Protection: everything you need to know about ITV’s tense new thriller

Siobhan Finneran in ITV's Protection

Credit: ITV

TV


Protection: everything you need to know about ITV’s tense new thriller

By Anna Bartter

18 days ago

2 min read

Here’s everything we know so far about ITV’s newest thriller Protection, from the all-star cast to when it’s due to air.


Fans of Happy Valley, listen up: you’re going to want to set your clocks for the release of ITV’s latest thriller, which looks set to be a compelling examination of the mystery-shrouded witness protection service. 

Written by acclaimed screenwriter Kris Mrksa, Protection is based on the first-hand experiences of a long-serving witness protection officer. The six-part series is set to air later this year, and the newly released, first-look images have got us all kinds of excited. 

Featuring an all-star cast headed up by Siobhan Finneran (Happy Valley), Nadine Marshall (Trigger Point) and Katherine Kelly (The Long Shadow), the show will challenge everything you thought you knew about the murky world of undercover protection, leaving you wondering who you can trust.

Keep scrolling for all the details so far. 

What is the plot of Protection

Protection images

Credit: ITV

Protection deals with the “often glamorised” world of witness protection, and what happens when it all falls apart. Rather than a haven of safety, the truth is darker, murkier, and far more complex.

According to the official synopsis, Finneran’s character, Detective Inspector Liz Nyles, finds herself at the heart of a breach of the system: “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.”

The synopsis continues: “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.”

Oof. 

Who has been cast in Protection

Alongside Finneran, Marshall and Kelly, the series will star Bad Sisters’s Barry Ward and Sex Education’s Chaneil Kular, with David Hayman (Sid And Nancy), Nichola Burley (The Gold) and Akiya Henry (Silent Witness) also featuring. 

Prtection

Credit: ITV

When will Protection be released? 

While the exact release date is still unknown, we do know that the series is set to premiere on ITV and STV, and it will be available for streaming on ITVX and STV Player this spring.


Images: ITV Productions 

Share this article

Sign up to Stylist’s weekly curation of the best TV, films, documentaries and more, and you’ll never wonder ‘What should I watch?’ again.

By signing up you agree to occasionally receive offers and promotions from Stylist. Newsletters may contain online ads and content funded by carefully selected partners. Don’t worry, we’ll never share or sell your data. You can opt-out at any time. For more information read Stylist’s Privacy Policy

Thank you!

You’re now subscribed to all our newsletters. You can manage your subscriptions at any time from an email or from a MyStylist account.