THE GUILTY, an original 3 x 60-minute drama series written by Debbie O'Malley (LAW & ORDER; UK, CASE HISTORIES, SILK), has gone into production. Starring Tamsin Grieg (EPISODES, FRIDAY NIGHT DINNER) as DCI Maggie Brand, the series follows an investigation into the death of a little boy after his body is discovered five years after he went missing. The drama, produced by Hartswood Films, will be set over two time periods - the time of the boy's disappearance and the time of the investigation.

The boy's parents, played by Katherine Kelly and Darren Boyd, hold a barbeque on the night their son vanishes, and a violent, alcohol-fuelled row with neighbours that night causes rifts and suspicion within the community. DCI Brand, stricken with terrible morning sickness at the time of the disappearance, is back in action when the boy's body is found, and is determined to find out what happened to him.

The show was commissioned by Steve November at ITV, and will be directed by Ed Bazalgette. Elaine Cameron will produce, and Beryl Vertue is executive producer. Beryl says of the project: "We're delighted to be working with ITV again on The Guilty and have been buoyed by its enthusiasm for the scripts and the fantastic casting."

THE GUILTY is due to be transmitted in Autumn of this year.