A gripping police thriller hailed as "the best since Line of Duty" is available to stream for free now. Featuring Happy Valley's Siobhan Finneran and The Crow Girl's Katherine Kelly, the six-part series centres on DI Liz Nyles (Finneran), who discovers herself at the heart of a security breach within her witness protection unit.
Plot Overview
The synopsis reads: "Personally compromised by an affair with a colleague, she is 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.
Critical Acclaim
The show has been called "the best Line of Duty successor yet" by iNews, which declared "Sunday nights are back in business when it comes to tense, twisty police thrillers." The Guardian described the show as "great, undemanding fun to watch," while Metro branded it "a bite-sized version of all the tropes you love best."
It holds a 78% positive score from 9 critic reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, with Finneran's portrayal earning considerable admiration.
Cast and Crew
ITV drama Protection comes from celebrated screenwriter Kris Mrksa and boasts a roster of recognisable talent, including Nadine Marshall (Champion, Sherwood) and Andrew Knott (Gavin and Stacey, Grantchester). The series also features Barry Ward (Bad Sisters), Chaneil Kular (Sex Education), David Hayman (Sid and Nancy), Nichola Burley (The Gold) and Akiya Henry (Silent Witness).
Viewer Reactions
"I thought this was a great storyline, excellent actors and good watch. Would highly recommend!" one enthusiastic viewer wrote, while another noted: "Great Typical UK Crime Drama whodunnit. It does seem to lag at points earlier on. But once you're in it takes you on a great ride and can't wait to find the bent and corrupt officers involved. Bit like Line of Duty, just not as fast paced."
The crime drama is not a newcomer, having made its debut in the US in 2024 and arriving on British screens last year, yet it is currently being showcased as an 'Unmissable Box Set' on ITV. Protection is available to stream now on ITVX.
