Every cameo in Heartstopper season 3

Heartstopper will soon be returning to Netflix, and the new season is set to be an exciting one not only because of its story but because of the guest stars who will appear in the show.

The Netflix series is based on Alice Oseman's comic of the same name, with the new season also adapting her novellas Nick and Charlie and This Winter. With Nick Nelson (Kit Connor) and Charlie Spring (Joe Locke) in the throes of romance Charlie is ready to say he loves Nick, but fears what will happen if he rebuffs him.

Charlie's mental health is also a key part of the season as he comes to terms with having an eating disorder, and while Nick is ready to support him in any way he can he is also pondering his university career and whether he can be apart from Charlie.

With such intense storylines to navigate, the series has brought in a slew of cameos to represent key figures in both character's lives. Here is everything that you need to know.

Every cameo in Heartstopper season 3

There are three new cast members in Heartstopper season 3 — Hayley Atwell, Jonathan Bailey and Eddie Marsan who play Aunt Diana, Jack Maddox, and Geoff, respectively.

Some their appearances work better than others in terms of their significance to the story at hand. Atwell, for example, plays Nick's aunt who takes him on holiday to Menorca and gives her nephew some sage advice on his relationship with Charlie.

Atwell's Aunt Diana is on hand to advise Nick on how best to help Charlie with his eating disorder and deteriorating mental health, such as what to do and how to be around him so that he can help him through the struggle without hurting him further. Diana gives Nick advice not only for Charlie's wellbeing but also for his, as she recognises the pressure he is putting himself under to help his boyfriend.

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Marsan's Geoff is also a key figure in the season as he portrays Charlie's therapist when he decides to seek professional help with his eating disorder. Geoff appears in Oseman's original comics and helps Charlie to understand his illness and how best to tackle it.

This brings us to Bailey's cameo as Jack Maddox, a writer whom Charlie admires and has a secret crush on. The Bridgerton star has been a longtime fan of the series and has often sung its praises in public, and Oseman also revealed at a recent book event that it was Bailey who first approached her about making an appearance on the series.

Oseman was keen to give Bailey a significant role in the series rather than a blink-and-you'll-miss-it cameo, and so offered the actor the part of Jack in season 3. Bailey's cameo is less integral to the plot than Atwell and Marsan's characters, but it gives the actor the chance to be in one of his favourite shows.

Why isn't Olivia Colman in Heartstopper season 3?

This brings us to an A-list actor who has, arguably, one of the most important supporting roles in the series — Olivia Colman.

The actor plays Nick's mum in the series and delivered moving performances in both seasons 1 and 2, firstly when her son came out to her as bisexual, and secondly when Nick's dad returns to the scene and doesn't take well to his son coming out. Which is why it will be quite noticeable that Colman is not in season 3 at all.

Colman was unable to return to the show because of scheduling conflicts, Colman revealed back in March, which means she doesn't appear at all in season 3. She told Forbes: "I couldn’t do number three. I couldn’t fit it in. I feel awful about that. I feel like I was part of one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever been part of."

Oseman also shared a statement on social media shortly thereafter, writing: "As many of you have heard today, the wonderful Olivia Colman will not be returning to the show for season three. We tried absolutely everything we could, but it wasn’t meant to be, and that’s just the way the TV world works sometimes. We are so deeply grateful to Olivia for the stunning performance she gave to the show and wish her the absolute best!"

While Colman was unable to return it is not to say the character isn't mentioned at all though, nor has she been recast. So, it may be the case that the actor could return in season 4 should the show be renewed, but no official word has been given on that either.

Heartstopper season 3 premieres on Netflix on Thursday, 3 October.

This article originally appeared on Yahoo TV UK at https://uk.news.yahoo.com/heartstopper-season-3-cameos-jonathan-bailey-115755509.html