A new ITV drama is being hailed as the ‘new Line of Duty’ by viewers, with fans already gripped from the first episode, despite spotting a major blunder.
Protection is the new six-part drama which has been likened to BBC’s Line of Duty because of its female lead who is trying to balance her work life with a complicated home life and affair.
Siobhan Finneran and Katherine Kelly star in the new ITV thriller Protection[/caption]
Fans have likened the new show to Line of Duty[/caption]
Line of Duty was hugely popular when it first aired on BBC[/caption]
Starring Happy Valley actress Siobhan Finneran as DI Liz Nyles, an officer for the UK Protected Persons Service, we follow how she works to keep gangster Jimmy McLennan safe along with his wife and daughter at a safe house.
Created by Kris Mrksa, the plot follows single mum DI Liz juggling a difficult divorce and a sick father who finds herself at the heart of a security breach within her witness protection unit.
When the family she is looking after falls foul to a deadly game, she must take a frightened and traumatised 12-year-old girl under her wing who may prove more vital to piecing together this mystery than she could have ever realised.
Viewers have praised the show as the new Line of Duty because of all the secrecy and corruption.
One fan wrote: “New Line of Duty vibes #Protection”.
Another wrote: “Protection is giving vibes of The Bay and Line of Duty I love it !!”
Others have said they have been addicted to it, binge-watching the entire series.
One viewer admitted: “Fully recommend Protection on ITV. Already chewed through four episodes.”
However, many viewers spotted a huge plot blunder when the single mum left her child with her dad who has dementia.
Taking to X – formerly Twitter, one viewer wrote: “She just left the witness with her dad who’s got dementia #Protection.”
Another said: “#Protection. Why isn’t the kid with social services? With a man she doesn’t know all day and now in the care of a man with dementia?”
A third chimed in: “#Protection Blimey, she’s so dodgy. And she shouldn’t promise to keep the girl safe.
“And now she goes out and leaves the kid alone with her dad.”
Many viewers were also left shocked at the graphic content involving the shooting of a dog and its grisly aftermath.
One said: “Oh the dog did get shot! OMG.”
White House Farm writer Kris Mrksa has said the idea for the series came after he spoke to a former witness protection officer.
He said: “As I learned more about the day-to-day realities of witness protection, it became evident that this is an area of policing that has more in common with the world of espionage than the operations of a traditional police unit.
“Secrecy and subterfuge are part of the daily routine of witness protection officers, and security breaches can lead to life-threatening disaster.
“In other words, the perfect setting for a le Carré-esqueconspiracy thriller rather than a straightforward crime drama.”
The cast also features Katherine Kelly, Barry Ward, Nadine Marshall, Jodie Price, and Andrew Knott.
Protection is available to stream on ITVX or watch on Sundays at 9pm on ITV1.
DI Liz Nyles struggles to manager her work life and personal life[/caption]
She struggles to keep her racy affair hidden on the show[/caption]
Some fans say they have already binge-watched the show[/caption]
