Quick Read
- Trigger Point Season 3 premieres on ITV1 and ITVX in the UK on October 26, 9 p.m. GMT.
- International streaming: BritBox/Peacock (US), CBC Gem/BritBox (Canada), Stan (Australia), TVNZ+ (New Zealand).
- Vicky McClure returns as Lana Washington, facing PTSD and fresh bomb threats.
- Real-life bomb disposal experts praise the show’s grit but note some dramatic liberties.
- The series is renewed for a fourth season.
How to Watch Trigger Point Season 3 from Anywhere
The third season of ITV’s gripping drama, Trigger Point, is back, and the tension is higher than ever. The show, which debuted in January 2022, has built a loyal following with its realistic portrayal of bomb disposal experts battling threats on the streets of London. Lana “Wash” Washington, played by Vicky McClure, returns as the unflinching protagonist, facing both external dangers and internal demons.
For viewers in the UK, watching Trigger Point Season 3 is as simple as tuning in to ITV1 on Sunday, October 26 at 9 p.m. GMT or streaming via ITVX. International fans have options too: the series will be available on BritBox or Peacock in the US, CBC Gem or BritBox in Canada, Stan in Australia, and TVNZ+ in New Zealand. While exact international release dates remain unconfirmed, using a VPN like NordVPN allows fans to access the show from anywhere, bypassing regional restrictions (Tom’s Guide).
Inside Lana Washington’s Battle: Trauma, Teamwork, and the Realities of Bomb Disposal
Season 3 delves deeper into Lana Washington’s psyche. After surviving two major terror attacks—each leaving her with devastating losses—Lana’s struggle with PTSD is front and center. Her experiences in Afghanistan and the loss of loved ones have left scars that she’s reluctant to confront. According to Vicky McClure, portraying Lana’s vulnerability was a priority this season: “She’s a troubled soul in many ways, always trying to keep it together, but she’s got a lot to unpack. Her PTSD has always been there, but it’s started to show itself much more in this series,” McClure told Stylist.
This time, Lana faces a campaign of bombings orchestrated by Steven Wyles (Jason Flemyng), a man driven by a personal vendetta. The stakes are high—not just for the city, but for Lana’s fragile sense of self. The narrative doesn’t shy away from showing the psychological toll of the job, and McClure’s performance aims to honor the real-life courage of bomb disposal officers. “We want to pay tribute to the work the real explosives officers do, and their courage,” executive producer Jed Mercurio emphasized (Tom’s Guide).
But Lana isn’t alone in her struggles. The series introduces more depth to her colleagues, especially Rich Manning (Mark Rowley), who also battles PTSD. Yet, within the tightly-knit expo team, talking about trauma remains taboo. McClure hopes the show sparks conversations about mental health in high-risk professions: “Rich is suffering with PTSD, and so is Lana, but between them, they’re not actually talking about it. They’re just saying ‘get on with it’, which isn’t helpful to either one of them.”
Fact or Fiction? What Trigger Point Gets Right—and What It Gets Wrong
While Trigger Point has earned praise for its authenticity, it isn’t without its dramatic liberties. Lucy Lewis, Britain’s first female bomb disposal expert, offered a unique perspective after watching the series. Lewis was generally impressed, noting that the show avoided clichés like snipping the “red wire” in its first season. However, she laughed about the later inclusion of digital countdown clocks—a staple of TV suspense but not reality. “None of us have ever seen a digital countdown clock. It is just not a thing,” Lewis told Metro.
Lewis explained that the real drama of bomb disposal is internal, a tension that’s hard to convey on screen. She shared anecdotes about her own career, such as removing 18 volatile WWII pipe mines at Southampton airport, and noted that bomb suits were rarely used in practice—especially by women, since the suits often didn’t fit. “It was pointless to use them and none of us really wore them, especially because it was only designed to protect you from a grenade at point-blank range.”
Despite these inaccuracies, Lewis finds McClure’s portrayal convincing: “She’s very credible as a woman that’s got enough grit to be able to do it.” The show’s commitment to consulting real bomb disposal experts, like Joel Snarr, helps ground the drama, even if it occasionally bends reality for entertainment’s sake.
Cast, Character Arcs, and the Future of Trigger Point
The ensemble cast brings depth and authenticity to the series. Alongside McClure’s Lana, the team includes Eric Shango (Danny), Nabil Elouahabi (Hassan “Hass” Rahim), Natalie Simpson (DS Helen Morgan), and Mark Rowley (Rich Manning), among others. Their dynamic evolves across six tightly-written episodes, each escalating the threat and emotional stakes:
- Episode 1: Lana and team investigate a suspicious London black cab, discovering a sinister plot.
- Episode 2: Connections emerge between victims, and trust within the police unit is tested.
- Episode 3: Progress in the investigation puts the team—and civilians—in greater danger.
- Episode 4: With Lana now a target, she must avoid the bomber’s traps while searching for missing persons.
- Episode 5: A symbolic target pushes Lana to the brink as she races against time.
- Episode 6: Breakthrough evidence leads to a reckoning, as Lana uncovers the truth behind the campaign.
The show’s creator, Daniel Brierley, and executive producer Jed Mercurio have made it clear: character comes first. “We have to offer them the best version of the show otherwise they’ll just watch something else,” Mercurio explained. The balance between delivering familiar thrills and breaking new ground is a constant challenge.
Looking ahead, fans can relax—Trigger Point has already been renewed for a fourth season, promising more high-stakes drama and character exploration.
Breaking Boundaries: Representation and the Industry’s Future
McClure isn’t just focused on her role; she’s passionate about representation in TV. “Class, for me, is the biggest thing we need to break through in the TV world,” she said, noting that only 9% of people in the industry are from working-class backgrounds. Through her production company, Build Your Own Films, McClure advocates for broader opportunities and authentic storytelling. “It’s an expensive industry to become a part of, so we’ve got to block some of those barriers now. You can’t pay your way into something that’s based on merit and talent.”
The show’s commitment to nuanced character development and real-life issues—PTSD, trauma, and the everyday heroism of expos—makes it more than just a thriller. It’s a conversation starter about what it means to put yourself on the line, day after day, for the safety of others.
Trigger Point Season 3 stands out not only for its pulse-pounding plot but for its layered portrayal of trauma, teamwork, and real-world heroism. By balancing entertainment with authenticity, the show invites viewers to look beyond the suspense and consider the everyday challenges faced by those on the front lines—and reminds us that the greatest battles aren’t always fought in public.

