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Michelle Keegan talks toxic office politics in new drama The Blame: “I did identify a lot with Emma”

“There’s been so many times in my life where something’s happened and you sort of laugh it off, like it didn’t matter, but it does."

Michelle Keegan as DI Emma Crane in The Blame standing outside in a car park, looking to the side whilst surrounded by cars and police tape.

David Hindley/ITV

Published: Tuesday, 1 September 2026 at 10:00 am

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This article first appeared in Radio Times magazine.

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In 2023, a report found the Metropolitan police service to be institutionally racist, misogynistic and homophobic. That year also saw the release of Charlotte Langley’s book The Blame, in which she investigates very similar themes.

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The body of a teenager is discovered in the fictional town of Wakestead – and it looks like she was with a police officer when she was murdered. At first, DI Emma Crane (Michelle Keegan) turns the other cheek at the toxic office politics and “jokes” in her male-dominated environment, but this crime forces her to confront what needs to change within the force.

“I did identify a lot with Emma,” says Keegan. “There’s been so many times in my life where something’s happened and you sort of laugh it off, or sweep it under the carpet, like it didn’t matter, but it does. No one gets pulled up on it, but you just have to deal with it because you’re a woman.

Michelle Keegan as DI Emma Crane and Douglas Booth as DI Tom Radley standing in an office looking at the camera.

Michelle Keegan as DI Emma Crane and Douglas Booth as DI Tom Radley in The Blame David Hindley/ITV

“I’ve been there and I’ve lived it, so doing a drama that shines a light on that, and says this is actually wrong, is really powerful.”

Douglas Booth joins as DI Tom Radley, who investigates the case with Crane, along with Ian Hart and Line of Duty villain Nigel Boyle – if you liked that show, you’re bound to love this.

The Blame will be coming to ITV1 and ITVX this autumn.

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Authors

Laura Rutkowski

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