When someone enters the witness protection programme, you might assume that person has been brought to safety. Well, that’s not always the case. The world of witness protection isn’t as straightforward as you might think – something that soon becomes apparent in new ITV drama Protection.

With stories based on first-hand experiences of a long-term witness protection officer, Protection explores what can happen when the network collapses. Nadine Marshall (Champion, Sherwood), Katherine Kelly (The Long Shadow, Ruby Speaking) and Siobhan Finneran (Downton Abbey, Happy Valley) take the lead, while cast members include Barry Ward (Bad Sisters) and Chaneil Kular (Sex Education).

What is Protection about?

The witness protection programme is often regarded as a place of safety for victims. But, in reality, it can be darker and more complex than you’d think. Several protected people are criminals, and it’s a life that involves moral compromise, maximum secrecy, false identities and a place where you might not be able to trust your own colleagues.

Protection looks at the first-hand experiences of a long-term witness protection officer and what happens when the system fails. Detective Inspector Liz Nyles (Finneran) is a police officer who finds herself in trouble after she’s been personally compromised by an affair with a colleague. However, she’s motivated to fight back and find out the truth of the corruption within her unit.

This is the story of an intelligent and resilient police officer who is torn between looking after her family while staying loyal to her lover and duty as a cop. Kris Mrksa’s thriller will have audiences questioning who to believe and who is telling the truth.

New thriller Protection will have you on the edge of your seat