Published: 24 August 2026
DCI Amy Silva (Suranne Jones) and DI Kirsten Longacre (Rose Leslie) return for a new case that takes them to a distant Arctic analysis station, the place a member of a covert British particular forces mission has been murdered.
Amy and Kirsten must catch the killer and defuse a possible worldwide confrontation, as totally different nations compete for management of the Arctic and its sources within the altering polar local weather, with each their careers and relationship on the road.
Watch Vigil series 3 on BBC iPlayer and BBC One from Sunday 30 August.
EJ
Vigil Series 3 Cast
Suranne Jones (Amy Silva)
For these coming to Vigil for the primary time, who’s Amy Silva and what challenges does she face in series three?
Amy Silva is a detective. She is feisty, she’s a maverick, she’s straight speaking, she has a very good coronary heart and a powerful perception for the necessity for the world to be good.
All of the Vigil series are about combating for reality, developing towards the larger image and wanting the world to be a greater place, so that basically attracted me. Each series additionally brings new challenges with Amy not realizing her environment – she’s consistently put into these new worlds, with new guidelines and new characters and so she’s at all times making an attempt to determine the place her authority is in that. I additionally assume Amy and Kirsten are saved in the dead of night with what they’re being instructed and it’s their job to seek out the gaps and piece it collectively.
We’ve seen Amy underwater, we have seen her combating drones, and now series three is ready within the Arctic. We had the chance to go to Svalbard, which was such an expertise. It was so stunning and we filmed these scenes at the start of the shoot, which allowed us to get an actual really feel of the world that we had been inhabiting, so after we got here again to Scotland to proceed filming, it was simpler to think about all of that.
Tell us extra about what it was it like filming in Svalbard?
Svalbard was superb. Rose and I felt like we had been simply on high of the world as a result of we went to locations that vacationers don’t usually go to since we had been filming in such distant places. There had been reindeer outdoors the breakfast room each morning, we bought to drive the snow buggies, and we actually needed to layer up – the issue was after we bought again to Glasgow we had been too scorching as a result of we nonetheless needed to movie with all our layers on!
The folks and the crew in Svalbard had been unbelievable and we tried some moose and reindeer, which is a part of the native delicacies – I had moose stew! Overall, it was such an unbelievable expertise and an excellent begin to the shoot.
Did you get to discover a lot of Svalbard outdoors of filming?
We had been capturing just about the entire time we had been there. I had sooner or later to acclimatise whereas Rose, Jeppe and Tornike had been on the boat, which we see within the first episode. I went to a husky café the place you get to have a espresso and meet retired husky canine!
Do you will have any highlights or standout recollections from filming?
Rose is at all times my standout of filming Vigil as a result of it’s at all times attractive to see her and work along with her. We didn’t cease speaking the entire time. We bought to spend so much extra time collectively this series compared to the earlier ones, as a result of Amy joins Kirsten in Svalbard halfway by and they work on the case collectively.
What’s additionally beautiful is having a new cast for each series of Vigil as a result of we’re in a unique world each series, so the complete cast modifications besides for a number of of us. The new characters for this series are good and such enjoyable. Eric Godon (performs Mayor Korotayev) used to convey his personal espresso onto set and he’s from Belgium, so he’d typically convey Belgian sweets in.
We’re identical to a band of brothers and we’re all in it collectively so we’re an actual crew – that includes the crew too. I cherished going into make-up very first thing within the morning, it’s my favorite place as they’re so nice and they actually get you going at first of the day.
What merchandise(s) may you not dwell with out on the shoot in Svalbard/in-between takes?
When we had been filming in Svalbard, our gloves had been swapped out for heated gloves and we additionally had heated gilets, which was superb. At the tip of the day, Rose and I might have the soup from the resort we had been staying in, and it was every part you’d hope someplace like Svalbard would have – a heat open fires and throws – it was simply attractive to heat up on the finish of the day.
Did you do any analysis earlier than filming?
I like analysis, I’m fairly geeky about that, so with my different roles like Gentleman Jack I had the diaries or with Doctor Foster I went to see a GP, however with Vigil I did not need to. James Strong, one of many administrators for the primary series, was fairly adamant to maintain the submarine crew and cast to their job and then I might simply fly in realizing nothing and so we have saved to that throughout the entire series, which I like as a result of then I discover it out as I am going alongside.
Why do you assume followers can relate to Amy and Kirsten?
In the primary series you see Amy and Kirsten meet, and they begin this relationship. In the second series, Kirsten is pregnant and on this series, you see them as an actual household. We’re proudly representing two girls that are actually collectively, they’re married, they’ve two youngsters.
Rose and I’ve at all times taken the private scenes and made certain that there’s some weight to them in order that we will actually play, even when it is one or two scenes, we attempt and make these rely as a result of it is about our connection and at all times has been.
I believe followers can relate to Amy and Kirsten as a result of they hope for the most effective in each state of affairs and they attempt to see the nice in every part. They hold combating, which is difficult nowadays, however they really feel fairly hopeful as a duo to vary the world. It is the techniques round them that allow them down.
What are the important thing themes for series three?
Amy and Kirsten are at all times combating an even bigger monster, and every time we’ve seen Amy go into these worlds and realise how fruitless it’s in a manner, and how she has to compromise. At the tip of this series in reality there are fairly large compromises, however you’ll have to attend to see what I imply by that!
In this series specifically I believe Amy is a little more ruthless and reckless as soon as her eyes are open to what’s happening, as there are many totally different international locations at play and no-one can actually be trusted. I prefer it that she has a little bit of combat again as a result of she’s simply not going to play by the foundations herself anymore, as a result of no-one else is.
Vigil is an leisure programme, however Tom Edge has at all times chosen topics that open your eyes to issues, so I believe it could assist to start out a dialog. But in the end I do assume anybody can take pleasure in Vigil, it’s a very good and entertaining watch.
Do you assume you’d make a very good detective?
I might make a horrible detective! I’m nosy which is sweet, however the paperwork and the data you should have isn’t for me – it’s not for the faint hearted!
Rose Leslie (Kirsten Longacre)
You’ve in fact been a part of Vigil proper from the start. What was it that originally attracted you to the mission?
DI Kirsten Longacre is a strong-willed, tenacious police officer who’s loyal but in addition very keen about her job and is married to DCI Silva. The preliminary attraction was realizing that we had been going to be airing on the BBC and, even if my character was by no means within the submarine, I cherished the premise of the primary series being set on board a submarine and the claustrophobia of what that then brings – and now we’re on the third series!
The pleasure of this explicit function is enjoying reverse Suranne and additionally being part of a thriller, and the plots and the twists and the turns that brings.
In series three, what new challenges does Kirsten face?
Kirsten has been requested to spearhead the homicide investigation of a British soldier in demilitarised Svalbard. This is the primary time that she has ever headed up an investigation on a world scale like this, so she’s moving into new footwear, and she feels prepared for it.
At the identical time, it comes with making an attempt to determine the stability of leaving house and placing your job first. I additionally assume for Kirsten, returning to work submit maternity go away is emotional, typically exhausting, however definitely an id shifting expertise.
You shot in each Glasgow and Svalbard, with new cast members becoming a member of you too. Tell us how that was?
It was so beautiful to be again in Glasgow and, having grown up there, I’ve such a deep fondness for Scotland.
It was additionally very thrilling to be to date north for filming in Svalbard. The panorama was luna, or what I think about the moon would appear like. I felt so lucky to expertise nearly full isolation on the mountain tops. We had actually cumbersome snowsuits which saved us good and heat, together with the toes heaters and woolly hats.
On our first day we actually had been on a ship – it was me, Jeppe (Henrik) and Tornike (Fyodor), crusing for two hours in the direction of a glacier. Then we went into the cabin all feeling seasick – however that’s one solution to bond! We had been within the cabin, chatting away and asking a lot of questions and attending to know and perceive one another. Jeppe and Tornike have the same sense of humour, so that they had been fairly the double act, and it was a pleasure to watch all of it when the three of us had been on set collectively.
What would you say the principle themes or issues that Kirsten has to work by?
I believe for Kirsten, on this series, she has a drip feed realisation that international locations would go to nefarious depths to be sure that the present order stays and is as prevalent as potential. I believe she feels defiant, betrayed and definitely has loyalty to her nation, however she has an excellent barometer for what she is aware of to be proper.
Do you assume you’d make a very good detective?
I wouldn’t say I’ve significantly acute observational abilities, and I might discover the relentless persistence required to be a very good detective fairly difficult…!
Jeppe Beck Laursen (Henrik Becken)
Henrik is new to Vigil – what are you able to inform us about him?
Henrik Becken is the Director of Svalbard and Chief of Police, so he will get very concerned within the investigation. He’s working intently with Kirsten and Amy, in addition to Fyodor, the Russian Colonel.
What attracted you to Vigil?
I’m Norwegian, so it’s been nice that a part of the story takes place in Norway and we filmed in Svalbard. It was magical to movie there – I had by no means really been earlier than and it’s magnificent. I didn’t realise how large it was, so once you fly into Svalbard you realise simply how large it’s. Suranne and Rose have additionally been so welcoming and they know the present so effectively, they’ve actually embraced us newcomers.
Why do you assume folks ought to watch Vigil?
It’s bought nice writing, nice administrators and nice actors. As with the primary two series, it’s very suspenseful and it’s a superb whodunnit that may have folks on the sting of their seats throughout all six episodes.
Tornike Gogrichiani (Fyodor)
How does Fyodor match into this series?
Fyodor is a Russian colonel who arrives in Svalbard to analyze the homicide of the Russian citizen and British soldier that was discovered useless in a Russian-owned constructing. He works intently Kirsten and Amy on the investigation. Religiously dedicated to the reality, wherever it leads, or no matter type it takes. Difficult to belief, however on the similar time appears very honest, which is exactly what makes him fascinating to play.
What attracted you to Vigil?
I’m an enormous believer that sure roles are discovering you in the proper second, providing one thing you had been missing. I can’t go into too many particulars with out giving the spoilers away, however this one left me with a selected set of abilities I didn’t have earlier than. Something memorable. As actors the job is straightforward in idea; elevate the story, convey it to the viewers. But it must be on web page first and when writing is that this good, that job turns into an journey. I’m proud to be a part of it.
Why ought to folks watch series three?
I don’t assume folks want a lot of convincing to look at the present as Vigil has already made its personal mark. For anybody who’s seen the primary two series, all I might say is that this third series feels very ‘submarine’. Different in type of course, however it has that very same claustrophobic nature is again, the factor that made the primary series what it was.
Naomi Yang (Shen Jia)
What are you able to inform us about Shen Jia?
Shen Jia is a microbiologist conducting analysis on Svalbard. She has very sturdy values. and will not compromise these even when issues get robust, she’s somebody with lots of integrity. I believe she desires to do her bit to attempt and discover new methods of residing with out feeling like we’re going backwards as a human race.
What was your favorite day of filming?
There was sooner or later in Svalbard the place a really small crew of us went to a glacier. I used to be mountaineering in my crampons up this glacier. We had been with somebody with a rifle, as a result of we needed to have a rifle with us on a regular basis in case it was wanted to scare off polar bears. The glaciers are very blue, as a result of manner the sunshine is mirrored I simply bear in mind all of us simply being like ‘wow, we can’t believe we’re in this’.
More usually, with this series being set partially within the Arctic, the dimensions feels large. At the start, after we had been capturing in Svalbard, I used to be with the SBS (Special Boat Service) boys lots. It was like having 4 brothers with me on a regular basis, in order that was lots of enjoyable. We had been spending lots of time collectively in Svalbard, and it was utterly new to all of us. We noticed reindeer, we went on boat journeys collectively, and it was simply a lot enjoyable being there.
Tom Edge (Creator, Writer and Executive Producer)
What are you able to tease about series 3, what leads Amy and Kirsten to the Arctic? How does this series differ from the earlier two series?
Series 3 begins with a discreet request from the British army: a loss of life has occurred and severe questions raised, however it’s crucial that any British police investigation ought to seem low-key. Accordingly, Kirsten is dispatched to analyze, however Amy is shortly drawn in as an assassination in Scotland factors to a complicated conspiracy each at house and within the frozen north.
What made you wish to wish to set series 3 within the Arctic?
For series three we wished to stay up for the foundation causes of potential conflicts. Rare earth metals appeared like a distinct segment however promising story. These are the supplies required to make many trendy applied sciences work, together with most inexperienced power infrastructure. This sector is dominated by China, and that was fantastic as long as world commerce was unimpeded. It turns into an enormous drawback as quickly as commerce monopolies are politicised or weaponised.
We have seen this story starting to emerge in the course of the previous two years, with power and expertise safety changing into pressing points for the UK and certainly most international locations. I believe that the battle to safe sources goes to develop into more and more fraught and will convey areas like Svalbard into sharp focus.
Series three is our take right into a world that feels area of interest at present however might be basic to tomorrow’s geopolitical manoeuvrings. Plus, icebergs!
This time Kirsten is the one to go to the worldwide crime scene, whereas Amy – a minimum of initially – stays in Scotland. How does that impression issues?
The first series of Vigil was written as a restricted series, so in each series two and three now we have needed to reinvent the present while retaining its DNA.
There is a sensible motive for Kirsten to be assigned the foreign-soil gig; they want the investigation to seem low-key. Sending a DCI – particularly one with Amy’s track-record – would danger saying the UK’s pursuits. But because the series progresses it might be that there’s a extra strategic motive at play as to why Kirsten is chosen over Amy…
This alternative is discomforting for each Amy and Kirsten. Kirsten would not wish to let Amy down; Amy struggles to not micromanage from afar. The alternative exposes problems with belief, ambition and power-imbalances between them simply as Kirsten’s maternity go away comes to finish, a threshold that already prompts questions of profession and household life stability.
What analysis did you do?
Researching the present is a pleasure. For this series I deep dived into the worlds of cyanobacteria, uncommon earth steel provide chains and polymetallic nodules discovered on the ocean ground. All this within the context of the geopolitics of the frozen north – now melting…
What are the important thing themes for this series?
The overarching theme for Vigil throughout all three series is the query of loyalty. Are you loyal to your individual self, with an ethical code, to your associate, the establishment you’re employed for, your nation, or a world sense of the ‘larger good’? How do you handle your integrity when your loyalties are divided or examined?
What do you hope viewers will take from this series?
I hope that viewers will come to contemplate the fragility of world techniques for power safety in a altering world, and interact with the murky ethical questions on how far we ask our senior officers to go as they safeguard the nationwide curiosity on our behalf.
I hope they benefit from the experience! Heightened twists and turns, anchored by some showstopping performances. Ultimately, I hope that they discover optimism amidst the murk, as embodied by Amy and Kirsten’s try to carry onto their integrity – and to one another – even when they’re examined to the purpose of destruction.