Michelle Keegan returns to screens tonight in The Blame

Everything you need to know about ITV’s new police corruption drama that’s been compared to Happy Valley: The Blame.

Michelle Keegan is officially back on our screens tonight, swapping the runaway success of Fool Me Once for a badge and a detective badge in ITV’s latest high-octane crime drama, The Blame. Hitting screens at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX, the gripping six-part thriller plunges viewers straight into a murky world of secrets, betrayal, and deep-rooted police corruption.

If you’re tuning in tonight, here is everything you need to know about the series before episode one drops.

What Is ‘The Blame’ About?

The drama opens with a community in crisis following the sudden, tragic discovery of teenage figure skater Sophie Madsen’s body in the quiet town of Wakestead.

Brought in to head up the investigation are DI Emma Crane (Michelle Keegan) and DI Tom Radley (Douglas Booth). But as the pair dig deeper into the circumstances surrounding Sophie’s death, what looks like a straightforward murder case rapidly unravels into a dangerous web of institutional cover-ups, moral compromise, and toxic police politics. As time runs out, DI Crane finds herself fighting a war on two fronts: catching a killer and exposing the corruption lurking within her own station.

Is ‘The Blame’ Based on a Book?

Yes, the series is an adaptation of the acclaimed debut novel of the same name by Charlotte Langley (author of The Intrusion). The book was adapted for the screen by lead writer and executive producer Megan Gallagher (Wolf, All Her Fault), who worked closely with Quay Street Productions to translate Langley’s tense page-turner into a six-part television event.

Who Is in the Cast?

Keegan leads an elite ensemble of British television talent:

 Michelle Keegan (Fool Me Once, Brassic) plays DI Emma Crane.

 Douglas Booth (The Sandman, The Dirt) plays DI Tom Radley.

 Ian Hart (Mr Bates vs. The Post Office, The Last Kingdom) plays DCI Kenneth Walker.

 Nigel Boyle (Line of Duty) plays digital forensic technician Brett Shergill.

 Joe Armstrong (Gentleman Jack, Black Mirror) plays ice-skating coach Kyle Frasier.

 Matilda Freeman (Passenger) plays victim Sophie Madsen.

 Nathan Mensah plays DC Lewis, with Vikash Bhai (Virdee) appearing as Kapil.

The Wakestead Police squad is rounded out by Gavin Spokes (House of the Dragon) as DC Joel Stevens, Josh Bolt (Masters of the Air) as DC Douglas James, Ceallach Spellman (White Lines) as PC Callum Drummond, and Karen Ascoe (Wolf) as PC Kat Shaw.

Episode Count and Filming Locations

 Number of Episodes: The series consists of 6 hour-long episodes, airing weekly and available to stream.

 Filming Locations: Produced by Quay Street Productions (part of ITV Studios), the drama was filmed in and around London and the surrounding areas.

Where and When to Watch

The Blame premieres tonight at 9:00pm on ITV1 and STV. Viewers can also stream the episode live or catch up on-demand via ITVX and STV Player.

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