We’ve worked our way through most crime series, so it’s rare when we’re truly surprised by a format or plotline. But we’ve delved through the archives and unearthed a diamond of a crime drama and it goes by the name of Innocent. With Katherine Kelly as the protagonist of the second series, it turns the traditional whodunnit formula on its head over two different series that will have you transfixed.
Each 10/10 series centres around a protagonist who’s suffered a huge miscarriage of justice – and after being wrongly imprisoned for murder, they’re on the hunt for answers. In series two (our favourite!), Katherine Kelly stars as a disgraced teacher accused of killing her 16-year-old pupil, who she allegedly had an affair with. Upon her release, she sets out to find who was really behind the murder, as she grapples with being exonerated from her community.
With Innocent available to watch now on ITVX, here’s everything you need to know about the drama before you tune in, including the plot, cast and how to watch it.
What is Innocent about?
The two four-part series of Innocent revolve around two enthralling miscarriages of justice cases. Series one, which first aired on ITV in 2018, follows David Collins (Lee Ingleby) after he was wrongly imprisoned for seven years for murdering his wife, Tara. He soon discovers that the detective leading the original case, Detective Chief Inspector William Beech (Nigel Lindsay) had his own agenda. David’s brother Phil (Daniel Ryan) has fought tirelessly for his release, but is harbouring his own dark secret.
Meanwhile, Tara’s sister Alice (Hermione Norris) has fertility issues and now has custody of Tara and David’s children – despite the sisters having had a difficult relationship. Adding to the list of suspects are Tara’s brother-in-law, Rob Moffatt (Adrian Rawlins), and David’s best friend, Tom Wilson (Elliot Cowan), who was having an affair with Tara. A gripping ‘whodunnit’ case transpires – but will David ever be able to get his children, and his life, back?
The second series, which first aired in 2021, takes us to the small Lake District town of Keswick after the harrowing death of a 16-year-old boy called Matty, who was stabbed to death with a cider bottle. His teacher, Sally Wright (Katherine Kelly), was accused of having an affair with him and later imprisoned for his murder.
What to read next
The drama kicks off with Sally in the docks for her appeal case, where she’s finally found not guilty, thanks to the help of her loyal friend and editor of the local paper Jenny (Nadia Albina). But how will she ever begin to recover from the losses of her job, her husband, Sam (Jamie Bamber), and her reputation? Desperate to reclaim her life, Sally sets out on a quest to find the real killer alongside DCI Michael Braithwaite (Shaun Dooley).
When the show was released, Katherine shared why she was drawn to playing Sally. She told ITV: "I’m thrilled to be working on this complex and thought-provoking drama by Matt Arlidge and Chris Lang. I look forward to bringing the mix of Sally’s fragility and quiet strength to life."
Who’s in the cast of Innocent?
The cast of Innocent includes:
- Lee Ingleby (Doghouse) as David Collins
- Daniel Ryan (The Bay) as Phil Collins
- Fionn O'Shea (Dating Amber) as Jack Collins
- Eloise Webb (American Girl) as Rosie Collins
- Hermione Norris (Cold Feet) as Alice Moffatt
- Adrian Rawlins (Patience) as Rob Moffatt
- Hannah Britland (Lovesick) as Melissa Wilson
- Elliot Cowan (Muse) as Tom Wilson
- Shaun Dooley (Offender) as DCI Mike Braithwaite
- Katherine Kelly (The Crow Girl) as Sally Wright
- Jamie Bamber (Law & Order: London) as Sam Wright
- Priyanga Burford (Press) as Karen Moss
- Andrew Tiernan (Rise Of An Empire) as John Taylor
- Nadia Albina (Doctors) as Jenny
- Laura Rollins (Miss Scarlet) as Detective Sergeant Suzy Jones
Is Innocent any good?
Yes – if you’re into a riveting crime drama, you’re going to want to tune in to Innocent. Also, it’s a welcome twist on the classic ‘whodunnit’ plotline since the stories are told from the perspective of characters who’ve suffered miscarriages of justice and are trying to reintegrate into communities that have shunned them. Katherine Kelly always steals the show and her portrayal of Sally, a newly free woman, is no exception. When she’s first released, she drives her car to a lake and dips her feet into it – a poignant and mesmerising scene where she breathes in all that was taken from her.
How can I watch Innocent?
You can watch all episodes of Innocent now on ITVX.
What other Katherine Kelly dramas can I watch now?
If you can’t get enough of Katherine Kelly’s spellbinding performances, we’d recommend In Flight, a crime thriller where she stars as a flight attendant, Jo, who’s blackmailed into becoming into an international drug smuggler. In Flight is available to watch now on Channel 4. Another chilling psychological thriller worth adding to your watchlist is ITV’s Cheat. Katherine plays a university professor, Leah, who finds herself in an unnerving situation with her student, Rose (Molly Windsor), when she accuses Rose of plagiarism. All episodes of Cheat are available to watch now on ITVX.
