ITV has commissioned The Blame, a six-part crime thriller led by Michelle Keegan and Douglas Booth, with filming beginning this summer in and around London for broadcast on ITV1 and streaming on ITVX (also STV and STV Player in Scotland). Produced by Quay Street Productions, the series is adapted for television by lead writer and executive producer Megan Gallagher from Charlotte Langley’s debut novel.
Keegan plays DI Emma Crane and Booth is DI Tom Radley, detectives drawn into the death of teenage figure skater Sophie Madsen in the quiet town of Wakestead. What starts as a suspicious fatality widens into a case laced with institutional secrecy, misogyny and police corruption, as the investigators confront failings inside their own station while trying to secure justice.
The production has assembled a sizable ensemble: Ian Hart appears as DCI Kenneth Walker, Nigel Boyle plays digital forensics specialist Brett Shergill, Joe Armstrong portrays skating coach Kyle Frasier and Matilda Freeman is Sophie Madsen. Behind the camera, Bex Rycroft will direct episodes one to three and Claire Tailyour will direct episodes four to six; Matt Strevens serves as series producer with Sara Huxley as co-producer. Executive producers are Nicola Shindler and Richard Fee for Quay Street, with Polly Hill for ITV.
Gallagher described the drama as “an important and urgent story to tell,” while ITV’s drama chief praised a twist-driven investigation that engages directly with exploitation and misogyny inside a contemporary police setting. Those comments underline the broadcaster’s recent appetite for socially pointed thrillers, following audience interest in titles that combine procedural mechanics with systemic scrutiny.
The Blame adds to Keegan’s run of high-profile roles on British and global platforms and pairs her with Booth, whose recent credits include work across television and film. With principal photography due to start in the coming weeks and delivery planned for ITV’s flagship channel and streamer, the series positions itself for a wide UK reach on first transmission and on-demand availability thereafter.
