The Walking Dead begins its third season in tonight in the UK on FX at 10pm. Here’s some of the things we can expect this year.

A new location – the Prison

“There’s gotta be a place not just where we hole up. Where we fortify, hunker down, pull ourselves together and build a life for each other. We just have to find it, ” says Rick in the season 2 finale.

Little does he know, waiting just on the horizon is the prison. This location is a huge, iconic part of the comics, so we can safety assume that the survivors will be be spending a fair bit of time there, likely more than one season according to creator and show producer Robert Kirkman. Hopefully they can keep the location interesting and avoid the same fate that befell Hershel’s farm. Otherwise we’ll be complaining: “when are they going to get out of the damn prison?!”

New character Michonne

As comic fans will know, Michonne briefly appeared in the Season 2 finale. She was the hooded, katana wielding figure who saved Andrea’s life. The two walkers she had chained up with her were her boyfriend and his best friend who have had their arms and jaw removed. Danai Gurira (The Visitor, Ghost Town) plays the role of the character.

A new villain – The Governor

British actor David Morrissey has been cast in the role of The Governor, aka Brian Blake. The Governor is the leader of Woodbury town, home to a small settlement of survivors. He appears in the third episode and becomes the chief antagonist for Rick (Andrew Lincoln) and the group.

The return of Merle

Dayrl’s racist and all round nasty brother, Merle Dixon (Michael Rooker) returns early on in Season 3. He has some unfinished business with Rick and the survivors after being left abandoned (and handless) back in Season 1.