ITV has confirmed what will replace The Blame, after viewers admitted to binging Michelle Keegan's police drama in one sitting. The former Coronation Street star starred alongside Douglas Booth and Nathan Mensah in the thrilling six-part series, which concludes on Monday, October 5.
The Blame finale and viewer reaction
The Blame follows police officers working to expose corruption and systemic misogyny from within the force. After the body of a teenage girl is discovered, Michelle and Douglas' characters DI Emma Crane and DI Tom Radley work to expose their own colleagues, uncovering mysteries and secrets along the way. However, unsure of who to trust, they discover a tangled web of lies and cover-ups, with DI Emma left questioning who she can rely on within her own team. As the series goes on, suspicions turn towards DI Tom and his involvement, while he fights to clear his name while maintaining his reputation.
The drama comes to an end after a chilling fifth episode saw real life police WhatsApp messages unveiled. Viewers will now learn who killed Sophie Madsen and whether DI Emma is safe after she found herself in a terrifying situation, reports the Mirror.
The Party: ITV's new drama
ITV has now revealed another eagerly-awaited drama will fill the time slot. The Party, adapted from Elizabeth Day's bestselling novel, launches on Sunday, October 11, at 9pm. ITV teased: "The Party is a five-part, gripping drama based on the acclaimed novel by Elizabeth Day, starring Luke Evans as Martin Gilmour, a journalist shaped by his lifelong friendship with the wealthy and charismatic politician Ben Fitzmaurice, played by Tom Cullen."
"Raised alone by his working-class mum, Sylvia, played by BAFTA award-winning Joanna Scanlan, Martin wins a scholarship to an elite boarding school, where he first meets Ben. They forge an unbreakable bond, as Ben and the Fitzmaurice's give Martin the sense of belonging he has always craved. In turn, Martin remains unflinchingly loyal to Ben through even the greatest crises. Three decades on, Martin is invited to Ben's lavish birthday party at the Fitzmaurice's country pile. The news of the Conservative leader's resignation threatens to derail Ben's party, as he considers announcing his intention to stand."
"Martin fears the publicity that Ben's bid would bring, dredging up the secrets of their past with tragic consequences… The drama moves between the shocking events of the party and the police investigation that follows, with flashbacks to Martin and Ben's lives at school, university and London party days. What unfolds is a gripping exploration of identity, privilege and devotion, combined with a tender ode to anyone who has fought to live authentically."
Fan praise for The Blame
This comes after viewers were left hooked on The Blame, with one writing: "We found this an amazing series. Keeps you guessing all the way through. This is no slow burner. This is a well put together series and it kept us all the way through. We binge watched in one sitting."
Another wrote: "I binge watched this series in one day and loved it. Highly recommend this series. The acting was superb especially by Michelle Keegan, Douglas Booth, Nathan Mensah and Ian Hart. The script was really well thought out and it was a massive shock to read the team group chat message chats - taken from actual UK police officers, that have since been dismissed from the force. I was also really impressed with the twist at the end, as I just didn't see it coming. I hope there is a season 2 as it was left on a cliff edge."
Another echoed: "Love this show. The acting was really good. The twists kept twisting and the turns kept turning right till the end." One viewer said they were "blown away", adding: "This series deserves recognition beyond words. It was an absolute honour and privilege to have watched this." The Blame is available to watch on ITVX.
