The Blame: Michelle Keegan and Douglas Booth Lead ITV’s New Crime Drama

Michelle Keegan and Douglas Booth are joining forces for ITV’s new six-part crime thriller The Blame, a murder mystery that gradually exposes corruption, cover-ups and dangerous secrets inside a seemingly quiet town.

The newly released trailer introduces Keegan as DI Emma Crane and Booth as DI Tom Radley, two detectives whose investigation begins with the disappearance and murder of a 16-year-old girl. What initially appears to be a straightforward case quickly becomes far more complicated, particularly when evidence suggests the victim was with a police officer when she was killed.

As Emma pushes for answers, the investigation starts to expose problems much closer to home. The series is set to explore suspicion, institutional corruption and the difficult question of who can actually be trusted. ITV describes the drama as a mixture of mystery, social commentary and love story.

What is The Blame about?

Set in the fictional town of Wakestead, The Blame begins with the discovery of the body of teenage figure skater Sophie Madsen, an event that sends shockwaves through the community.

DI Emma Crane and DI Tom Radley take charge of the investigation and quickly identify a main suspect. But the case takes an unexpected turn when a new lead emerges, forcing the detectives to reconsider what they thought they knew.

The deeper they go, the more complicated the case becomes. Lies, institutional cover-ups and moral compromises begin to surface, while Emma finds herself questioning some of the people closest to her.

The investigation also brings her into conflict with the politics and power struggles within her own police team. With trust beginning to fracture, solving the murder becomes only part of the challenge.

The series is based on Charlotte Langley’s debut novel of the same name and has been developed for television by Megan Gallagher, who serves as lead writer and executive producer alongside series co-writers Ashley Sanders and Namsi Khan.

Michelle Keegan and Douglas Booth lead the cast

Keegan takes on the role of DI Emma Crane, following her appearances in Fool Me Once and Brassic. Douglas Booth plays her fellow detective, DI Tom Radley, with Ian Hart joining the pair as DCI Kenneth Walker.

The wider cast includes Nathan Mensah as DC Lewis and Nigel Boyle as digital forensic technician Brett Shergill.

Joe Armstrong plays ice-skating coach Kyle Frasier, while Matilda Freeman appears as Sophie Madsen, the teenage figure skater whose death sets the story in motion.

The Wakestead police team also features Gavin Spokes as DC Joel Stevens, Josh Bolt as DC Douglas James and Ceallach Spellman as PC Callum Drummond. Karen Ascoe plays PC Kat Shaw, while Vikash Bhai appears as Kapil.

A crime drama with corruption at its centre

While the murder mystery drives the story, The Blame is also set to examine the wider issues surrounding policing and abuse of power.

The drama comes from Quay Street Productions, part of ITV Studios, and is written and executive produced by Megan Gallagher. Nicola Shindler and Richard Fee are executive producers for Quay Street Productions, with Polly Hill serving as executive producer for ITV.

Bex Rycroft directs the first three episodes, while Claire Tailyour takes over for episodes four to six. The series is being produced in association with Fifth Season, which is also handling its global distribution.

The project was filmed in and around London for ITV1 and STV, with streaming availability on ITVX and STV Player.

For viewers who enjoy crime dramas such as Happy Valley, Line of Duty and Broadchurch, the combination of a murder investigation, police politics and hidden secrets makes The Blame one to keep an eye on.

When will The Blame air?

The Blame is due to arrive on ITV this autumn, although an exact premiere date has not yet been announced. ITV’s latest information confirms that the drama is coming in 2026.

With Michelle Keegan and Douglas Booth at the centre of the investigation, the six-part series promises a mystery that reaches far beyond the original crime as Emma and Tom uncover just how much is being kept hidden in Wakestead.