ITV confirms the highly praised drama, Unforgotten, will return for a third series. 

Created and written by screenwriter Chris Lang and produced by Mainstreet Pictures, series two of the compelling cold case crime drama gripped both viewers and critics alike.  Amongst its stellar reviews, the series garnered the following accolades: “Perfectly realised” (The Observer), “Crime drama of the highest class” (The Guardian), “brilliantly and realistically complex” (TV Times), “an exhilarating mental workout” (Daily Mail) and “the detective drama of the decade” (Daily Telegraph). 

Drawing on complex and current issues, the emotional drama questions everyday morality and analyses the very human stories behind crime as lead characters DCI Cassie Stuart and DI Sunil ‘Sunny’ Khan, played by Nicola Walker and Sanjeev Bhaskar, unravel the truth behind historic murders.  The Guardian complimented the portrayal of Cassie and Sunny referring to them as “credible, real and refreshing” characters that love what they do.  

The new six-part series will be written once again by Chris Lang and will see Cassie and Sunny delve into another intricate historical investigation, revealing a fresh web of long-buried secrets. 

Praised for its sensitive and empathetic approach to hard-hitting subject matter, the series has boasted a host of stellar British talent across its two series including Tom Courtenay, who won the BAFTA Best Supporting Actor Award for his appearance in Unforgotten in 2016, Trevor Eve, Bernard Hill, Hannah Gordon, Gemma Jones, Ruth Sheen, Mark Bonnar, Lorraine Ashbourne, Peter Egan, Rosie Cavaliero, Badria Timimi, Adeel Akhtar and Wendy Craig.  

Commented Executive Producer Sally Haynes on behalf of Mainstreet Pictures: 

“We are incredibly happy to be making Unforgotten series 3 for ITV. It is fantastic it has struck such a chord with the audience.” 

Writer and Executive Producer, Chris Lang said: 

“I am so excited to be making a third series of Unforgotten. To be able to bring back the exceptional team we had on series two (both in front of and behind the camera) and to be allowed to discover what the future holds for Cassie and Sunny as they tackle a new historical crime, is a real privilege.” 

ITV’s Head of Drama, Polly Hill has commissioned the new series and Senior Drama Commissioner Victoria Fea will oversee production from ITV’s perspective. 

Victoria Fea commented: “Unforgotten is a wonderfully rich piece of work,  made with understated brilliance, and we’re delighted to commission a third series from Mainstreet Pictures. Chris Lang’s writing is perceptive, surprising and humane, and we have no doubt its fans will relish watching a new story unfold.”  

The commission follows the huge success of the second series of Unforgotten on ITV earlier this year which received average consolidated viewing figures of over 6 million with a 21% share, despite strong competition from BBC One. 

Unforgotten will be distributed internationally by BBC Worldwide.