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Time returned for a ‘hard-hitting’ third series of the BBC One prison drama starring David Tennant and Siobhan Finneran

BBC One viewers were left “shocked” following a violent ending of the new prison drama Time.

Time has returned for a third series, consisting of three episodes, set inside a young offender institution called Alderwick, bringing together David Tennant as officer Bobby Bailey and Siobhan Finneran as prison chaplain Marie-Louise O’Dell.

Written by Jimmy McGovern and co-writer Samuel Bailey and directed by Paul Whittington, Time follows Marie-Louise, who arrives at the institution having lost her faith, where she meets Veteran officer Bailey, a man in the midst of his own crisis.

Away from his day job, Bobby drinks while staring vacantly at the TV as his relationship with his wife, Erica (Vinette Robinson), comes under intense strain.

Back inside the prison, Bobby and Marie-Louise lock horns over how to handle Ushindi, formerly Christopher (Chukwubuikem Molokwu ), a young man with a stammer who has recently reconnected with his birth mother.

Meanwhile, two teenage offenders, Peter (Ollie McNulty) and James (Louis McCartney), struggle through the terrifying first weeks and months of their incarceration, but they are hiding significant secrets.

The most jaw-dropping scene came at the end of episode one, as a mediation meeting between Ushindi and seriously violent offender Patsy Flynn (Louis Shelton) goes horribly wrong, leaving viewers in shock.

Despite the brutal final act of the first episode, Time viewers were left wanting to see what happens next to Patsy and vowed to binge-watch the whole series on BBC iPlayer.

Taking to X, one viewer wrote: “What an ending to EP1, gonna have to binge the lot tonight! #bbciplayer #time”, while a second agreed: “2 more episodes on iPlayer, now #Time.”

“Don’t think I’ve been so traumatised since I saw Scum about 45 years ago #Time”, confessed one viewer.

“#Time.. wow, the best yet. Fantastic writing and acting by all involved. A really shocking watch”, said one impressed viewer of the series.

“What was grim but utterly brilliant! Nobody does hard-hitting drama like the BBC. #Time”, added another.

The next episode of Time airs on BBC One at 9pm on Monday (October 12), while the final episode broadcast on Sunday (October 18) at 9pm.

Time continues on Monday at 9pm on BBC One and iPlayer, with all episodes available now on iPlayer

Tempting Fortune got off to a dramatic start as a contestant left her group scrambling to protect their £300,000 prize pot

Tempting Fortune descended into chaos just minutes into its return.

Contestant Sarah fell ill in the Malaysian jungle, leaving her fellow Fortune Seekers facing a huge £30,000 decision. The Channel 4 hit show returned tonight (September 22) for a brand-new series, with comedian Rob Beckett taking over as host from Paddy McGuinness.

The latest series sees 12 strangers attempt a gruelling 13-day trek through the Malaysian jungle while trying to protect a shared £300,000 prize pot.

But the contestants quickly discovered just how difficult the challenge would be when Sarah began struggling with the harsh conditions on only the second day of the trek.

The group had spent the previous night in a basic camp and had been surviving on simple rations, including rice and beans. Sarah admitted she wasn’t feeling well and appeared particularly affected by the food.

She said: “Just thinking of them now. I feel like I want to be sick. Oh, they’re the most disgusting thing I’ve ever met.” One of her fellow contestants expressed concern for her, while another pointed out that Sarah needed to eat more.

But things soon became more serious when the group continued their trek through the jungle. Sarah suddenly stopped walking and told the others: “I feel really sick and dizzy. And just so hot.”

The contestants had travelled less than a kilometre when Sarah was forced to stop. The rest of the group gathered around her as she sat down on the jungle floor.

Sarah admitted she was struggling with the experience, saying: “I feel like shit. It’s just… I knew it was going to be tough, but… I didn’t prepare for it. It’s just so bad.”

With Sarah’s condition worsening, a medic stepped in to assess her. The situation left Sarah facing a huge decision – whether to continue with the challenge or leave Tempting Fortune altogether and return home to the UK.

But quitting would have had major consequences for everyone else. If Sarah decided to leave, the group would lose £30,000 from their potential winnings.

Instead, the group was presented with another option. They could spend £2,000 from the shared prize pot on a taxi to take Sarah to the next checkpoint, allowing her to rest and giving her the chance to recover without having to abandon the competition.

After discussing the options, the group agreed to spend the £2,000. The decision meant Sarah could be driven to the next camp rather than being forced to walk through the jungle while feeling unwell.

For the group, the maths was simple – spending £2,000 was better than losing £30,000 if Sarah was forced to quit. Sarah was then chauffeur-driven to the next camp while her fellow Fortune Seekers continued their gruelling trek on foot.

The dramatic start comes as Tempting Fortune enters its third series with a new host and a fresh group of contestants. The format sees the Fortune Seekers start with a £300,000 prize pot, but throughout their journey they are offered tempting luxuries, with every pound spent coming directly out of the shared winnings.

This series also sees the contestants split into two groups from the outset, adding another layer of pressure as they attempt to trust strangers while protecting their share of the cash.

You can stream Tempting Fortune on Channel 4

Sept. 22, 2026 7:39 AM PT

Why has it been so hard for USC football to compete for a national title after setting the standard in college football during Pete Carroll’s tenure?

(Harrison Freeman / Los Angeles Times Studios )

Times USC beat reporter Ryan Kartje spent the past four years conducting more than 100 interviews, gaining new insight into the football program’s dramatic rise, fall and difficult push to return to national relevance.

Today, we begin sharing that story with you in “House of Troy,” a new narrative podcast from L.A. Times Studios available now on Spotify and Apple.

Check out Episode 1: “Win Now.”

In the late 1990s, USC football was in desperate need of a revival. The school turned to an unpopular choice: Pete Carroll, a former NFL coach. What happened next would transform USC into a college football powerhouse and Carroll into the face of a modern dynasty. In the first episode of “House of Troy,” Kartje takes us back to the beginning of the Carroll era and the drama that unfolded on and off the field.

Listen to “House of Troy” now on Spotify and Apple.