Jodie Whittaker will star in a new high-stakes ITV legal drama called In Contempt.
The Doctor Who star, 44, will portray barrister Olivia Savareid whose top-drawer advocacy skills have earned her a ‘hot shot’ reputation in the world of media law.
She has a challenging working relationship with newspaper editor Greg Dalman, who pushes the boundaries of what he can publish.
As his legal counsel, Olivia must summon all her skills and expertise to keep him out of court for libel.
When an explosive situation erupts at work, Olivia makes a crucial misjudgement, putting her own reputation on the line.
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.”
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.”
The show, written by Steven Thompson, will begin production in autumn 2026.
The series will air on ITV, STV and be available for streaming on ITVX and STV Player.
