The Blame cast is led by Michelle Keegan as DI Emma Crane and Douglas Booth as DI Tom Radley. They play two detectives investigating the death of teenage figure skater Sophie Madsen in the fictional town of Wakestead. Matilda Freeman plays Sophie, while Ian Hart, Nathan Mensah, Joe Armstrong and Nigel Boyle also appear in the six-part drama.
Based on Charlotte Langley’s novel of the same name, the series follows an investigation that raises questions about the officers handling the case. As Emma and Tom search for answers, they encounter secrets and difficult decisions within their own police team.
This guide introduces the first series’ actors and characters, including Lewis Brimah, Chloe Radic, Neil Shergill and Sophie’s skating coach. It also explains where viewers may recognise the performers and what is known about a possible second series.
The Blame Cast Season 1: Who Stars in the ITV Drama?
The first series brings together established British screen actors and newer performers. Michelle Keegan and Douglas Booth lead the investigation on screen, while the supporting cast plays police officers and people connected to Sophie Madsen.
The main cast includes:
- Michelle Keegan as DI Emma Crane
- Douglas Booth as DI Tom Radley
- Matilda Freeman as Sophie Madsen
- Ian Hart as DCI Kenneth Walker
- Nathan Mensah as DC Lewis Brimah
- Joe Armstrong as coach Kyle Frasier
- Nigel Boyle as Neil Shergill
- Gavin Spokes as DC Joel Stevens
- Josh Bolt as DC Douglas James
- Ceallach Spellman as PC Callum Drummond
- Anya McKenna-Bruce as Chloe Radic
The first series has six episodes. Its characters offer different perspectives as the detectives investigate Sophie’s life and the events surrounding her death.
Michelle Keegan as DI Emma Crane
Michelle Keegan plays DI Emma Crane, one of the lead detectives investigating Sophie Madsen’s death. Emma wants to establish what happened, but the case becomes more difficult when it raises questions about people within her own police team.
Keegan became widely known to British audiences as Tina McIntyre in Coronation Street. She went on to star in Our Girl, Brassic and the Netflix thriller Fool Me Once. Her television work also includes Ordinary Lies and Ten Pound Poms.
Emma’s role connects the murder mystery to the drama’s examination of workplace culture. As she pursues new information, she must navigate the pressures of challenging colleagues while continuing to work with them.
Douglas Booth as DI Tom Radley
Douglas Booth plays DI Tom Radley, Emma Crane’s fellow detective inspector. Tom is an ambitious officer who works with Emma as they investigate Sophie’s death. Their inquiry tests his judgement as new information changes their understanding of the case.
Booth has appeared in television dramas and films. He played Boy George in Worried About the Boy and Pip in the BBC adaptation of Great Expectations. His film credits include Romeo & Juliet, The Riot Club and Noah.
Tom and Emma’s partnership is central to the series. As they follow leads together, they must decide whom they can trust and how to respond to concerns about their colleagues.
Matilda Freeman as Sophie Madsen
Matilda Freeman plays Sophie Madsen, the 16-year-old figure skater whose death begins the investigation. Emma and Tom examine Sophie’s relationships and the events leading up to her death as they try to piece together what happened.
Sophie’s family, friends and coach become important to the inquiry. Their connections to her help the detectives build a picture of her life beyond the circumstances of her death.
Freeman may be familiar to viewers of Coronation Street. She has also appeared in How to Get to Heaven from Belfast. Her character remains at the centre of the story even as the investigation turns towards the police team.
Ian Hart as DCI Kenneth Walker
Ian Hart plays DCI Kenneth Walker, the senior officer overseeing Emma and Tom’s team. Walker is responsible for managing the murder investigation as concerns emerge about the behaviour and culture of the police station.
His position places him at the centre of questions about leadership and accountability. The investigation tests how those in authority respond when the conduct of their own colleagues comes under scrutiny.
Hart has appeared in British television dramas including The Last Kingdom, The Responder and Mr Bates vs The Post Office. Film audiences may recognise him as Professor Quirrell in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. He also played John Lennon in Backbeat.
The Blame Cast Lewis: Who Plays DC Lewis Brimah?
Nathan Mensah plays DC Lewis Brimah, a newer member of the police team. Lewis is keen to support Emma Crane’s work on Sophie’s case, but he faces difficult choices as he encounters the culture within Wakestead police station.
His character gives viewers the perspective of a younger officer working alongside more experienced colleagues. As the investigation develops, Lewis must consider how to respond when situations at work test his judgement.
The Blame marks Mensah’s first television acting role. He appears alongside Gavin Spokes as DC Joel Stevens, Josh Bolt as DC Douglas James and Ceallach Spellman as PC Callum Drummond.
The Blame Cast Fraser: Who Plays Kyle Frasier?
Joe Armstrong plays Kyle Frasier, a man connected to Sophie Madsen through her figure-skating career. Detectives consider his relationship with Sophie as they investigate the circumstances surrounding her death.
Some viewers search for the character using the spelling “Fraser”, but cast listings give his surname as Frasier.
Armstrong is known for playing Allan A Dale in the BBC series Robin Hood. He has appeared in a range of British television productions. His character gives the detectives a connection to Sophie’s life outside her family and friendship group.
The Blame Cast Chloe: Who Plays Chloe Radic?
Anya McKenna-Bruce plays Chloe Radic, Sophie Madsen’s best friend. Chloe is among the people close to Sophie who help the detectives understand more about the teenager’s life before her death.
Her character adds a perspective from Sophie’s friendship circle to a story that also follows the police and Sophie’s family. As Emma and Tom investigate, the people who knew Sophie become important to their understanding of the case.
McKenna-Bruce has also appeared in Amandaland and Cleaning Up. Her role in The Blame is part of an ensemble that shows how Sophie’s death affects the community around her.
The Blame Cast Neil: Who Plays Neil Shergill?
Nigel Boyle plays Neil Shergill, the head of digital forensics. His work connects him to the investigation as the police team examines evidence relating to Sophie Madsen’s death.
Boyle may be familiar to British crime-drama viewers from Line of Duty. In The Blame, he appears alongside Michelle Keegan, Douglas Booth and Ian Hart as part of the wider police ensemble.
Neil’s role reflects the range of people involved in an investigation. While Emma and Tom lead the inquiry, other officers and specialists contribute as the team follows information and examines possible leads.
The Blame Cast Coach: Who Plays Sophie’s Skating Coach?
Joe Armstrong plays Sophie Madsen’s skating coach, Kyle Frasier. His professional connection to Sophie makes him a person of interest as the detectives begin examining her life and the people around her.
The skating world provides a setting beyond Sophie’s home and the police station. It also gives Emma and Tom another group of relationships to consider as they follow their early leads.
Armstrong is an experienced British actor whose screen work includes the BBC’s Robin Hood. Viewers searching for “the coach” or “Fraser” are generally looking for his character, Kyle Frasier.
The Blame Cast Marissa: Who Plays Her?
A character named Marissa could not be reliably confirmed in the available cast listings for the 2026 ITV drama. The search may refer to a different spelling, a minor character or another production.
Confirmed characters include Sophie Madsen, Chloe Radic, Emma Crane and Lewis Brimah. Without a reliable credit for Marissa, it would be inaccurate to name an actor or describe the character’s role.
Viewers trying to identify a specific appearance can check the episode credits for the character’s name and spelling. Those credits may help identify smaller roles that do not appear in principal cast lists.
The Blame Supporting Cast
The supporting cast includes Sophie’s family, friends and people connected to the police investigation. Their characters help show how the case affects both the community and the detectives working on it.
Suanna Braun and Jamie Kenna play Sophie’s parents, Elaine and Gary Madsen. Cache Vanderpuye appears as Theo Asaro, while Karen Ascoe plays PC Kat Shaw. Aaron Anthony portrays DC Mike Baxter, and Vikash Bhai appears as Kapil Manek.
Annabelle Dowler plays Emma’s mother, Ava Crane, and Grace Saif portrays Jia Jennings, Lewis Brimah’s partner. These roles add personal connections to the story as the investigation moves between Sophie’s life and the police station.
The Blame Cast Season 2: Who Could Return?
As of October 2026, a second series of The Blame has not been confirmed. There is no confirmed season 2 cast or release date.
Michelle Keegan and Douglas Booth lead the first series, but an official announcement would be needed to establish whether they or other cast members will return. Any details about a possible second-series storyline also remain unconfirmed.
For now, viewers can follow Emma and Tom’s investigation across the six episodes of the first series. The existing cast includes their police colleagues and the people connected to Sophie Madsen.
What Is The Blame About?
The Blame follows DI Emma Crane and DI Tom Radley as they investigate the death of Sophie Madsen in the fictional town of Wakestead. The case becomes increasingly complicated when the detectives uncover information that raises concerns about their own colleagues.
Alongside its murder mystery, the drama explores trust, workplace culture and accountability. Emma and Tom must pursue the investigation while dealing with relationships and pressures inside the police station.
The series is based on Charlotte Langley’s novel The Blame. Megan Gallagher developed it for television and served as lead writer, with Ashley Sanders and Namsi Khan also contributing. Quay Street Productions made the drama for ITV.
Where Can You Watch The Blame in the UK?
UK viewers can watch The Blame on ITVX. The six-part drama premiered on ITV1 and ITVX on 20 September 2026.
The ITVX programme page provides current information about episode availability and accessibility options. ITV lists subtitles and British Sign Language information for the series.
Other services may also list the drama, but prices, availability and subscription requirements can change. Viewers should check their chosen platform before paying or signing up. ITV warns that the programme contains strong language and sexual scenes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who stars in the new series The Blame?
Michelle Keegan and Douglas Booth lead the series as detectives Emma Crane and Tom Radley. The ensemble also includes Matilda Freeman, Ian Hart, Nathan Mensah, Joe Armstrong, Nigel Boyle, Josh Bolt and Anya McKenna-Bruce.
How many episodes of The Blame are there?
The first series has six episodes. It follows the investigation into Sophie Madsen’s death while exploring the relationships and workplace culture within the police team handling the case.
Is Michelle Keegan in The Blame?
Yes. Michelle Keegan plays DI Emma Crane, one of the lead detectives investigating Sophie Madsen’s death. She is also known for Coronation Street, Our Girl, Brassic and Fool Me Once.
Is The Blame based on a true story?
The central story is fictional and is based on Charlotte Langley’s novel The Blame. The drama also explores real-world concerns about police culture, including misogyny and misconduct, through its fictional investigation.
Who plays Sophie Madsen’s coach?
Joe Armstrong plays Kyle Frasier, Sophie’s figure-skating coach. His character is connected to the investigation. Armstrong is also known for playing Allan A Dale in the BBC series Robin Hood.
Conclusion
The Blame cast brings together established actors and newer talent for a British crime drama centred on a murder investigation. Michelle Keegan and Douglas Booth lead the story as detectives Emma Crane and Tom Radley, while Matilda Freeman plays Sophie Madsen, the teenager whose death sets the case in motion.
Ian Hart, Nathan Mensah, Joe Armstrong and the wider ensemble portray the officers and people connected to Sophie. Their characters help the series explore trust, accountability and the pressures within a police team as the detectives pursue answers.
For viewers looking for particular characters, Nathan Mensah plays Lewis, Anya McKenna-Bruce plays Chloe, Nigel Boyle plays Neil and Joe Armstrong plays coach Kyle Frasier. The six-part first series is available on ITVX in the UK. A second series and its cast remain unconfirmed.
