ITV has revealed Saviour, a six-part legal drama that promises to rival The Split with its intense family and courtroom intrigue. The series centers on a young man accused of murder and the solicitor defending him amid police corruption and personal secrets. Executive producers include Peter Moffat and Nisha Parti, marking screenwriter Imran Mahmood's TV debut.
Saviour follows Ben, played by Archie Fisher, who attends a costume party wearing his father Eddie's police uniform, leading to an altercation that results in a man's death. Eddie, portrayed by Aidan Gillen, is a police officer determined to protect his son from imprisonment.
Criminal defence solicitor Indy Sangar, played by Anjli Mohindra, takes on Ben's case after her promotion to Higher Rights of Audience at the Old Bailey. As she defends him against a murder charge, Indy faces police corruption, racial politics, media scrutiny, and a secretive client. Unbeknownst to her, her own family secrets threaten to unravel her life.
Opposing Indy is Detective Inspector Jon Creasy, played by Shaun Parkes, who seeks the truth despite pressure from Eddie. The series explores how far Eddie will go to save Ben.
“While defending Ben from an allegation of murder, she’s confronted with a world of police corruption, complicated racial politics, fervent press interest, a frustratingly traditional justice system and a defendant who is keeping secrets from her. But what she doesn’t know is that, whilst fighting tooth and nail for Ben’s freedom, deeply personal secrets of her own are finally coming to the surface and threatening to tear her career and her family apart.”
ITV's Director of Drama, Polly Hill, praised the project:
“I’m delighted to be working with Nisha Parti whose work I have long admired, and I’m really proud of the fact this is Imran Mahmood’s first TV drama. Alongside Nisha, we are lucky to have the brilliant Peter Moffat and the team at Drama Republic bringing this fantastic drama to screen. The casting of Anjli, Shaun and Aidan is exceptional. This is going to be a really exciting new drama that I am confident the audience will love.”
The cast also features Abhin Galeya as Indy's husband Dev Sangar, Nethra Tilakumara as Nita Sangar, Tobias Jowett as Sai Bajwa, Angus Wright as Lionel Knight, Claire Goose as Romy, Adjani Salmon as Mac, Campbell Wallace as Bing, and Precious Wura Alabi as Xenia.
No release date has been announced, but Saviour will air on ITV and STV, and stream on ITVX and STV Player.