5 min readThe third and final term of comedy-drama Boarders arrives on BBC iPlayer, BBC One and BBC Three on Sunday 15 March 2026, drawing to a close the Bristol-made coming-of-age hit, which has filmed at The Bottle Yard Studios and on location with Bristol Film Office support since 2023.
Created and written by the BAFTA-nominated Daniel Lawrence Taylor, who also co-stars in the series as Gus, Boarders is produced by Studio Lambert in association with All3Media International for the BBC. Tubi in North America and LATAM and Germany in ZDF are the show's key international partners. Series one filmed in Bristol in Summer 2023 and following the success of its release the following year – with critics praising its sharp humour, engaging performances, relatability and heartfelt exploration of institutional racism and class - its producers returned to Bristol to film two further series in Summer 2024 and 2025.
The show’s second series won the coveted Scripted Award at the 2025 RTS West of England Awards, whilst Josh Tedeku won the prestigious Breakthrough Award at the 2025 RTS Programme Awards. Casting director Rosalie Clayton also won the Casting Award at the 2024 RTS Craft & Design Awards.
For Series three, The Bottle Yard Studios hosted interior sets for a key school equipment room (where two characters get locked inside), as well as green screen filming and an exterior scene shot in the Studios’ Back Lot. In the city, the main location was the same Bristol school that featured in previous series, and Bristol Film Office assisted filming on Clifton’s streets and additional locations, including Caribbean Croft restaurant in Stokes Croft, Portland Square in St Paul’s, UWE Bristol’s Frenchay campus, a private residence in Coombe Dingle, Redmaid High School’s Sports Ground in Henbury and Ashton Court Estate.
Image - Boarders cast filming in Bristol - credit BBC
Madeleine Sinclair, Studio Lambert Creative Director for Scripted and Executive Producer for Boarders said: “We’ve had a brilliant experience filming in Bristol over the last three years. It’s proved to be both a fantastic base for cast and crew and a wonderfully film-friendly city. Bristol Film Office were hugely helpful and supportive when it came to filming in and around Bristol. With The Bottle Yard Studios, we once again had a great base for our production offices during prep and space for interior sets, green screen filming and exterior locations. We feel very lucky that we’ve been able to work with so many talented local crew members, at all levels of experience and to be able to have offered training opportunities where we can. We’ll miss coming to Bristol this summer, but we hope to be back soon!”
Location Manager Cara Wiltshire added: “From a location’s perspective, returning to Bristol for Boarders S3 was a fantastic experience. With The Bottle Yard Studios as our production base, we were able to efficiently coordinate filming across a wide range of locations throughout the city, making the most of the incredible variety Bristol has to offer on screen. Working in Bristol is always enjoyable, and the support from both the Studios team and the Bristol Film Office makes a real difference on the ground. Their understanding of the practical needs of production, combined with their proactive and collaborative approach, helps ensure that filming across the city runs smoothly. The people leading both organisations are a genuine pleasure to work with, and their ongoing support makes Bristol a great place for location teams and productions alike.”
Katherine Nash, Head of Studios, The Bottle Yard Studios, said: “Returning series like Boarders are so important for our regional film sector. They provide returning employment and workflow for crew and companies, and career development and progression for freelancers. In the studio and on location, Studio Lambert has embraced the opportunity to engage locally on every level, giving opportunities to our All Set West Trainees and employing local creatives and companies for different parts of their workflow. We are sad to see the Boarders era come to an end with this final series, but hope to welcome Studio Lambert back to The Bottle Yard in the future for more exciting work.”
Adela Straughan, Bristol Film Office Manager, added: “From the moment Boarders arrived in Bristol, seeking the perfect school location, they have shown exemplary engagement in our local film sector. The whole premise of the show is about access to opportunity, and the production team has championed this on both sides of the camera, putting inclusion and diversity at the heart of their creative and production processes. We’re proud that Boarders came to Bristol and made the most of our city’s locations. Its presence here has been a significant boost for our creative economy, workforce and early-stage crew.”
Image - Boarders filming taking place at Clifton College in Bristol - credit BBC
Series 3 – What’s in store?
Series 3 sees the Boarders return to St Gilbert’s, where the pressure is on. They’ve made it to the final term and exams are looming. Their sights are set on big futures but new dramas are erupting everywhere. A shocking school rivalry brings violence, love triangles and shattered friendships. Can the scholarship kids conquer the madness to come out on top?
