There’s something irresistibly gripping about a British courtroom drama – especially one filled with moral dilemmas, professional rivalries and reputations hanging in the balance. ITV’s brand-new show promises all three. Sherlock meets The Split in ITV's In Contempt, the explosive new legal drama with a genius twist. It follows high-flying barrister Olivia Savareid, played by Broadchurch’s very own Jodie Whittaker, as she battles the insidious world of media legal cases, where treachery knows no limit .
Olivia has built her career defending other people’s reputations, representing clients in multimillion-pound legal battles over defamatory social media claims. But when she is tasked with keeping a fearless newspaper editor out of libel court, her professional judgement is put to the test. And after a high-stakes scandal leaves Olivia’s own reputation on the line, she must decide what she is willing to sacrifice to protect everything she’s built.
With a crack team of seasoned TV drama professionals behind the project, including the executive producers and writers behind Sherlock, In Contempt looks set to be one of the most compelling new legal dramas to add to your watchlist. Here’s everything you need to know before you tune in, including the plot, cast and when it’s due to hit screens.
What is In Contempt about?
Steve Thompson, the mind behind everyone's favourite detective show, Sherlock, said of his latest project, ‘In Contempt is a signature piece for me – a story I have been eager to tell. It unpacks the challenging relationship between the media and the law – between the freedom of the press and people’s right to privacy.’
The series follows Olivia Savareid, a sharp media lawyer tasked with keeping Greg Dalman, a fearless newspaper editor, out of libel court as he pushes moral and legal boundaries with his insatiable commitment to breaking stories, no matter how controversial. While Greg has built a reputation for taking risks in the name of public interest, Olivia is left to deal with the legal fallout – using all her skill and expertise to stop his latest headline from becoming a courtroom battle.
But when an explosive situation at work leads Olivia to make a crucial misjudgement, she finds herself at the centre of the story. Suddenly, it’s her own reputation on the line, forcing her to balance the demands of a high-pressure career with life as a mother to her teenage daughter, and to fight to protect it all.
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Who is in the cast of In Contempt?
Broadchurch star and former Doctor Who Jodie Whittaker is set to star as barrister Olivia Savareid, following her recent starring role in BBC’s Dear England and ahead of her upcoming role in the London-bound new series of Only Murders In The Building. As for who else will be joining Whittaker in the cast, the other roles have yet to be announced, but with that kind of star wattage, it’s safe to say our expectations are high.
She is joined in this venture by the mind behind Sherlock, writer Steve Thompson alongside fellow Sherlock alumni, executive producers Sue Vertue and Steven Moffat. The series will also be directed by Ed Bazalgette (The Last Kingdom) who previously worked with Thompson on the hit BBC mystery series Lynley.
How can I watch In Contempt?
Sadly, In Contempt is unlikely to reach our screens in time for cosy season this year. The series is due to begin filming in London this autumn, with a release currently expected in 2027, although ITV has not confirmed an exact start date just yet.
When it does arrive, the legal drama will air on ITV and STV, and will also be available to stream on ITVX and STV Player. As filming has not yet begun, there’s no trailer to watch or further casting news to share, but with Jodie Whittaker leading a series from the team behind Sherlock, in a show that sounds as though it could give The Split a run for its money, it already looks well worth keeping on our radar.
What other legal-drama series can I watch now?
Can’t wait that long? The good thing is, you don’t have to. We have plenty of gripping legal-drama recs for you to sink your teeth into. For instance, if you’re missing The Split so badly, why not check out its spinoff series. The Split Up will premiere at 9pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Sunday 20 September. Starring a whole new family with a cast lead by Unforgotten star Sanjeev Bhaskar, Ritu Arya and Lenny Henry – it’s sure to provide just as many nail-biting twists and turns as its predecessor.
For something you can binge tonight, The Trial is well worth a watch. Set in a near-future UK where parents can be held legally responsible for their children’s crimes, it follows Dione and David Sinclair as they fight to defend themselves after their troubled teenage daughter is arrested for murder. The series is available to watch right now on Channel 5. One of my personal favourite legal dramas, with six full seasons of bingeable goodness, is How To Get Away With Murder. Led by Academy Award winning Viola Davis, she stars as defence lawyer and university professor Annalise Keating. She finds herself the star of her own legal nightmare when she becomes embroiled in a twisty murder case alongside a group of her students. Packed with jaw-dropping cliffhangers and unexpected twists, How To Get Away With Murder is the kind of series that keeps you guessing right until the end. Plus, every single episode is available to watch tonight on Channel 4.
