre in Vigil, sat in a line on one side of a desk.

Naomi Yang in Vigil, wearing a coat and walking outside. There is a crowd behind a railing behind her and she has a backpack on.

Jeppe Beck Laursen in Vigil, wearing a coat and hat, stood in front of a plane on a runway in a snowy landscape.

Danusia Samal and Dominic Mafham as Sir Ian Downing in Vigil, sat together on one side of a desk.

Steven Miller in Vigil, wearing a coat and hat and sat in a car, looking out of its open window.

Tornike Gogrichiani in Vigil, wearing a coat and running across a snowy landscape, next to a hut.

Benjamin Wainwright in Vigil, stood outside at night, wearing a bulletproof vest and a black hat and holding a large gun.

Suranne Jones as Amy Silva in Vigil, stood, wearing a black jacket in a convention centre with a lot of people wearing suits sat behind her.

Rose Leslie as Kirsten Longacre in Vigil, wearing a coat and scarf, stood in a snowy, mountainous landscape and with a shotgun strapped to her back.

Suranne Jones as DCI Silva, Gary Lewis as DS Robertson and Rose Leslie as DI Longacre in Vigil, sat in a line on one side of a desk.

Naomi Yang in Vigil, wearing a coat and walking outside. There is a crowd behind a railing behind her and she has a backpack on.

Jeppe Beck Laursen in Vigil, wearing a coat and hat, stood in front of a plane on a runway in a snowy landscape.

Danusia Samal and Dominic Mafham as Sir Ian Downing in Vigil, sat together on one side of a desk.

Steven Miller in Vigil, wearing a coat and hat and sat in a car, looking out of its open window.

Tornike Gogrichiani in Vigil, wearing a coat and running across a snowy landscape, next to a hut.

Benjamin Wainwright in Vigil, stood outside at night, wearing a bulletproof vest and a black hat and holding a large gun.

next item

1 of 9

BBC / World Productions / Mark Mainz

BBC / World Productions / Mark Mainz

BBC / World Productions / Mark Mainz

BBC / World Productions / Mark Mainz

BBC / World Productions / Mark Mainz

BBC / World Productions / Mark Mainz

BBC / World Productions / Mark Mainz

BBC / World Productions / Mark Mainz

BBC / World Productions / Mark Mainz

The synopsis for season 3, which has once again been made by made by Line of Duty producer World Productions, part of ITV Studios, says: "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."

The season, which has now wrapped filming in Svalbard and Scotland, will also star new additions including Artur Zai Barrera (Lucky), Jordan Duvigneau (The Stolen Girl), Kaisa Hammarlund (Hijack), Adam Fidusiewicz (FBI: International), Eric Godon (In Bruges), Conor Berry (Karen Pirie) and Amy Manson (Rebus).

Jason Tobin (A Thousand Blows), Steven Cree (All of You), Killian Coyle (Shetland) Derek Riddell (Industry), Alma Prelec (Fifteen Love) Dawn Sievewright (Undertow) and Shereen Cutkelvin (Summerwater) round out the cast.

Want to see this content?

This page contains content provided by Google reCAPTCHA. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as Google reCAPTCHA may use cookies and other technologies. To view this content, choose 'Accept and continue' to allow Google reCAPTCHA and its required purposes.

Accept and continue

Creator Tom Edge has returned to write for the new season, with additional episodes in the six-part run being written by Tom Mair and Eve Hedderwick Turner. The series has been directed by Gareth Bryn (The Gathering) and Faye Gilbert (The Bay).

While a large part of season 1 took place on board a nuclear-powered submarine, season 2 took place in both Scotland and the fictional middle-eastern country Wudyan.

Vigil season 3 will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer later this year. Seasons 1 and 2 are available to stream now on BBC iPlayer.

Add Vigil to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more.

Ad

Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what’s on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.

Authors

Black and white cut-out portrait headshot of James Hibbs, smiling against a lime green background.

James HibbsDrama Writer

James Hibbs is a Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering programmes across both streaming platforms and linear channels. He previously worked in PR, first for a B2B agency and subsequently for international TV production company Fremantle. He possesses a BA in English and Theatre Studies and an NCTJ Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.

Ad

Ad

Get the Christmas double issue

Too much to watch at Christmas? Let Radio Times do the choosing to find something the whole family will enjoy.

Subscribe by 3 Dec

Loading...

Ad

Loading...