The Teacher: ‘Absolutely brilliant’: Channel 5’s compelling drama is back tonight

More than a year after it’s gripping second season aired, Channel 5’s school-based drama The Teacher is back for another round. The anthology series returns for a highly-anticipated third season tonight – this time with The Crown‘s Victoria Hamilton taking the lead. 

The new season will follow Victoria as Helen Simpson, a teacher with more than three decades of classroom experience under her belt who has a clash with one of the school’s students. Just like the previous seasons, fans of the show will be treated to four episodes in the third instalment, with the first kicking off at 9pm on Monday 30 March. 

What’s the new season about? 

The forthcoming third season will follow Helen as she embarks on a new role as Head of Drama. Helen is described as someone who “dismisses the woke ideologies of the younger generation” and faces a conflict with one of her students, Cressida Bancroft, played by Alice Grant (Mary & George). 

“Influential female student Cressida Bancroft dislikes Helen for accusing her of being a woke warrior to gain popularity,” the official synopsis reads.

“After this clash of ideals, Cressida sets out to turning the world against Helen, before focussing her attention on Helen’s family, including her son Sam. As Helen delves deeper into Cressida’s past, she uncovers a world of sadness and neglect.”

Who is in the new season?

Season three’s lead actress Victoria Hamilton is no stranger to the screen, famously starring in Midsomer Murders, Unforgotten and as The Queen Mother in the first two seasons of The Crown. Victoria is taking over from The Teacher‘s season one lead, Sheridan Smith, and season two’s main star, Kara Tointon. 

Other new cast members includes Steve Edge (The Madame Blanc Mysteries) as Terry Simpson, Rochenda Sandall (Line of Duty) as Tessa Stewart, Alice Grant as Cressida and Olly Rhodes (The Last Kingdom) as Helen’s son Sam Simpson.

Viewers praise ‘absolutely brilliant’ series

© Steffan Hill / Channel 5 Television

The second season followed EastEnders star Kara Tointon as an art teacher Dani, who has an affair with a colleague that has tragic consequences. Fans have praised Channel 5’s thriller series as “absolutely brilliant”. 

“Loved that. Kept me gripped the whole time,” one viewer wrote on X (formerly Twitter) after the second season aired in September 2024. 

“Omg #TheTeacher was absolutely brilliant… wow what a twist did not expect that,” another wrote. 

A trailer for the third season dropped earlier this month to much excitement from viewers who have waiting months and months for more episodes. “Wowww looks insane,” one fan commented under the video posted to Channel 5’s Instagram. “I love Victoria Hamilton’s performances and this is exciting!” another wrote.