Kevin McKidd Stars in ITV Drama ‘The Only Suspect’ After Grey’s Anatomy

Kevin McKidd to Star in ITV Drama ‘The Only Suspect’

Kevin McKidd has secured the lead role in an upcoming ITV drama entitled The Only Suspect, marking a significant step as he prepares for life after Grey’s Anatomy.

The British drama, produced by Fremantle’s Red Planet Pictures, is adapted by Simon Ashdown from a novel by Louise Candlish. McKidd, who is set to depart from the long-running medical series after its 22nd season, will portray a character deeply entwined in a complex narrative.

Set in a picturesque London suburb, The Only Suspect follows a devoted couple, Alex and Beth, whose seemingly perfect life masks a troubling secret. The storyline alternates between the present and the 1990s, beginning in the summer of 1995 as a man buries a body amid a violent storm.

According to the synopsis, “Thirty years later, another heatwave grips a very different world. The abandoned railway track where the body was hidden – running behind Alex and Beth’s street – is being transformed into a nature trail, spearheaded by Beth herself. What is a triumph for the neighbourhood instead threatens catastrophe for Alex… Because Alex is the young man who buried the body.”

As pressure mounts following the construction plans, Alex must confront the unraveling of his carefully curated life. The narrative delves into his struggle with the shocking truth that now hangs over him, forcing him to choose how far he will go to keep his past buried.

ITV’s Director of Drama, Polly Hill, along with Drama Commissioner Huw Kennair-Jones, commissioned the project, with Fremantle holding international distribution rights. The four-part series will be executive produced by Belinda Campbell and Tom Mullens at Red Planet Pictures, with direction by Farren Blackburn and production by Sumrah Mohammed. Filming is slated to begin in London this spring.

“Working with ITV on The Only Suspect feels like coming home for me,” McKidd remarked. “As an actor, the complex and multilayered role of Alex is exciting to explore, and I can’t wait to collaborate with Farren, the whole team at Red Planet Pictures, and an amazing ensemble of great British actors.”

Kennair-Jones expressed enthusiasm about the project, stating, “Once again, Simon Ashdown has woven a thrilling story from Louise Candlish’s bestselling novel that will keep the audience on the edge of their seats. Brilliantly produced by the team at Red Planet, The Only Suspect promises to deliver a gripping story full of shocking revelations and twists.”

Red Planet Pictures previously adapted Candlish’s novel Our House, which aired on ITV in 2022 and featured talent such as Tuppence Middleton and Martin Compston. Mullens noted the excitement surrounding the new adaptation, adding, “We’re thrilled to have Kevin McKidd leading a brilliant cast and Farren Blackburn on board as director to bring this twisting tale of a man trying to escape his past to life.”

Louise Candlish’s works are represented by Luke Speed at Insight Management on behalf of Curtis Brown Group. The novel The Only Suspect is published by Simon & Schuster (UK) and represented by literary agent Sheila Crowley at Curtis Brown.