We always knew autumn TV was going to be good. But we’re not even in the middle of October yet and the series offerings are already looking superb.

We’ve recently torn our way through BBC’s Crossfire, have been avidly trying to put the pieces of the mystery murder case together in The Suspect and that’s not even mentioning the slew of other new dramas coming to Netflix. It’s the season for all things gritty, thought-provoking and addictive – so of course, there’s another new ITV drama to add to the list.

The Walk-In is not only another stellar series with our all-time favourite Stephen Graham at its helm, it’s also a fascinating true story about one activist’s mission to infiltrate a neo-Nazi group with an inside man.

Not your average television synopsis, right? It’s set to be a standout five-part series and if the first episode is anything to go by, it really will be. Premiering last night (Monday 3 October), the series opened with an hour-long episode that spanned everything from real-life hate crime incidents, indoctrination and the rise of extremist thinking.

And it’s safe to say that while it was an uncomfortable watch, it impacted viewers greatly.

The first episode ended with a tragic scene depicting the murder of MP Jo Cox. While The Walk-In is shocking, it is based on facts and real-life events, which has seen the series since being praised by Jo’s husband, Brendan.

’Compelling’ really is the word to use for this new drama.

It’s not a light-hearted watch of a series but that’s the pivotal point of The Walk-In.

And we also say it every time but if you need one reason to watch this new drama, make it for Stephen Graham’s powerful performance.

If you’re yet to watch the new series for yourself, allow us to fill you in on everything you need to know about The Walk-In. 

Written by Oscar nominated and multi Bafta award-winning screenwriter, Jeff Pope, the new drama is “an explosive state-of-the-world series that explores some of the most critical and relevant issues of modern times including racism, freedom of speech and terrorism”, according to the synopsis.

Stephen Graham (Help, Time) takes the leading role of activist Matthew Collins, a reformed neo-Nazi, now working as a journalist for the anti-racist organisation, Hope Not Hate. Collins was forced to flee the UK and go into hiding in the 90s when he became a mole from within the BNP but then returned to Britain to make a new life for himself.

The drama focuses on Collins and his work to stop the radicalisation of young white men before it begins. In doing so, he’ll uncover a far right neo-Nazi group that, according to the synopsis, marks itself out with “a youthful clean-cut image, hell bent on creating race war”.  

The synopsis continues: “His modus operandi is to infiltrate such organisations by running moles or walk-ins, with the goal of publishing information online about their activities to expose and fracture them.

“In spite of repeated attempts, he wasn’t able to break into this particular group. Consequently, they continued to grow in strength relatively unchecked until the horrific murder of an MP Jo Cox brought their potential into sharp focus and they became the first far right organisation to be banned by the government since the second world war.

“Although the marches and the social media posts stopped Collins knew the group would only have been driven underground and that he had probably lost all chance of getting information from within. Until one day in March 2017 when he received an email from someone claiming to be a member: a mole ready to talk about a horrific plan to murder a second MP.”

It’s based on real life events, those of which will leave you startled and intrigued in equal measure, we’re sure. It’s set to pose some timeless questions for viewers also: What makes people fear and hate those who are different from themselves? Can someone’s view of the world be fundamentally changed? We’ll just have to watch and find out. 

Of course, the acting marvel that is Graham is leading the cast of this new drama. If his previous roles are anything to go by, we know he’ll be giving this role the same grit we’ve come to love in shows like Line Of Duty, Peaky Blinders and Taboo.

Joining Graham is also Andrew Ellis (This Is England), Dean-Charles Chapman (Game Of Thrones), Jason Flemyng (The Missing), Christopher Coghill (Eastenders), Leanne Best (Four Lives) and Shvorne Marks (The Baby).

The series is produced by Jo Johnson (Unsaid Stories, Ackley Bridge) and is directed by Bafta award-winning director Paul Andrew Williams (A Confession, Murdered For Being Different, Broadchurch). 

There is, and very quickly we get the sense of the gravity of drama to follow. Collins (Graham) leads a lecture and shows his students a 20-year-old picture of himself, much to their shock and surprise. “I did some bad things,” he later tells his wife.

But soon, the need for an “inside man” grows more than apparent and soon, the “out of your depth” case that Collins and his group want to tackle becomes an increasingly dangerous mission that could very well end in murder.

Watch the trailer here:

All episodes are available to watch as a boxset on ITV Hub now, with episodes airing weekly for five consecutive weeks every Monday at 9pm.

Images: ITV