| Series Number: | 3 |
| Bgcolour: |
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| Network: | BBC One |
| Num Episodes: | 12 |
| Episode List: | List of Our Girl episodes |
| Prev Series: | Series 2 |
| Next Series: | Series 4 |
The third series of the British military drama television series Our Girl began broadcasting on 10 October 2017 on BBC One, and ended on 24 July 2018. The series follows 2-Section through four missions in Nepal, Nigeria, Belize, and Bangladesh. It consists of twelve sixty-minute episodes.
On 5 October 2016, it was announced that Our Girl had been greenlit for a third series, with Michelle Keegan set to return to her role.[1] The new series was set to contain 12 episodes, over twice as many as the previous two series.[2] The series would also be split into two parts, with each one following on 2-Section through a different tour.[3] While writing for the series, creator Tony Grounds admitted he aimed to shed light on emergency disaster relief, as the army often participate in it.[4] Before choosing a location for the series's setting, he researched areas that were often struck with natural disasters and helped by the British Army's involvement. Part one focusing on a mission in Nepal following an earthquake. The second part of the series would be set in the Belize/Guatemalan border, and then the Myanmar/Bangladesh border.[5] After Luke Pasqualino told Grounds that he would leave after Part 1 of the series, his character's death was written in to explain his absence, a decision he felt was a good one for dramatic effect.[6] Actress Keegan teased that the series would "pick up with Georgie at home with her friends and family, and she gets a call from Captain James asking her to come out to Nepal for a NGO relief mission" and teased that it would "join Georgie and Elvis in episode one in Syria where they left things on an even keel. They are work colleagues but there is still love there. Georgie still believes they can't be together but Elvis still tries his luck a couple of times. Obviously Elvis is a ladies' man but she does find out a few things she doesn't like. She tries to be professional but deep down I think she's genuinely hurt".[7] The first teaser for the series was released on 23 September 2017.[8]
In May 2018, the second part of series 3 was announced.[9] Part 2 would follow 2-Section through Nigeria, Belize and Bangladesh.[10] For the Nigerian section, a training mission was set to turn into a rescue one after many schoolgirls go missing due to Boko Haram. The Belize section would focus on its border with Guatemala and follow 2-Section through harsh jungle terrain. The third and final section, set on the Myanmar/Bangladesh border, was based on true events following the Rohingya refugees fleeing across the border into overcrowded camps.[11] Grounds chose Bangladesh as the final part as he was interested in stories about Rohingya Muslims crossing the border from Myanmar and living in refugee camps, and found drug lords to be an intimidating enemy. Grounds detailed that he spent a "long time listening to soldiers and people" from around the countries to achieve accuracy and authenticity of the struggles in the areas. It was produced by John Griffin and Lizzie Rushbridger, and executive produced by Grounds, Hilary Salmon and Mona Qureshi.
The first part of series 3 began filming in May 2017.[12] It was filmed in areas surrounding Kathmandu, Nepal, where it took place. Crew took advantage of the filming and story sharing a setting, as scenes were filmed in a village that was affected by the April 2015 Nepal earthquake, where parts of the story were also set. With the villagers' permission, the art department enhanced the damage inflicted on the village.[13] Villagers were used as extras on occasion. Despite the series primarily being filmed in Nepal, some scenes used Cape Town, South Africa (where series 1 and 2 were filmed) as a stand-in for Nepal. Scenes taking place in Afghanistan were filmed in South Africa's Karoo Desert. Preparation was completed in bootcamps in Sandhurst and South Africa. Keegan explained that the filming process involved actors waking up early in the morning, which she "couldn't stand". There were two military advisors on set. Keegan disclosed that she enjoyed getting dirty and gritty when filming, enjoying the contrast it offered between her other roles and public persona.[14] The actress recalled being "covered in bruises" after filming finished, as the series had the most "physically demanding" stunts performed, as Keegan said: "There are a lot more stunts involved, more Army-based scenes and a lot more running which I'm not very good at! I've had to learn how to run like I'm in the Army – nightmare".[15]
Part 2 was filmed in South Africa and in the Taman Negara jungle in Malaysia over a nine-month period, which Keegan described as "really long".[16] On occasion, actors filmed six-day weeks. Scenes taking place in the Belizean jungle were shot in Malaysia, Bangladesh was chosen as the last location for the series to cut costs on transport film equipment, as Bangladesh could also be filmed there.[17] Griffin felt that Bangladesh being filmed in Malaysia came with advantages as a large population of the country are of Indian descent, making it easier to cast actors and extras, and the foliage was similar in both countries. Aldridge described filming in the Malaysian jungle as being "beautiful but tough", attributing the humidity, insects, and heavy makeup as reasons why. Keegan echoed finding it challenging, but admitted "you just adapt" after a while as "your body acclimatises". She also noted the insects being tough, recalling that the actors and crew members had to wear leech socks at all times. Again, military advisors were present on set to ensure accuracy.
Michelle Keegan reprised her role as protagonist Georgie Lane. Speaking on her return, she enthused about returning and commented that she was "very excited to bring more stories of Georgie Lane to life". Captain James and Elvis Harte both returned for the first part of series 3, with Ben Aldridge and Luke Pasqualino, respectively, set to reprise their roles. Aldridge teased growth for his character, explaining viewers can expect to "get more insight in a later tour" as his character would begin to question the ethics of war. Teasing Elvis's return, Pasqualino commented viewers would be "surprised" by the development of his character's relationship with Georgie, adding that Elvis would become "incredibly head over heels" for her in the upcoming series.[18] Royce Pierreson's Jamie Coyle was announced to not return, with Keegan assuming "he's probably settled down, got married and still a doctor". A new lead character, Maisie Richards, to be played by Shalom Brune-Franklin, was also announced. She was described as "very outspoken and rebellious" and would "instantly" be at odds with Georgie. Pasqualino described the character as "a spanner in the works" of Georgie and Elvis's relationship. Other new cast members included Rudi Dharmalingam as Milan Dhakal, an engineer set to "catch Georgie's eye", and Harki Bhambra as Rab Khalil, described as being a smarter member of 2-Section.
In part 2, Keegan returned as Georgie, who would now stuggle with the grief of Elvis's death. Keegan teased the series showcasing Georgie "throwing herself into work" as a method of coping, adding that her character is "definitely not over Elvis at all and you’ll see throughout the episodes that his death has really affected her".[19] Aldridge also reprised his role, teasing that Captain James was also "trying to lose himself in his work" and "steadily becomes more war weary than ever and starts to question his future with the British Army".[20] Grounds confirmed both characters would struggle emotionally in the remainder of the series. Olly Rix was cast as a new character, 'Bones', whom he described as "a tricky kind of guy" and "abrasive, brash and yet highly competent as a soldier". He concluded "for all his naughtiness, he's a decent man with a healthy disrespect for authority".[21] Grounds billed Bones as a "flawed but dedicated" soldier "with a massive heart". Maisie, Rab, Sergeant King, Brains, Monk, and Fingers all returned, with their actors reprising their respective roles.[22]