Alice Oseman’s cult series of graphic novels returns to the screen for a third series, starring Joe Locke and Kit Connor as Charlie and Nick. The two high schoolers began as friends and soon moved into something more, dating through series two and building towards the big L word - although Charlie struggled to actually say it. The series two finale saw Nick come out the closet, understand the gravity of some of Charlie’s mental health issues, and Charlie type out ‘I love you’ and hover his fingers over the send button.

The first clip released of series three (from an episode aptly titled Love) shows that Charlie did not end up sending the message, and is now agonising about how to say it, practicing in the mirror and getting advice from his older sister Tori (Jenny Walser).

Longtime couple Tara (Corinna Brown, Essex Girls) and Darcy (Kizzy Edgell) also had some trouble in that department in series two, after Tara struggled to say ‘it’ back. The first look images for series three suggest they’re back on track though.

The images don’t only show Tara, Darcy, Charlie and Nick all loved up, but also Elle (Yasmin Finney, Doctor Who) and Tao (William Gao, Sunrise), a friends-to-lovers couple whose ‘will they, won’t they’ ended in the series two finale. In the images they are seen for the first time as an official couple, with Elle’s arms wrapped around Tao at a party.

Some beloved comic book characters will finally be making an appearance, with Charlie’s younger brother in the comics Oliver Spring arriving in the series as Charlie’s little cousin, played by Jensen Clayden (EastEnders).

Other actors joining the series alongside Clayden include Bridgerton’s Jonathan Bailey, who will play Charlie’s celebrity crush, classicist Jack Maddox. Hayley Atwell (Agent Carter) will give some particularly brutal relationship advice as Nick’s aunt Diane, and Back to Black star Eddie Marsan will bring another character from the novels to life, as Charlie’s therapist Graham.

Charlie’s sister Tori might also be getting a love interest in series three, as Darragh Hand (known for the National Theatre’s Dear England) has been cast as Michael Holden. Michael is not only a character in the Heartstopper series but is also the protagonist of Oseman’s debut novel Solitaire alongside Tori.

Oseman says series three will take a more mature tone as the characters and actors grow up and get older. “While Heartstopper will always celebrate the joyful and point towards hope, I’m really excited that we are allowing the tone of the show to mature.

“Mental health, sex, university ambitions, and more: Nick, Charlie, and the Heartstopper teens are getting older, learning more about themselves and each other, and experiencing new desires, new fears, and new joys as they approach adulthood.”

Heartstopper series three will be released on Thursday 3 October 2024.