ITV’s Director of Drama, Polly Hill, has commissioned high-stakes legal drama, In Contempt, starring Jodie Whittaker as a barrister whose top-drawer advocacy skills have earned her a ‘hot shot’ reputation in the world of media law.
In Contempt is written by Steve Thompson (Sherlock, Vienna Blood, Lynley) and produced by multi-award-winning independent producers, Hartswood Films, part of ITV Studios, led by Chief Executive Officer and Executive Producer, Sue Vertue (Douglas Is Cancelled, Sherlock, Coupling, The Devil’s Hour ), Creative Director, Executive Producer and Writer Steven Moffat (Sherlock, Doctor Who, Coupling, Press Gang, Dracula) and Managing Director, Dan Cheesbrough.
With an impressive client list, Olivia Savareid, played by Jodie Whittaker (Frauds, Toxic Town, Doctor Who, Dear England), has built a career defending people’s reputations and engaging in multi-million pounds litigation to prevent their good names from being destroyed on social media.
In Contempt establishes Olivia’s challenging working relationship with News Director Greg Dalman, who edits a London daily newspaper. He’s a smart operator, prone to pushing the boundaries of what he can publish. As a journalist of 26 years’ experience, he’s forged a reputation for taking no prisoners and is capable of behaving recklessly if he believes it’s in the public interest to break a story. He’s a risk-taker and as his legal counsel, Olivia must summon all her skills and expertise to keep him out of libel court.
A mother to a 15-year-old daughter, Olivia also has responsibilities to her family, but when an explosive situation erupts at work, she makes a crucial misjudgement. Olivia’s own reputation is suddenly on the line.
In the insidious world of management reputation, defamation, libel and slander, where treacherous behaviour knows no bounds, Olivia will have to keep her wits about her and fight to survive.
The series will be executive produced by Sue Vertue on behalf of Hartswood Films alongside Steven Moffat – The Director is Ed Bazalgette (The Last Kingdom, Lynley, The Witcher) the Producer Lawrence Till (Douglas is Cancelled, The Devil’s Hour, Silent Witness).
ITV’s Polly Hill will oversee production on behalf of the broadcaster, and the series will air on ITV, STV and be available for streaming on ITVX and STV Player.
In Contempt will begin filming in London in the autumn of 2026 and further casting will be advised closer to production commencing.
The series is produced in association with, and will be distributed internationally by, ITV Studios.
