Martin Compston ‘set to return for third series of Red Eye’
After it proved a ratings hit despite being broadcast opposite the BBC’s high-profile return of The Night Manager, Martin Compston is reportedly set to return for a third series of Red Eye.
Martin Compston is reportedly set to return for a third series of Red Eye.
ITV’s thriller, starring Line of Duty actor Martin, 41, launched on New Year’s Day and aired opposite the BBC’s high-profile return of The Night Manager, which features Tom Hiddleston.
Despite the scheduling clash, TV industry figures say the show performed well, bolstered by strong streaming numbers on ITVX.
ITV has yet to formally recommission the series or confirm casting, but a third instalment is now expected following positive audience response and viewing data.
A TV insider told The Sun: “The drama launched on New Year’s Day and went up against one of the most hyped shows of 2026 so far, so it always faced a challenge.
“But it met that challenge and also had the figures hugely boosted by viewers watching it on streaming service ITVX, which is one of the most important measures of a programme’s success these days.
“So from fearing it might not return, it now looks like bringing Red Eye back is a bit of a no-brainer for ITV. Though they have yet to officially recommission the third outing or confirm castings.”
The second series of Red Eye saw Martin take on the role of Clay Brody, head of security at the US Embassy in London during an attack.
His character, a former SAS soldier, is linked to DS Hana Li, played by Jing Lusi.
After initial friction, the two characters work together to counter the threat.
The programme faced a difficult broadcast slot, airing at 9pm on 1 January – directly opposite the long-awaited return of The Night Manager on BBC One, which came back after a decade and drew a peak audience of just under four million viewers.
In comparison, Red Eye attracted just under 1.5 million viewers for its overnight broadcast.
However, the full series had been released on ITVX earlier the same day, a factor understood to have impacted traditional ratings while contributing to its overall performance across platforms.
Scottish-born Martin is a former professional footballer who began his screen career in Sweet Sixteen.
He rose to prominence as Steve Arnott in Line of Duty and has since starred in multiple TV dramas, becoming one of the UK’s most recognisable television actors.
