New Crime Series Headed to ITV
Michelle Keegan, known from Fool Me Once, and Douglas Booth of Worried About the Boy fame, are set to lead an ITV police drama titled The Blame.
In the upcoming six-part series, Keegan will portray Detective Inspector Emma Crane, while Booth will take on the role of DI Tom Radley. The show is being produced by Quay Street Productions, the same team behind Fool Me Once, and features a script penned by Megan Gallagher, known for All her Fault. The storyline is adapted from Charlotte Langley’s debut novel also titled The Blame.
The ensemble cast includes Nathan Mensah, Nigel Boyle (famous for Line of Duty and Peaky Blinders), Joe Armstrong (known from Gentleman Jack and Black Mirror), Matilda Freeman (seen in How to Get to Heaven from Belfast and Passenger), Gavin Spokes (House of the Dragon, Slow Horses), Josh Bolt (Masters of the Air, Last Tango in Halifax), Ian Hart, and Ceallach Spellman (Cheaters, White Lines).
The Heart of the Drama
The narrative of The Blame unfolds following the unsettling discovery of a young figure skater’s body in the seemingly tranquil town of Wakestead. As DI Crane and DI Radley delve into the case, they uncover a complex mesh of deception, bureaucratic cover-ups, and ethical dilemmas.
Leading the production for Quay Street Productions, part of ITV Studios, is Matt Strevens (Capital, Cucumber), serving as the series producer, with Sara Huxley as co-producer. The series is a collaborative effort with Fifth Season, which will also manage international distribution. Directors Bex Rycroft (The Crow Girl, Screw) and Claire Tailyour (The Wives, Beyond Paradise) will helm episodes 1-3 and 4-6 respectively.
Nicola Shindler (Nolly, It’s A Sin) and Richard Fee (Fool Me Once, Missing You) are executive producers for Quay Street, while Polly Hill takes on the role for ITV. Megan Gallagher crafted the television adaptation and serves as the executive producer and head writer, working alongside fellow writers Ashley Sanders and Namsi Khan. Production is scheduled to start this summer in various London locales.
ITV’s Director of Drama, Polly Hill, praised the upcoming series, noting, “The Blame is a masterful new crime thriller that not only offers unexpected twists and a gripping plot but also thoughtfully addresses issues like police corruption, exploitation, and misogyny as the story progresses.” Hill further highlighted the creative team, stating, “Megan is an exceptionally talented writer, and with Michelle Keegan leading the cast under Nicola Shindler’s direction, this series is poised to be a standout drama that I am thrilled to present on ITV.”
Michelle Keegan previously starred in the Harlan Coben-written Fool Me Once, which emerged as one of Netflix’s top original dramas, even surpassing popular titles like Bridgerton and Baby Reindeer in viewership ratings during the first half of 2024.
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