‘Time’ Won’t Return for Season 4!!

Only a week ago, Stephen Graham’s Apple TV crime drama premiered with two gripping episodes, both of which have been well received by fans and critics alike. Created by Rowan Joffé as an adaptation of Lars Kepler‘s bestselling crime novels Lazarus and The Sandman, Nocturne is the 10/10 series currently taking over Apple TV globally. The psychological thriller is expected to conclude its first season after ten episodes on December 25, 2026, and has not yet been officially renewed for a second season.

In Nocturne, Graham delivers a compelling performance as Jurek Walter, a serial killer incarcerated in the basement of Riverside Psychiatric Hospital. He is joined by Liev Schreiber and Zazie Beetz, who portray Jonah Lynn, a former homicide detective, and Saga Bauer, an undercover FBI agent and Jonah’s surrogate daughter, respectively. Graham‘s portrayal recalls his performance in a similarly unsettling crime series where he once again demonstrates his remarkable ability to bring depth and vulnerability to morally complex characters.

The BBC anthology prison drama Time, created and written by Jimmy McGovern, sees Graham portray Eric McNally, a highly respected veteran prison officer whose moral compass is shattered by tragic circumstances. The series premiered on BBC One on June 6, 2021, and ran for three seasons, concluding on October 18, 2026. Meanwhile, in the U.S., it wraps up Season 3 on November 5 on BritBox, and many have wondered whether it will return for a fourth run. Series creator McGovern has finally provided an answer during a recent chat with TV Insider.

Will There Be a ‘Time’ Season 4?

According to McGovern, Time won’t return for Season 4 because he believes there’s no story left to tell. “I don’t think there will be one,” the showrunner said. “I think we’ve done men’s, we’ve done women’s, and we’ve done the young, so there’s nothing else really.” He also revealed that the original plan was to do only one season in a men’s prison from the start. Apparently, the BBC didn’t expect the show to become very popular; hence, the success led to Seasons 2 and 3.

“When I first set off, it was only going to be one series of three episodes in a men’s prison. I know what the BBC were expecting. They were expecting it to be fairly well received, but not popular, because that’s my stuff. It was well received, and it was massively popular. So only after it was shown did they say to me, ‘Can we do another one, please?’”

As an anthology, Time follows the prisoners, guards, and chaplain at a men’s prison in Season 1, a women’s prison in Season 2, and a young offenders institution in Season 3. The cast changes each season: Season 1 stars Graham and Sean Bean; Season 2 stars Jodie Whittaker, Tamara Lawrance, and Bella Ramsey; and Season 3 stars David Tennant. Siobhan Finneran has remained the prison chaplain, Mary-Louise, across all three seasons.