Payback: The Six-Part ITV Crime Thriller Full of Money Laundering, Betrayal and Twists
A quiet family life in Edinburgh is shattered when a woman discovers that her husband has been hiding a dangerous connection to organised crime.
That is the setup for Payback, ITV’s six-part crime thriller starring Morven Christie and Peter Mullan. Originally broadcast in 2023, the series follows Lexie Noble as she is pulled into a police investigation targeting crime lord Cal Morris after her husband Jared is murdered. The complete series is currently available to stream on ITVX.
Written by Debbie O’Malley and executive produced by Jed Mercurio, the drama combines financial crime, police investigations and family secrets in a story that steadily places Lexie in an increasingly dangerous position.
A Perfect Family Life Hides A Dangerous Secret
Lexie appears to have built a stable life in the suburbs of Edinburgh.
She has spent years caring for her young daughter and is preparing to return to work at the accountancy business she shares with Jared. From the outside, the family seems secure.
But Jared has been concealing a major secret.
He has been laundering Cal Morris’ illegal earnings on a vast scale, drawing the attention of financial investigators DC Jibran Khan, played by Prasanna Puwanarajah, and DCI Adam Guthrie, played by Derek Riddell. Their investigation is focused on bringing the notorious crime lord to justice.
When Jared is attacked and his family life collapses, Lexie is forced to confront a side of her husband she never knew existed.
Lexie Is Forced Into Cal Morris’ World
Jared’s hidden dealings leave Lexie caught between two powerful forces.
Cal Morris, played by Peter Mullan, forces her to work for him while the police operation against him continues to close in. As a partner in Jared’s business, Lexie becomes increasingly important to both sides.
She is effectively left walking a dangerous line between Cal and the investigators, with the safety of herself and her family at risk. ITV describes the situation as a perilous police operation in which Lexie must navigate increasingly dangerous circumstances while the authorities tighten their net around Cal.
The series gradually turns Lexie’s personal tragedy into a much larger story involving money laundering, organised crime and questions about how well anyone can truly know their partner.
Morven Christie Leads A Strong Ensemble
Morven Christie takes the central role of Lexie, while Peter Mullan plays the intimidating Cal Morris.
They are joined by Prasanna Puwanarajah as DC Jibran Khan and Derek Riddell as DCI Adam Guthrie.
The cast also includes Steven Mackintosh and Julie Graham, among others.
The performances were a particular strength for critics. The Guardian praised the ensemble, highlighting Christie’s portrayal of an ordinary woman suddenly caught in an extraordinary situation and Mullan’s quietly menacing presence as Cal. The review awarded the drama three out of five stars while describing it as a fast-paced crime series with a strong cast.
A Crime Thriller Built Around Twists
The drama moves between Lexie’s increasingly dangerous circumstances and the police investigation surrounding Cal’s criminal operation.
Viewers have praised the series for its pace, performances and unexpected developments, with some describing it as gripping and highlighting its twists and writing.
The Guardian similarly noted that Payback moves at a brisk pace, while ITV describes it as a character-led thriller in which secrets emerge and questions of trust become increasingly important.
The six episodes continue to raise the stakes as Lexie searches for answers. ITVX’s episode descriptions reveal that she is eventually confronted by DCI Guthrie, focuses her efforts on finding Cal’s missing money and travels to Vilnius before a visit to the Isle of Eris changes her situation again.
From Edinburgh To The Isle Of Eris
Payback was filmed in Glasgow, Edinburgh and surrounding areas, giving the thriller a distinctly Scottish setting.
The story begins with Lexie’s seemingly ordinary life before expanding into a wider investigation involving financial crime and organised crime. As the story progresses, locations including Vilnius and the Isle of Eris become part of Lexie’s increasingly complicated search for the truth.
From The Team Behind Line Of Duty
The series comes from HTM Television, the production company associated with Jed Mercurio, who executive produced Payback. Debbie O’Malley created and wrote the drama, while Jennie Darnell and Andrew Cumming directed the episodes.
Mercurio’s involvement naturally gives the series a connection to the world of British crime drama, although Payback focuses more specifically on financial crime and the personal consequences of being drawn into an organised criminal operation.
Where To Watch Payback
Payback consists of six episodes and is available to stream in full on ITVX. ITV describes the series as a dark crime drama centred on murder, money laundering and the search for justice.
For viewers looking for a tightly focused British crime thriller set against the streets of Edinburgh, Payback offers a story built around hidden finances, shifting loyalties and a woman forced to navigate a criminal world she never expected to enter.