Season 3 of Channel 5’s returning thriller stars The Crown and Unforgotten star Victoria Hamilton
Steve Edge as Terry Simpson and Victoria Hamilton as Helen Simpson in The Teacher (Image: Channel 5)
Channel 5 has confirmed another popular drama is returning to screens.
Following last month’s comeback of detective series Ellis for its second season, the broadcaster has revealed The Teacher will return for a third instalment.
Beginning on Monday 30 March and continuing throughout the week on Tuesday 31, Wednesday 1 and Thursday 2, The Teacher will feature The Crown and Unforgotten actress Victoria Hamilton as Helen Simpson, “a teacher with 30 years’ experience who dismisses the woke ideologies of the younger generation”.
The synopsis adds: “Influential female student Cressida Bancroft dislikes Helen for accusing her of being a woke warrior to gain popularity. After this clash of ideals, Cressida sets out to turning the world against Helen, before focussing her attention on Helen’s family, including her son Sam.
Victoria Hamilton plays Helen Simpson(Image: Channel 5)
“As Helen delves deeper into Cressida’s past, she uncovers a world of sadness and neglect. But has she learnt enough about Cressida to stop her final act of revenge?”
Victoria assumes the lead role from Kara Tointon, who portrayed the protagonist in the show’s second season during 2024. The inaugural season, which broadcast in 2022, featured Sheridan Smith in the starring role, reports The Mirror.
Discussing what drew her to the part, Victoria explained: “I was really excited to explore subject matter that is really pertinent to now, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen it discussed this way, or in such depth. We’re looking at the problem of the generation divide and what gets lost in translation between us, which is something people continually talk about.
“I’m a mum of teenagers, and it’s very refreshing to see a script that’s actually addressing what has broken down between us, because I do think there has been a breakdown in communication.
Rochenda Sandall plays Tessa Stewart (Image: Channel 5)
“Also, when I was reading the script for the first time, I got to about page 15 and I realised it really reminded me of the feeling I had reading Doctor Foster, when I literally could not stop turning the pages.
“The Teacher is similar in that it’s one woman’s story that very quickly turns into a thriller, and you’ve got that element of wanting to know what happens next. I just couldn’t stop reading it, which is always a great sign.”
The third series also features Steve Edge, Rochenda Sandall, Alice Grant, Olly Rhodes, Peter Ash, Navin Chowdhry, Ellis Jupiter, Shak Benjamin, Malek Alkoni and Natalie Gavin in the cast.
Earlier seasons featured performers including Samuel Bottomley, Cecilia Noble, Sharon Rooney, Will Mellor and Emmett J Scanlan.
The Teacher season 3 starts on Channel 5 at 9pm on Monday, March 30.
