Jodie Whittaker to lead ITV1's new legal drama Contempt

She plays a top barrister whose own reputation is suddenly at risk.

ITV1 has announced Contempt, a new high-stakes legal drama starring Jodie Whittaker as a barrister whose top-drawer advocacy skills have earned her a ‘hot shot’ reputation in the world of media law.

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.

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 with 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 misjudgment. 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.

On taking on the role of Olivia in Contempt, 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."

To which ITV's Director of Drama Polly Hill said "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."

Made by Hartswood Films, part of ITV Studios, Contempt is written by Steve Thompson, directed by Ed Bazalgette, produced by Lawrence Till and executive produced by Sue Vertue, Steven Moffat and Dan Cheesbrough.

Speaking ahead of the new drama, writer Steve Thompson said "I am thrilled to be working with Hartswood Films again and with the team at ITV. 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. In a world where all of us are surfing the net, hungry for the latest gossip, this drama takes us behind the curtain and shows us the lawyers who are in the vanguard of that fight."

To which executive producer Sue Vertue added "I’ve been wanting to work with Steve again since Sherlock, but it was never the right time or the right idea.  Then one day he sat down and said, “In the modern world, if you want to kill someone, you don’t use a gun – you destroy their reputation.”  And so began In Contempt."

"A whirlwind drama of cancellation, online poison and media law, where there’s less than 12 hours to stop a headline that could detonate someone’s life.  This is the story of now, and this is the series for today.  I’m delighted to be working with ITV again and to bring to screen Steve Thompson’s most explosive and personal drama yet."

Contempt will begin filming in London this autumn, with further casting announced soon.

Contempt will air on ITV1