A new TV drama based on the first-hand experiences of a long serving witness protection officer is coming to ITV. Written by acclaimed screenwriter Kris Mrksa, the show will be produced by New Pictures, who have brought hit shows such as The Missing, Des, and The Long Shadow to our screens in recent years.
Here's what writer Kris had to say: "Protection is a suspenseful conspiracy thriller, but it also explores some complex moral questions, about how far we should be prepared to go in order to serve the greater good. The murky world of witness protection, where hardened criminals are often sheltered, in the hope that they will help bring down other criminals, provides the perfect context for examining these thorny issues."
Protection cast
Siobhan Finneran - best known for her roles in Happy Valley, Benidorm and The Stranger - is playing the lead role of Detective Inspector Liz Nyles.
Actress Katherine Kelly (also from Happy Valley series 2) will be in the show. She has appeared in Coronation Street, as well as several ITV dramas including: Cheat, Liar, Innocent and more recently, ITV's The Long Shadow, which was based on a real case.
Also taking on a lead role is Nadine Marshall, who has starred in Sherwood, Time, Save Me and Trigger Point.
Protection synopsis
Here's what to expect from the show according to ITV: 'Protection is about what happens when the system breaks down. It’s about a police officer, Detective Inspector Liz Nyles (Siobhan Finneran), who finds herself at the heart of such a breach; personally compromised by an affair with a colleague, but determined to fight back, and uncover the true source of corruption within her unit. To redeem herself, the reputation of her lover, and to keep her witnesses safe. Even if they don’t always deserve it.
"Navigating the morally-grey, clandestine world of witness protection, Liz’s mission to find the truth will take her deep into the heart of the criminal underbelly and beyond as she becomes more and more torn between caring for her family, her loyalty to her lover and her duty as a police officer. This is the story of a smart, tough cop, out of her depth in a world where nothing is as it seems.'
When does Protection start on ITV?
There's currently no release date or trailer for the new series Protection, but filming started in Liverpool in September 2023. However, it surely can't be too far off since the US have an air date of the 29th of December, as viewers there will get it first on BritBox.
Arabella Horspool is a Commercial Content Writer for Yours at Bauer Media. She's a bookworm who is passionate about TV, film and theatre. She enjoys cooking, scrapbooking, playing board games and spending time with her pet dogs, tortoise and chickens.