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The Tower season 3: Release date, plot and latest news

The ITV crime drama is returning for a third instalment.

Gemma Whelan as DI Sarah Collins in The Tower season 3, standing next to a wall of photographs

Mammoth Screen for ITV

Published: Wednesday, 4 September 2024 at 2:26 pm

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The Tower season 3 is in full swing on ITV, with a fast-paced release schedule planned over four consecutive days this week.

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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."

"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?

Tahirah Sharif as Lizzie Adama, standing in front of a wall, putting her phone in her trouser pocket

Tahirah Sharif as Lizzie Adama in The Tower season 3. Mammoth Screen for ITV

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?

Emmett J Scanlan as DI Kieran Shaw putting his hands on the shoulders of Jimmy Akingbola as DC Steve Bradshaw in The Tower season 3 in the middle of a car park.

Emmett J Scanlan as DI Kieran Shaw and Jimmy Akingbola as DC Steve Bradshaw in The Tower season 3. ITV

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:

The Tower season 3 trailer: Can I watch it?

Yes, you can watch the tense trailer for the new episodes below.

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The Tower season 3 plot: What's it about?

Emmett Scanlan as DI Kieran Shaw and Tahirah Sharif as DC Lizzie Adama in The Tower season 3 holding each other's arms in the middle of a tense conversation.

Emmett Scanlan as DI Kieran Shaw and Tahirah Sharif as DC Lizzie Adama in The Tower season 3. ITV

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.

Lamar Waves plays Ryan Kennedy, standing in the middle of a room

Lamar Waves plays Ryan Kennedy. Mammoth Screen for ITV

"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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Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.

Authors

A head and shoulders shot of Abby Robinson. She is in front of a grey background, looking at the camera and smiling. She wears a black zipped-up jacket with an elaborate gold and maroon design

Abby RobinsonDrama Editor

Abby Robinson is the Drama Editor for Radio Times, covering TV drama and comedy titles. She previously worked at Digital Spy as a TV writer, and as a content writer at Mumsnet. She possesses a postgraduate diploma and a degree in English Studies.

Black and white cut-out portrait headshot of Morgan Cormack, smiling against a lime green background

Morgan CormackDrama Writer

Morgan Cormack is a Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering everything drama-related on TV and streaming. She previously worked at Stylist as an Entertainment Writer. Alongside her past work in content marketing and as a freelancer, she possesses a BA in English Literature.

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