Merchant created the series alongside Elgin James, and it has so far followed the seven strangers from different walks of life as they are forced together and struggle to reform. In series one, a bag full of money threw them into the dark and dangerous Bristol underbelly.

Merchant starred as one of the seven, Greg, alongside Christopher Walken (The Deer Hunter), Rhianne Barreto (Honour), Gamba Cole (Soon Gone: A Windrush Chronicle), Darren Boyd (The Salisbury Poisonings), Clare Perkins (The Wheel of Time) and Eleanor Tomlinson (Intergalactic).

Jessica Gunning (Back), Charles Babalola (Bancroft), Tom Hanson (Brassic) and Claes Bang (Bad Sisters) also played parts. All cast members will be returning, bar Walken.

Series three will see drug baron The Dean (Bang) behind bars and awaiting trial while the outlaws try to move on with their lives. But when one of them returns with a deadly secret, they are thrown back into mortal danger.

As a manhunt closes in, they will have to prove their innocence before The Dean's case breaks down and he seeks revenge.

Merchant said: “After the overwhelming response to the first two series, I’m delighted to be bringing back our lovable band of miscreants for more misadventures. Audiences have really taken the characters to their hearts, so I can’t wait for them to see what hot water we’ve thrown them into this time.

The series is already being filmed back in Bristol, and as a Bristol native Merchant said: "I’m thrilled we’ll once again be filming in my hometown [...] I expect I’ll be welcomed with a ticker-tape parade. It didn’t happen on the previous series, but I put that down to Covid.”

The Outlaws will premiere on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK and on Prime Video in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Nordics.