IN CONTEMPT: JODIE WHITTAKER TO LEAD CAST OF NEW ITV LEGAL DRAMA FROM WRITER STEVE THOMPSON

ITV have commissioned high-stakes legal drama, In Contempt, starring Jodie Whittaker as a barrister whose top-drawer advocacy skills have earned her a ‘hot shot’ reputation in the world of media law.

With an impressive client list, Olivia Savareid, played by Jodie Whittaker (Frauds, Toxic Town, Doctor Who, Dear England), has built a career defending people’s reputations and engaging in multi-million pounds litigation to prevent their good names from being destroyed on social media. 

Jodie Whittaker said: "I am thrilled to be stepping into the role of Olivia Savareid. This is an amazing character in a world I haven’t explored before. Steve Thompson’s writing is an absolute joy to work with and I’m so excited to be embarking on this adventure with such a brilliant creative team at Hartswood Films and ITV."

In Contempt establishes Olivia’s challenging working relationship with News Director Greg Dalman, who edits a London daily newspaper.  He’s a smart operator, prone to pushing the boundaries of what he can publish.

As a journalist of 26 years’ experience, he’s forged a reputation for taking no prisoners and is capable of behaving recklessly if he believes it’s in the public interest to break a story. He’s a risk-taker and as his legal counsel, Olivia must summon all her skills and expertise to keep him out of libel court. 

A mother to a 15-year-old daughter, Olivia also has responsibilities to her family, but when an explosive situation erupts at work, she makes a crucial misjudgement. Olivia’s own reputation is suddenly on the line. 

In the insidious world of management reputation, defamation, libel and slander, where treacherous behaviour knows no bounds, Olivia will have to keep her wits about her and fight to survive.

ITV's head of drama Polly Hill said:  "I'm delighted to commission the high-stakes legal drama In Contempt written by Steve Thompson and produced by Sue Vertue and the team at Hartswood Films. There's always been a voracious appetite for what happens behind the scenes before news stories are published. Steve has created a gripping and thought-provoking series and I'm thrilled Jodie Whittaker has agreed to play 'hot shot' lawyer Olivia Savereid. I have no doubt In Contempt will captivate our audience, as it's a really timely story for ITV to be telling."

In Contempt is written by Steve Thompson (Sherlock, Vienna Blood, Lynley) and produced by multi-award-winning independent producers, Hartswood Films, part of ITV Studios, led by Chief Executive Officer and Executive Producer, Sue Vertue (Douglas Is Cancelled, Sherlock, Coupling, The Devil’s Hour ), Creative Director, Executive Producer and Writer Steven Moffat (Sherlock, Doctor Who, Coupling, Press Gang, Dracula) and Managing Director, Dan Cheesbrough.

Sue Vertue said: “I’ve been wanting to work with Steve again since Sherlock, but it was never the right time or the right idea.  Then one day he sat down and said, “In the modern world, if you want to kill someone, you don’t use a gun – you destroy their reputation.”  And so began In Contempt...

"A whirlwind drama of cancellation, online poison and media law, where there’s less than 12 hours to stop a headline that could detonate someone’s life.  This is the story of now, and this is the series for today.  I’m delighted to be working with ITV again and to bring to screen Steve Thompson’s most explosive and personal drama yet.”

Steve Thompson said: “I am thrilled to be working with Hartswood Films again and with the team at ITV. In Contempt is a signature piece for me – a story I have been eager to tell. It unpacks the challenging relationship between the media and the law – between the freedom of the press and people’s right to privacy. In a world where all of us are surfing the net, hungry for the latest gossip, this drama takes us behind the curtain and shows us the lawyers who are in the vanguard of that fight.”

In Contempt will begin filming in London in the autumn of 2026 and further casting will be advised closer to production commencing.