The Blame: Is Michelle Keegan's New ITV Crime Drama Worth Watching?
In short: The Blame is a six-part ITV crime drama, released as a full boxset on ITVX on September 20, 2026. Michelle Keegan and Douglas Booth play detectives investigating the murder of a 16-year-old figure skater, and the show uses real text messages from the Metropolitan Police group-chat scandals to explore misogyny in policing. Reviews were mixed: Keegan is widely praised, but several critics felt the message crowds out the mystery.
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- Released: September 20, 2026, all six episodes on ITVX.
- Based on: Charlotte Langley's 2023 novel The Blame.
- Written by: Megan Gallagher, with Ashley Sanders and Namsi Khan.
- Directed by: Bex Rycroft and Claire Tailyour.
- Produced by: Quay Street Productions, with Fifth Season.
What it's about
When a 16-year-old figure skater is found dead in the quiet town of Wakestead, DI Emma Crane (Michelle Keegan) and her partner DI Tom Radley (Douglas Booth) lead the investigation. As the case goes on, it turns inward, exposing corruption, misogyny and the loyalties that keep colleagues quiet. Ian Hart plays their boss, DCI Kenneth Walker.
The real texts
The show's most discussed choice is that the messages officers send each other on screen are real, taken from the Metropolitan Police group-chat cases in which officers were found guilty of misconduct for racist, homophobic and sexist messages dismissed as "banter." Booth has described the material as "so uncomfortable" in interviews, and said the original opening episode was more explicit than the version that aired.
What critics said
Reviews were mixed. Keegan's performance was the most consistent positive. Some reviewers found it gripping and bingeable despite twists that come too fast. Others, including The Irish News and the Lancashire Post, felt the show tries so hard to make its point about police misogyny that the crime story becomes plodding.
Who it suits
If you liked Happy Valley, Line of Duty or Keegan's Netflix thriller Fool Me Once, it's worth a try, and six episodes is a manageable commitment. If you want a twisty whodunit first and a message second, critics suggest this isn't quite that.
Our verdict
Worth watching for Keegan and for how it uses real evidence, but go in expecting a drama about institutions more than a puzzle box.
Frequently asked questions
How many episodes does The Blame have? Six, each about 47 minutes. All were released at once on ITVX on September 20, 2026.
Is The Blame worth watching? If you like issue-led British crime drama and Michelle Keegan, yes. Critics praised her performance but were split on the story: some found it bingeable, others felt it was slow and preachy.
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