Sex Education season 3: Release date, trailer, main cast and more

Sex Education season 3 with Asa Butterfield
(Image credit: Netflix)

Let’s talk about Sex Education season 3, because it’s coming to Netflix. And there's a brand-new trailer previewing what to expect from the new episodes.

The British dramedy stars Asa Butterfield as socially awkward teen Otis and Gillian Anderson as his mother, who happens to be a sex therapist. Otis ends up starting a business doling out sex advice to fellow students. 

Sex Education has been a buzzy hit for Netflix, which reported that over 40 million viewers watched the first season. The second season premiered Jan. 17, 2020 and was successful enough that Netflix ordered season 3 almost immediately.

In the new installment, Otis (Asa Butterfield) is having casual sex, while Eric and Adam (Ncuti Gatwa and Connor Swindells) are official. Jean (Gillian Anderson) is pregnant, Aimee (Aimee-Lou Wood) discovers feminism and Jackson (Kedar Williams-Stirling) gets a crush. Oh, and that voicemail is still out there, waiting to disrupt several lives.

Here’s everything we know about Sex Education season 3.

Sex Education season 3 release date

Netflix set the Sex Education season 3 release date for Friday, September 17.

The series was renewed for a third season back in February and Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos announced in April that it would premiere in Q4 2021. 

Sex Education season 3 trailer

The Sex Education season 3 trailer dropped on July 19. The video is a spoof of a commercial for Moordale Secondary, which is still reeling after Headmaster Groff (Alistair Petrie) was placed on administrative leave.

"Choose Moordale!" the students chirp, while Miss Haddon (Jemima Kirke) — who says "call me Hope" — tries to project a sense of confidence.

Previously, an announcement video featured cast member Alistair Petrie (who plays Moordale Secondary School Headmaster Groff). Petrie strolls through a portrait gallery of the show’s characters, calling Otis “an arousing wheel of Brie,” and ending with a look at new couple Eric and Adam.

season 3 is the new season 2, get with the programme. Sex Education

A photo posted by @sexeducation on Feb 10, 2020 at 8:00am PST

Sex Education season 3 main cast

The cast of Sex Education season 3 is led by Asa Butterfield as Otis Milburn and Gillian Anderson as his mother, Dr. Jean F. Milburn. 

Also returning are cast members from seasons 1 and 2, including: 

  • Alistair Petrie as Michael Groff, the headmaster at Moordale Secondary School and Adam's strict father
  • Emma Mackey as Maeve Wiley
  • Patricia Allison as Ola Nyman
  • Ncuti Gatwa as Eric Effiong
  • Connor Swindells as Adam Groff
  • Kedar Williams-Stirling as Jackson Marchetti
  • Aimee Lou Wood as Aimee Gibbs
  • Tanya Reynolds as Lily Iglehart
  • Mimi Keene as Ruby Matthews
  • Chaneil Kular as Anwar
  • Simone Ashley as Olivia Hanan
  • James Purefoy as Remi Milburn, Otis's father and Jean's ex-husband
  • Mikael Persbrandt as Jakob Nyman, Ola's father
  • Anne-Marie Duff as Erin Wiley, Maeve and Sean's absent mother

Several new faces are joining Sex Education season 3, starting with Jemima Kirke as Hope Haddon, who is responsible for getting Moordale "back on track."

Jason Isaacs is playing Peter Groff, described as Mr. Groff's “more successful and not very modest older brother. Dua Saleh is Cal, a nonbinary student, while Indra Ové is Anna, Elsie's foster mother.

Sex Education season 3 plot 

Sex Education season 3 will likely pick up where the series left off. In season 2, Otis had to deal with his newfound sex drive and navigate a relationship with Ola, which was complicated by the fact that his mom and her dad began dating. His friendship with Maeve became strained. 

By the end of season 2, Otis and Ola had broken up and Otis declared his love for Maeve in a voicemail. However, her new friend Isaac deleted it before she could listen to it. 

Meanwhile, Jean discovered she’s pregnant and Eric dumped his French boyfriend for former bully Adam after the latter made a grand gesture during the school play.

In Sex Education season 3, Jean will have to deal with her pregnancy, while Eric and Adam explore the early stages of their romance. As for Otis and Maeve, will she ever find out about the voicemail? And will Otis be able to bounce back from embarrassing missteps made in front of the whole school?

Kelly Woo
Streaming Editor

Kelly is the streaming channel editor for Tom’s Guide, so basically, she watches TV for a living. Previously, she was a freelance entertainment writer for Yahoo, Vulture, TV Guide and other outlets. When she’s not watching TV and movies for work, she’s watching them for fun, seeing live music, writing songs, knitting and gardening.