Jimmy McGovern's acclaimed prison anthology series Time is back for a third instalment, bringing viewers into the harsh realities of the British penal system through unflinching storytelling. David Tennant takes the lead role as Bobby Bailey, a weary prison officer working at a young offender institute, where he must navigate the weight of institutional dysfunction and human tragedy. The new series, comprising three 60-minute episodes, reunites Siobhan Finneran as prison chaplain Marie-Louise, and the pair's fraught relationship forms the emotional core of the opening episode, which centres on a devastating incident that tests them both.
McGovern's unflinching approach to exploring the darkest aspects of institutional life has earned the drama BAFTA recognition, and this new series maintains that commitment to difficult, necessary storytelling. The cast of young offenders includes Peter (Ollie McNulty), James (Louis McCartney) and Christopher (Chukwubuikem Molokwu), each carrying their own burden of wasted potential and fractured circumstances. One inmate finds himself caught between the possibility of genuine reform and the pressure to align himself with more violent peers, a tension that drives much of the series' moral complexity. Daniel Ryan appears as custodial manager Freddie Jennings, adding another layer to the institutional hierarchy. The drama succeeds because it refuses easy answers or sentimentality, instead presenting the prison system as a place where human dignity and institutional brutality collide with devastating consequences.
When can you watch Time?
All three episodes become available on the streaming platform from 6am on 11 October, with the first episode airing on BBC One at 9pm that same evening. The series is co-produced by BritBox for North America, with support from Northern Ireland Screen, reflecting its international reach and production scale.
What else is worth watching tonight?
The Party, a five-part drama adaptation of Elizabeth Day's bestselling novel, offers a contrasting viewing experience. The narrative unfolds through a clever structure: it opens with journalist Martin Gilmour (Luke Evans) at a police station, his shirt soaked in blood, before rewinding to reveal how his friendship with Tory politician Ben Fitzmaurice (Tom Cullen) – forged during their shared boarding school years – culminates in catastrophe at Ben's 40th birthday celebration. Sarah Solemani appears in the cast, bringing depth to this exploration of privilege, loyalty and the secrets that bind old friendships together. The drama premieres on ITV1 and ITVX at 9pm on 11 October, with subsequent episodes following on 12 and 13 October.
The Reluctant Vampire brings gentler comedy to the evening schedule. Adapted by the Gibbons brothers from Eric Morecambe's children's novel, the series echoes the tone of Ghosts with its gently macabre humour. Lenny Rush plays Val, a hapless young vampire whose venture into a human village leads him to the home of the eccentric Gertie, setting up a fish-out-of-water premise with supernatural undertones.
Eva Longoria: Searching for France takes viewers to Bordeaux, where the former Desperate Housewife explores the region's wine culture and lifestyle. Styled with the aesthetic of a luxury advertisement and narrated with Longoria's characteristic exuberance, the programme offers escapist entertainment, though it centres heavily on the world of expensive vintages and affluent connoisseurs.
Apocalypse continues its narrative of territorial conflict: the Eastsiders' theft of the Westsiders' goats has created tension, with Celia and Kelly expressing disapproval while Alix and Kiera plot to feign ignorance. The episode's central question revolves around how the conspirators might conceal the presence of their four-legged contraband during the inevitable confrontation.
Later … With Jools Holland features the veteran musician and his rotating lineup of performers. Tonight's guests include Paul Heaton, known for his work with Beautiful South and Housemartins; Skye Newman, a British pop-soul artist; and DC3, a Mobo Award-winning MC from Northampton. The programme also includes an interview with Johnny Marr, who discusses his latest album and his recent charity auction of more than 80 guitars.
Live sport on the schedule
Championship Football brings Southampton v Portsmouth to ITV1 at 11.30am from St Mary's Stadium. The Premier League slate includes Crystal Palace v Nottingham Forest at 1pm on Sky Sports Main Event, followed by Liverpool v Manchester City at 4pm on the same channel. Coventry v Newcastle is scheduled for Monday at 6.30pm. In rugby union, Exeter v Newcastle kicks off at 2.30pm on TNT Sports 1, with Sale v Harlequins on TNT Sports 5 at 2.45pm.
