ITV Director of Drama Polly Hill has commissioned The Blame from Quay Street Productions (part of ITV Studios).
Written, developed for television and executive produced by Megan Gallagher (All Her Fault, Wolf), the drama “dives into secrets, suspicion and systemic corruption under the surface of a seemingly quiet town.”
The six-part series, based on the debut novel of the same name by Charlotte Langley, is being filmed in and around London for ITV1 and STV. The Blame is filmed in association with Fifth Season, which will also handle global distribution.
Leading the cast is Michelle Keegan (Fool Me Once, Brassic) 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 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.
ITV’s Director of Drama, Polly Hill, will oversee production of The Blame. She commented: “The Blame is a brilliant new crime thriller full of surprising twists and a compelling investigation that also cleverly tackles police corruption, exploitation and misogyny as the thriller unravels. Megan is such a wonderful and clever writer, and with Michelle Keegan in the lead and Nicola Shindler at the helm, this is going to be an unmissable drama and one I’m very proud to have on ITV.”
Nicola Shindler and Richard Fee, executive producers for Quay Street Productions, said, “We are so delighted to be working with Megan again, she is an exceptional writer who has written a compelling series taking viewers on a twisty journey to discover what really happened through the lens of a contemporary police station brimming with secrets, corruption, and betrayal. We are also thrilled at the brilliant cast led by Michelle and Douglas, who will keep viewers on the edge of their seats, wondering who to trust at a time when the themes explored in The Blame are more relevant than ever.”
Lead writer and executive producer, Megan Gallagher, added “The Blame is such an important and urgent story to tell; I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to bring Charlotte Langley’s world and characters to life on screen. It’s my second collaboration with Quay Street Productions, and it’s great to be working with the team again – I’m truly in the best hands.”
The Blame is a 6 x 60- minute Quay Street Productions (part of ITV Studios) drama for ITV Matt Strevens (Capital, Cucumber) is the series producer, with Sara Huxley as co-producer. Bex Rycroft (The Crow Girl, Screw) will be the
director for episodes 1-3, and Claire Tailyour (The Wives, Beyond Paradise) for episodes 4-6. Executive producers for Quay Street Productions are Nicola Shindler (Nolly, It’s A Sin) and Richard Fee (Fool Me Once, Missing You). Polly Hill is executive producer for ITV. The Blame is developed for television by Megan Gallagher, who is executive producer and the lead writer alongside series co-writers Ashley Sanders and Namsi Khan.
Pippa Considine
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