The Teacher- Season 3 (review)

Published by Mason Oldridge, 23 April 2026

Channel 5’s anthology drama series in which each season follows a teacher caught up in a scandal returns, with Victoria Hamilton leading the cast this time.

Drama teacher Helen Simpson clashes with student Cresida after Helen’s traditional approach to the syllabus and her misgendering of newly non-binary student Dee aggravates a woke Cresida.

As with the second season, the pacing is rather slow considering this is only a short four-part series. Cresida consistently ramps up her vicious vendetta but only at the latter half of the final episode does the drama receive a real boost.

Ultimately, the show is frustrating. First of all, all the woke nonsense is annoying as Shakespeare is an important part of the syllabus and Helen did apologise for misgendering Dee. Secondly, it feels as though Helen is unfairly villanised as, although she made mistakes, it was largely an unfortunate situation as a result of persistent goading from Cresida. Also, would Cresida really ruin the life of someone unrelated to her simply because she feels abandoned by her parents? Furthermore, Sam’s weedy and brooding personality is the worst of it. He lacks respect for his parents and the intimate scenes with Cresida are cringeworthy. As if he would enter into a relationship with his mum’s tormentor! As if his dad would let Cresida stay the night! As if Sam would believe the accusations of someone he has just met against his dad he has known all his life! Additionally, he leaves his mum held at gunpoint instead of trying to talk Cresida down and the shock twist in which Cresida is revealed to be pregnant is also the fault of Sam and his irresponsibility, bringing further stress to Helen’s life.

However, praise must be given to Alice Grant as this relatively unknown actress delivers a psychotically evil performance as the malicious schoolgirl.

On the whole, this season is irritable but still delivers on a story that fits within the anthology.

5/10