BBC viewers divided as ‘woke’ crime drama greenlit for new series amid backlash to ‘anti-UK’ scenes
The BBC announced on Wednesday the third series of Suranne Jones and Rose Leslie drama, Vigil, was on its way – but the upcoming show is already under fire from viewers who remember the so-called “anti-UK” scenes of the previous episodes.
Vigil first aired in 2021, with the police procedural drama initially exploring the story of Jones’ character, DCI Amy Silva, who had been enlisted to solve a murder on a navy submarine.
The second series, which the BBC aired in 2023, centred around a deadly drone attack.
Both plots sparked outrage about “anti-UK” themes, with the stories and relationships also labelled “woke” by some.
On that note, many weren’t pleased at the BBC’s announcement this week that a third series had been given the green light.
Taking to X, the broadcaster shared in a post: “Vigil is returning for series three! Suranne Jones and Rose Leslie will return as DCI Amy Silva and DI Kirsten Longacre in a brand new mystery for @BBCiPlayer and @BBCOne. Filming starts in Scotland later this year.”
📢 Vigil is returning for series three!
Suranne Jones and Rose Leslie will return as DCI Amy Silva and DI Kirsten Longacre in a brand new mystery for @BBCiPlayer and @BBCOne. Filming starts in Scotland later this year
Read more ➡️ https://t.co/WnA4W0uE24 pic.twitter.com/l7plqd0sSU
— BBC Press Office (@bbcpress) February 19, 2025
It didn’t take long for similar criticisms to resurface, with one person responding: “Ha ha ha the largest most woke submarine in the world.”
“Baddy white male war mongering deep state admirals pitted against virtuous female lesbian police officers,” a second fumed, referencing themes explored in the previous instalments.
Another commented: “How on earth does rubbish like this keep on coming?”
“I just hope Series 3 goes back to a submarine or a cruise ship storyline. I hope The Responder starring Martin Freeman comes back for Series 3 alongside The Tourist with Jamie Dornan,” another suggested.
“I presume most episodes will have them working on difficult social media ‘non-crime’ misgendering incidents?” another X user penned.
“Let’s hope it has a bigger budget,” one more critic responded as another advised: “Don’t bother watching it. It will be s***.”
Despite the backlash, other fans seemed to be pleased by the news, with one fan sharing: “Yessss! Vigil is back for series 3! Can’t wait to see Suranne Jones and Rose Leslie reprise their roles in a new mystery! #Vigil #BBC #Series3.”
“Series 1 and 2 were brilliant! Looking forward to series 3,” another wrote. (sic)
Commenting on the new series, leading lady Jones herself stated: “I can’t wait to return to Vigil series three, see our brilliant team in Scotland and work with Rose again. I’m sure it will be a thrill of a ride.”
Leslie added: “I can’t wait to get stuck into another season of Vigil, to work with the wonderful Suranne Jones again and our brilliant crew.
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“And this time, Kirsten will get to pack her bags and join Amy on what’s set to be Vigil’s most high-stakes mission yet!”
Exploring the show’s new theme, writer Tom Edge commented: “I’m delighted that Suranne and Rose are returning for a new adventure. In our third season we travel to the frozen north where the world’s great powers are competing to secure advantages as the ice melts.
“With a brilliant cast and crew assembling to make the show, we hope to deliver an epic investigation that shines a light on issues that will shape the world we all live in.”
While some may be eager to see the thriller back in a new setting, others may already be dreading the potential for what they deem “woke” messaging to be back at the forefront.