JODIE WHITTAKER TO LEAD CAST OF NEW ITV LEGAL DRAMA FROM STEVE THOMPSON

Jodie Whittaker is to lead the cast of a new ITV legal drama from Sherlock writer Steve Thompson. The new drama - yet to be announced by ITV - will start filming in November, according to The Sun newspaper.

The role Whittaker will portray was reportedly first offered to Michelle Keegan, who can be seen in upcoming ITV drama The Blame.The drama dives into secrets, suspicion and systemic corruption - all under the surface of this seemingly quiet town.

Keegan leads the cast as DI Emma Crane. Douglas Booth (The Sandman, The Dirt) joins as DI Tom Radley, and Ian Hart (Mr Bates vs. The Post Office, The Last Kingdom) is DCI Kenneth Walker. The Blame promises complex characters, unexpected twists and a mystery at its core. 

Joining the stellar ensemble cast are rising star, Nathan Mensah as DC Lewis, Nigel Boyle (Line of Duty, Peaky Blinders) is digital forensic technician Brett Shergill, Joe Armstrong (Gentleman Jack, Black Mirror) plays ice-skating coach Kyle Frasier, and Matilda Freeman (How to get to heaven from Belfast, Passenger) is Sophie Madsen.

Gavin Spokes (House of the Dragon, Slow Horses), Josh Bolt (Masters of the Air, Last Tango in Halifax), Ceallach Spellman (Cheaters, White Lines) are part of the Wakestead Police team as DC Joel Stevens, DC Douglas James and PC Callum Drummond.  

The series begins when the body of teenage figure skater Sophie Madsen is discovered, sending shockwaves through the town of Wakestead. As DI Crane (Keegan) and DI Radley (Booth) dig deeper, what starts as a tragic death, spirals into a tangled web of lies, institutional cover-ups, and moral compromise. As the clock ticks and trust fractures, Crane must navigate both a murder investigation and the treacherous politics inside her own team.  

More details will be announced in due course.