Gillian Anderson and Jamie Dornan return in third series of The Fall

The BBC has ordered a third series of The Fall, its Northern Ireland set murder drama which stars Gillian Anderson as Detective Superintendent Stella Gibson and Jamie Dornan as serial murderer Paul Spector.

The show’s second series ended on a cliff-hanger with Spector shot and apparently dying but viewers will now see a final chapter in the story.

Producers say the five-part new series sees the complex relationship between Gibson and Spector intensify and the investigation into the murders become more complex and intricate.

Writer and director Allan Cubitt says: “We’d like to thank the BBC, Kim Shillinglaw, Ben Stephenson and Stephen Wright for showing such confidence in the drama we have created with Artists Studio.

“The cliffhanger ending of season two was conceived in the hope of further exploring the characters and the themes that are at the heart of The Fall. We’re grateful to be given this opportunity by the BBC.”

Ben Stephenson, Controller, BBC Drama, says: “The story is far from over. Allan has known the end game from the beginning – the cat and mouse game between Gillian and Jamie has one last act to play out. Who will win?”