Release Date & Streaming: Premieres Sunday, 20 September on ITV1 and STV, with full streaming access on ITVX and STV Player.
Starring Cast: Michelle Keegan (Fool Me Once) stars as DI Emma Crane alongside Douglas Booth (The Sandman) as DI Tom Radley and Ian Hart (Mr Bates vs. The Post Office) as DCI Kenneth Walker.
Supporting Ensemble: Features Nigel Boyle (Line of Duty), Joe Armstrong (Gentleman Jack), Matilda Freeman (Passenger), Gavin Spokes (House of the Dragon), Nathan Mensah, Josh Bolt, Ceallach Spellman, Karen Ascoe, and Vikash Bhai.
Core Plot: The discovery of a murdered teenage figure skater in Wakestead spirals into a high-stakes investigation exposing police corruption, betrayal, and dark town secrets.
Production Team: Written and executive produced by Megan Gallagher (All Her Fault) and produced by Quay Street Productions (part of ITV Studios) in association with global distributor FIFTH SEASON.
Michelle Keegan is set to dominate weekend television once again as she leads the cast of ITV’s upcoming six-part crime thriller, The Blame. Commissioned by ITV Director of Drama Polly Hill and produced by Quay Street Productions, the gripping series moves production to London this summer ahead of its autumn release.
Adapted from the world created by novelist Charlotte Langley, the narrative begins with a tragedy that rocks the quiet town of Wakestead: the body of teenage figure skater Sophie Madsen (Matilda Freeman) is discovered under suspicious circumstances. Assigned to the high-profile case, DI Emma Crane (Keegan) and DI Tom Radley (Booth) quickly realize that what appears to be an isolated murder is actually the tip of an iceberg.
As the duo digs deeper into the local community and their own police station, the investigation becomes entangled in systemic corruption, misogyny, and institutional cover-ups. With internal politics threatening to fracture her team, Crane must navigate a web of lies where nobody—not even her closest colleagues—can be fully trusted.
ITV’s Polly Hill praised the project as an “unmissable drama,” highlighting lead writer Megan Gallagher’s ability to craft a story that cleverly tackles contemporary societal issues alongside a classic, twist-filled murder mystery. Executive producers Nicola Shindler and Richard Fee added that the show will keep viewers on the edge of their seats as it tackles themes of power, betrayal, and moral compromise inside a modern police force.