'Killing Eve' to return for a third season

Gritty BBC drama is renewed following season two's US premiere

Irish actress Fiona Shaw, left, and Canadian actress Sandra Oh arrive for BBC America and AMC's 'Killing Eve' season 2 premiere. AFP

Less than 24 hours after season two of the hit female-fronted crime thriller Killing Eve premiered on BBC America it has been renewed for a third season, the BBC announced on Monday.

The show, which has won wide acclaim for its gritty take on the “special agent hunting ruthless killer” trope, will return for a new season with a new showrunner at the helm, as Suzanne Heathcote takes over lead writer and executive producer duties.

The appointment seems to further establish a developing tradition of having a new, female showrunner/writer for each season of the show. Outgoing head honcho Emerald Fennell commented: "It's been such an exciting year for me on Killing Eve. I think it's cool that this tradition has been built into this untraditional show. I can't wait to see what Suzanne does next."

Fleabag's Phoebe Waller-Bridge, who created the show and was lead writer for its first season, said in a statement: "I'm very excited that the Killing Eve baton is being passed onto another incredible writer for season 3. We can sleep soundly knowing these characters are safe in Suzanne Heathcote's hilariously murderous hands."

A big hit

Killing Eve was a critical success after its first season, earning two Emmy nominations and 14 Bafta TV nominations. Star Sandra Oh also picked up a Screen Actors Guild award in the Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series category for her portrayal of Eve Polastri, an MI5 officer who's hunting skilled assassin Villanelle (Jodie Comer).

Oh also made history at the Golden Globes this year, as she became the first actress of Asian descent in 29 years to win, for her role in the show.

In an unfortunate twist for British fans of the show, however, UK-based viewers will have to wait at least until the show's eight-week US run is up to watch season two, despite the fact that the show is produced under the BBC banner. This is due to the fact that Killing Eve is a commissioned by BBC America, the state-owned corporation's for-profit US cable TV joint venture with AMC Networks, and that network has exclusive first screening rights.

In the UK Killing Eve is subject to similar international licencing regulations that led to Netflix having to wait for contracts with OSN to expire before it was able to stream its own shows on the Middle East platform, including House of Cards and Orange is the New Black.