Protection is a new six-part thriller led by Happy Valley’s Siobhan Finneran, with a cast that also includes Coronation Street and Champion’s Nadine Marshall

Man in cuffs

ITV has unveiled a sneak peek at its latest intense drama, featuring familiar faces from Coronation Street and Happy Valley.

The edgy new show, Protection, is spearheaded by Siobhan Finneran of Happy Valley fame, who steps into the shoes of Detective Inspector Liz Nyles with Nadine Marshall from Champion in the fresh six-part series.

This brand-new thriller shines a spotlight on the perilous reality faced by a witness protection officer when the system she trusts implodes.

Confronted with a catastrophic security failure, Detective Inspector Liz Nyles becomes entangled, her integrity on the line due to a risky romantic involvement with a workmate. Despite this, she’s resolute in her mission to expose the rot eating away at the core of her squad.

Protection Detective Inspector Liz Nyles
Upcoming new ITV drama Protection is led by Happy Valley actress Siobhan Finneran who plays Detective Inspector Liz Nyles ( 
Image:
ITV)

In doing so, she aims to reclaim her good name, defend the honour of her partner, and ensure the safety of her witnesses, reports Wales Online.

The star-studded ensemble features the talents of Barry Ward (Bad Sisters), Chaneil Kular (S3x Education), David Hayman (Sid and Nancy), Nichola Burley (The Gold) and Akiya Henry (Silent Witness).

Production was in full swing from July until September 2023 all over England’s northwest, with places like Birkenhead, Runcorn, and Liverpool serving as backdrops.

While an official release date remains under wraps, viewers can anticipate Protection hitting their screens later in the year on ITV1 and ITVX.

Siobhan Finneran and Katherine Kelly at a police cordon
Protection is a new six part series on ITV starring Siobhan Finneran and Katherine Kelly. The series will air on ITV and ITVX this year ( 
Image:
ITV)

Kris Mrksa, the series’ screenwriter, teased the forthcoming show, remarking: “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.”