Vigil Season 3 brings Suranne Jones and Rose Leslie back as DCI Amy Silva and DI Kirsten Longacre for a new investigation, this time set against the tense political landscape of the Arctic. The six-part series moves the action to Svalbard, where the detectives investigate the death of a British special forces member while an international struggle over Arctic resources threatens to turn the case into a much larger crisis.
The main story again depends on the partnership between Amy and Kirsten, but Season 3 adds several new faces from Norway, China, Russia and the UK. The returning cast also includes Gary Lewis and Dominic Mafham, while Jeppe Beck Laursen, Naomi Yang, Tornike Gogrichiani and Eric Godon are among the key newcomers. The season runs for six episodes.
Suranne Jones as DCI Amy Silva
Suranne Jones returns as DCI Amy Silva, the central investigator of Vigil. Amy is sent into another dangerous case when a British citizen is killed in the Arctic. As the investigation develops, the case becomes connected to international politics, military interests and the increasingly unstable situation around Svalbard.
Unlike a simple police mystery, Amy’s investigation in Season 3 forces her to work in an environment where the normal rules of policing do not always apply. Her decisions also become closely tied to Kirsten’s safety and career as the two women find themselves dealing with pressure from several sides. Jones appears in all six episodes of the third season.
Jones was already well known to British television viewers before Vigil. She played Karen McDonald in Coronation Street, Detective Rachel Bailey in Scott & Bailey, and Gemma Foster in Doctor Foster, for which she won the BAFTA TV Award for Best Actress. She later played the historical figure Anne Lister in Gentleman Jack.
| Actor | Character | Role in Season 3 | Episodes | Known For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suranne Jones | DCI Amy Silva | Returning lead detective | 1-6 | Doctor Foster, Gentleman Jack, Scott & Bailey |
| Rose Leslie | DI Kirsten Longacre | Returning lead detective | 1-6 | Game of Thrones, Downton Abbey, The Good Fight |
| Gary Lewis | Colin Robertson | Returning senior police officer | 1-3, 6 | Billy Elliot, Outlander |
| Dominic Mafham | Sir Ian Downing | Returning MI5 official | 1-6 | The Clinic and Vigil Season 2 |
| Jeppe Beck Laursen | Henrik Becken | Svalbard police chief | 1-5 | The Last Kingdom, Ragnarok |
| Naomi Yang | Shen Jia | Chinese microbiologist at the centre of the investigation | Season 3 | Under Salt Marsh, DI Ray, Valorant |
| Tornike Gogrichiani | Fyodor Zamorin | Russian colonel | 1-4 | Drops of God, Extraction 2 |
| Eric Godon | Mayor Korotayev | Mayor in Svalbard | Selected episodes | In Bruges |
| Danusia Samal | Jasmine Kelly | Supporting character involved in the Arctic investigation | Selected episodes | Casualty and other British TV dramas |
| Amy Manson | Lorna McAllister | Supporting character | Selected episodes | Torchwood, Being Human, Once Upon a Time |
Rose Leslie as DI Kirsten Longacre
Rose Leslie is back as DI Kirsten Longacre, Amy’s police partner and partner in her personal life. Season 3 separates the two investigators at different points as Kirsten follows leads in the Arctic while Amy works on another part of the case.
Kirsten’s investigation becomes especially important when she starts searching for the missing Chinese scientist Shen Jia. Her work puts her in difficult situations involving Russian interests, international politics and the dangerous Arctic environment. Leslie appears throughout all six episodes.
Many viewers will recognize Leslie from two major period dramas. She played Gwen Dawson in Downton Abbey before becoming widely known as Ygritte in Game of Thrones. She later played Maia Rindell in The Good Fight and Clare Abshire in The Time Traveler’s Wife.
Also Read: Vigil Season 3 Recap and Ending Explained
Jeppe Beck Laursen as Henrik Becken
Jeppe Beck Laursen joins the main Season 3 story as Henrik Becken, the police chief in Svalbard. He becomes an important local figure as Amy and Kirsten try to understand what is happening in the remote Arctic territory.
Henrik’s role grows as the search for Shen Jia develops. He works closely with Kirsten, particularly as they get closer to the missing scientist. Laursen appears in five episodes of Season 3, including Episodes 3, 4 and 5.
Laursen is a Norwegian actor and stuntman whose previous credits include The Last Kingdom and Ragnarok. His casting also gives Season 3 a stronger connection to the Scandinavian setting of the story.
Naomi Yang as Shen Jia
Naomi Yang plays Shen Jia, a Chinese microbiologist whose disappearance becomes one of the season’s major mysteries. For much of the opening part of the story, Jia is someone the characters are trying to find rather than someone audiences see regularly.
Her importance increases as Kirsten’s search moves forward. The investigation eventually leads to Jia, and what she knows helps change the understanding of the situation in Svalbard.
Yang has appeared in British television productions including Under Salt Marsh, Wolfe, DI Ray, Peaky Blinders and Maternal. She also has voice work in video games, including Sage in Valorant and Needle Knight Leda in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree.
Tornike Gogrichiani as Fyodor Zamorin
Tornike Gogrichiani plays Fyodor Zamorin, a Russian colonel who becomes part of the international tension surrounding the Arctic investigation. His presence reflects the wider political conflict behind the murder and the competing interests in the region.
Gogrichiani has also appeared in the international drama Drops of God and the action film Extraction 2. His role as Zamorin is listed across four episodes of Season 3.
Gary Lewis as Colin Robertson
Gary Lewis returns as Colin Robertson, a senior Scottish police officer who remains connected to Amy and Kirsten’s work. His role is smaller than that of the two lead detectives but he remains an important link to the Scottish side of the investigation.
Lewis appears in Episodes 1, 2, 3 and 6 of Season 3.
Outside Vigil, Lewis is known for films and television series including Billy Elliot and Outlander. His return helps connect the third season to the wider police world established by the earlier series.
Dominic Mafham as Sir Ian Downing
Dominic Mafham reprises his role as Sir Ian Downing, an MI5 official who was also part of the second season. In Season 3, Downing remains involved as the Arctic case develops into a matter with wider national and international consequences.
Mafham appears in all six episodes of Season 3, making Downing one of the most consistent supporting characters outside the Amy and Kirsten storyline.
His return is particularly useful for viewers who remember the intelligence and government side of Vigil Season 2, where Downing was also involved in the investigation.
Also Read: Lanterns Episode 5 Ending Explained
Other Notable Vigil Season 3 Cast Members
The third season has a larger supporting ensemble around the central investigation. Danusia Samal plays Jasmine Kelly, while Amy Manson appears as Lorna McAllister. Eric Godon plays Mayor Korotayev, adding another local political figure to the Svalbard storyline. The Season 3 cast also includes Steven Miller as Mark Cunningham, Jason Tobin as Huang Chen, Benjamin Wainwright as Oli Pickford, Artur Zai as Barrera Garcia, Steven Cree as Gordon Laity and Derek Riddell as Vincent Mair.
These characters help build the wider network around the Arctic station, local authorities, military interests and international players. Rather than functioning as a traditional police supporting cast, many of them are connected to the political and scientific mystery that develops around Amy and Kirsten.
Who Are the New Cast Members in Vigil Season 3?
The biggest additions to Season 3 are Jeppe Beck Laursen as Henrik Becken, Naomi Yang as Shen Jia, Tornike Gogrichiani as Fyodor Zamorin and Eric Godon as Mayor Korotayev. The official production information identifies Laursen and Yang among the prominent new additions, while the Royal Television Society also highlighted Gogrichiani and Godon when announcing the season’s cast.
Also Read: Go Team Ending Explained
How Many Episodes Are in Vigil Season 3?
Vigil Season 3 has six episodes. The first two episodes were released on August 30, 2026, followed by Episodes 3 and 4 on September 6 and Episodes 5 and 6 on September 13.
The season begins with Amy and Kirsten investigating a death in the Arctic and gradually expands into a story involving a missing scientist, international pressure and the competition for resources in the changing polar region.
Jeppe Beck Laursen plays Henrik Becken, the police chief in Svalbard who becomes involved in the Arctic investigation.
Yes. Gary Lewis returns as Colin Robertson, a senior Scottish police officer connected to Amy and Kirsten’s investigation.
Tornike Gogrichiani plays Fyodor Zamorin, a Russian colonel involved in the international conflict surrounding the Arctic investigation.