Doctor Foster is returning for a third and final series - and Gemma Foster is about to face her past all over again

Nearly a decade after it left us wondering just how far Gemma Foster would go, Doctor Foster is officially coming back.

The BBC has announced that the hit drama will return for a third and final series, with Suranne Jones reprising her BAFTA-winning role as the unforgettable Gemma Foster. And yes - Bertie Carvel is back as Simon, while Tom Taylor will return as Tom, Gemma and Simon’s son, who disappeared at the end of series two.

Created and written by Mike Bartlett, the new five-part series will pick up ten years after the events of the original drama, bringing Gemma, Simon and Tom back together for one final chapter. And if you thought Gemma had finally managed to leave the chaos of her past behind… think again.

Credit: Suranne Jones, Bertie Carvel, Tom Taylor in the BBC's Doctor Foster.

So, what is series three about?

Gemma is still a GP and, remarkably, still living in the same house. But this time around, she appears to be on the verge of a fresh start.

She’s met someone new. She’s getting married. And, for once, things seem to be going rather well. Of course, this is Doctor Foster - so we know that isn't going to last.

As Gemma’s wedding day approaches and friends and family gather around her, the ghosts of her past begin to resurface. Old secrets and betrayals threaten to derail her new life, while someone appears determined to damage both her happiness and her reputation. Gemma is once again forced to fight to protect the people she loves and uncover exactly who is trying to hurt her.

But with Simon back in her life and Tom now an adult with questions of his own, can Gemma finally confront everything that happened and put the past to bed for good? Or is it already too late?

For Jones, the timing felt right to revisit one of her most iconic characters. “When I got the call to ask if I wanted to return as Gemma Foster, I knew the time was right,” she said.

And there’s a particularly interesting difference this time around: Tom is no longer the teenage boy who disappeared all those years ago. He's a grown up now, with questions and opinions of his own.

Jones says the new series will explore questions of accountability, trauma and whether we can ever truly save ourselves from the damage caused by our past.

One last trip to Parminster

Creator Mike Bartlett says he had always hoped to tell the final part of Gemma’s story - a story about “a woman seeking justice in an unfair world”.

And while it has been almost ten years since we last saw her, Bartlett clearly doesn't think Parminster has become any less dramatic. There will be, he promises, “secrets, betrayals, vengeance and perhaps one final dinner party…”

Honestly, what more could you want?

The original Doctor Foster became a huge hit when it first aired in 2015, with the second series following in 2017. Almost 10 million viewers tuned in for the series two finale, while the drama picked up critical acclaim and National Television Awards across its run.

Jones also won the BAFTA for Leading Actress for her performance as Gemma. The final series will consist of five 60-minute episodes, with no air date confirmed as of yet.

Produced by Drama Republic, the production company behind One Day, Riot Women and Steal, for BBC One and BBC iPlayer. John Hardwick (One Day) will direct.

And while the BBC is billing this as the final chapter, there’s something rather satisfying about getting the chance to see where Gemma’s story ultimately ends.

Because if anyone deserves a proper ending after everything she’s been through, it’s Gemma Foster.