Filming underway for ITV thriller Protection

ITV have revealed further details about upcoming thriller series Protection, which has been filming across the Liverpool City Region, facilitated by the Liverpool Film Office.

The six-part series, produced by New Pictures (Des, The Missing) and written by acclaimed screenwriter Kris Mrksa, will star Siobhan Finneran (Happy Valley, Time) as DI Liz Nyles.

Also starring in the series is Nadine Marshall (Sherwood, Trigger Point) and Katherine Kelly (The Long Shadow, Bloods) alongside Barry Ward (Bad Sisters), Chaneil Kular (Sex Education), David Hayman (Sid and Nancy), Nichola Burley (The Gold) and Akiya Henry (Silent Witness).

Produced in association with All3Media International, the series is based on first-hand experiences of a long-serving witness protection officer (Siobhan Finneran) who finds herself at the heart of a breach; personally compromised by an affair with a colleague, but determined to fight back, and uncover the true source of corruption within her unit. To redeem herself, the reputation of her lover, and to keep her witnesses safe. Even if they don’t always deserve it.

Navigating the morally-grey, clandestine world of witness protection, Liz’s mission to find the truth will take her deep into the heart of the criminal underbelly and beyond as she becomes more and more torn between caring for her family, her loyalty to her lover and her duty as a police officer. This is the story of a smart, tough cop, out of her depth in a world where nothing is as it seems.

Kris Mrksa said: “Protection is a suspenseful conspiracy thriller, but it also explores some complex moral questions, about how far we should be prepared to go in order to serve the greater good. The murky world of witness protection, where hardened criminals are often sheltered, in the hope that they will help bring down other criminals, provides the perfect context for examining these thorny issues. I’m incredibly excited to be working with the team at New Pictures again, in bringing this complex world to life.”

Protection is based on an idea by a witness protection specialist who served in the Met for 30 years. During his time in witness protection, he looked after a number of high-profile cases and informants, including, war criminals, terrorists and criminals of all kinds.

The series will be produced by Rebecca Davies (Cobra) and line produced by Tracy Chapman (Cobra).

Protection will be directed by Simen Alsvik (Fenris, The Nest, Neste sommer) and Sasha Ransome (Cobra, McDonald & Dodds). Writers are Kris Mrksa (Episodes 1, 3 and 6), Polly Buckle (Episodes 2 and 4) and Giula Sandler (Episode 5).

The series will air on ITV and ITVX next year. All3Media International has exclusive worldwide distribution rights for the series.