Suranne Jones has spoken out about returning to our screens as the uncompromising Dr Gemma Foster.

It has been confirmed that the actress will reprise her role for the long-awaited third and final series of Doctor Foster, the BBC’s hit psychological drama, alongside Bertie Carvel as Simon and Tom Taylor as Tom.

Created by Mike Bartlett, the series first aired in 2015 and drew acclaim for its tense storytelling, culminating in a second series finale watched by nearly 10 million viewers in 2017.

Suranne Jones on third and final Doctor Foster series on BBC

Ms Jones said: “When I got the call to ask if I wanted to return as Gemma Foster, I knew the time was right.

“We needed space from the first two series and we needed Tom – Gemma and Simon’s runaway son – to return as an adult with questions.

“For me, this time around, it’s about accountability and questioning – can we ever truly sever ties with our past and the damage or traumas that haunt us, so we can fully move forward?

“Gemma and Simon have so much to unpick.

“It’s been an exciting time working with the brilliant Mike Bartlett again, and the team at Drama Republic on the scripts and now I can’t wait to start filming.”

The third series will see Gemma, still a GP and living in the same house, preparing to get married as she embarks on a new chapter in her life.

As the wedding day draws closer, shadows from her past begin to re-emerge, threatening both her happiness and her reputation.

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Filming is set to begin later this spring in and around Hertfordshire, with Mike Bartlett returning as writer, creator and executive producer.

Mr Bartlett said: “I always hoped that we’d get to tell the final part of Gemma’s story, which is about a woman seeking justice in an unfair world.

“That feels as relevant now as when Gemma first found a blonde hair on the scarf.”

How did series 2 of Doctor Foster end?

Series 2 of Doctor Foster picks up two years after Gemma exposed her husband Simon’s affair and their marriage collapsed, with her trying to rebuild her life and focus on her son Tom.

However, her world is shaken when Simon (played by Bertie Carvel) returns to Parminster with his new wife, Kate and their child.

As the series progresses, the conflict between Gemma and Simon becomes increasingly toxic, with both trying to hurt and undermine each other and often using their son Tom in the process.

Suranne Jones and Bertie Carvel will return as Gemma and Simon Foster in the new series (Image: BBC/Drama Republic)

The small town becomes divided, with rumours spreading and relationships breaking down and Tom struggles, feeling trapped between his parents’ bitterness and manipulation.

In the finale, Simon tries to convince Tom to leave with him and start a new life abroad, but Tom begins to see the damage both parents have caused.

Tom eventually runs away from home, with the series ending with Gemma agonising over pictures of Tom on ‘Missing Person’ notices.

Will you be watching the new series of Doctor Foster when it returns to the BBC? Let us know in the comments.