Jodie Whittaker (Frauds, Toxic Town, Doctor Who, Dear England) is stepping into the world of media law for ITV, taking the lead in ‘In Contempt‘, a new high-stakes legal drama from ‘Sherlock’ writer Steve Thompson and Hartswood Films.
Whittaker plays Olivia Savareid, a barrister who has built a formidable reputation defending other people’s reputations. Her work involves multi-million-pound litigation and trying to stop clients’ names being destroyed online, all while navigating the increasingly messy collision between traditional media, social media, privacy and the law.
It is a particularly timely setup for a legal drama. Rather than focusing solely on what happens once everyone reaches court, ‘In Contempt’ digs into the frantic battles before publication, when lawyers and journalists are weighing up what can be said, what should be said, and whether a headline is about to land everyone in very expensive trouble.
At the centre of Olivia’s professional life is Greg Dalman, News Director of a London daily newspaper. A journalist with 26 years’ experience, Greg is a smart operator who is willing to push the boundaries of what can be published when he believes a story is in the public interest. As his legal counsel, Olivia has the unenviable job of trying to stop those risks ending in libel court.
Away from work, Olivia is also mother to a 15-year-old daughter. However, when an explosive situation erupts professionally, she makes a crucial misjudgement. Suddenly, the woman whose career has been built around protecting other people’s reputations finds her own on the line.
Jodie Whittaker said:
“I am thrilled to be stepping into the role of Olivia Savareid. This is an amazing character in a world I haven’t explored before. Steve Thompson’s writing is an absolute joy to work with and I’m so excited to be embarking on this adventure with such a brilliant creative team at Hartswood Films and ITV.”
The drama is written by Steve Thompson and brings him back together with Hartswood Films after his work on ‘Sherlock’. Sue Vertue and Steven Moffat executive produce for Hartswood Films, with Ed Bazalgette directing and Lawrence Till producing.
ITV Director of Drama Polly Hill commented:
“I’m delighted to commission the high-stakes legal drama In Contempt written by Steve Thompson and produced by Sue Vertue and the team at Hartswood Films. There’s always been a voracious appetite for what happens behind the scenes before news stories are published. Steve has created a gripping and thought-provoking series and I’m thrilled Jodie Whittaker has agreed to play ‘hot shot’ lawyer Olivia Savereid. I have no doubt In Contempt will captivate our audience, as it’s a really timely story for ITV to be telling.”
‘In Contempt‘ will begin filming in London in autumn 2026, with further casting still to be announced. The series will air on ITV and STV, and stream on ITVX and STV Player. No premiere date has been announced yet.
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