ITV has commissioned a new two-part drama, Case Sensitive, based on the highly acclaimed and chilling psychological suspense novel Point of Rescue from Sophie Hannah.

The cast

Case Sensitive stars Olivia Williams (The Ghost, Dollhouse, An Education, The Sixth Sense, Rushmore) in the lead role of DS Charlie Zailer and Darren Boyd (Whites, Personal Affairs, Little Dorrit, Green Wing) as DC Simon Waterhouse. They are joined by Rupert Graves (Garrow’s Law, Single Father, Sherlock), Ralph Ineson (Waterloo Road, The Bill, The Office), and Amy Beth Hayes (Secret Diary of a Call Girl, Whatever it Takes, Misfits).

Murder or suicide?

Case Sensitive is a story which explores themes of identity, guilt and family strife. The 2 x 60 min drama has been adapted for ITV by Hat Trick Productions.

When Geraldine Bretherick and her 5-year-old daughter Lucy are found dead in the bath of their luxury home, the case divides new DS Charlie Zailer and her DC Simon Waterhouse. Is it murder, suicide or something even more sinister, and how watertight is the alibi of the husband Mark?

Meanwhile, when Sally Thorne, a working mother with a husband and two young children, hears of the deaths, she is shocked and appalled. Months before she'd met Mark Bretherick at a hotel and had a brief but passionate affair with him. Now she feels the need to get in touch with him again to offer her sympathy. Her friend Esther does not think this is very wise.

Filmed on location

Case Sensitive was filmed on location in Buckinghamshire and was directed by Charles Martin (Skins, Being Human, Married Single Other). The Executive Producer for Hat Trick Productions is Mark Redhead (Mutual Friends, God On Trial, Bodies, Bloody Sunday). The producer is Christopher Hall (The Lost World, Archangel, Burn Up).

Sophie Hannah novel

The drama has been commissioned by Controller of Drama Commissioning Sally Haynes and ITV’s Director of Drama Commissioning Laura Mackie who comments: “Case Sensitive is adapted from an engrossing novel which not only tackles the dark side of motherhood but also mistaken identity and murder. It’s a superb adaptation of Sophie Hannah’s highly contemporary crime novel and I'm delighted that Olivia Williams is on board to play DS Charlie Zailer."

Mark adds: "Sophie Hannah takes deftly plotted police procedurals, psychological thrillers, women-in-peril stories and noir fiction and blends them to create something altogether different. This story explores the darkness that lies beneath the surface of apparently blissful provincial lives."

BBC Worldwide are responsible for international distribution.

Episode 1

When the bodies of a mother and her young daughter are found in the bathroom of their luxury home, new DS Charlie Zailer and her junior colleague DC Simon Waterhouse investigate. The pair immediately clash, disagreeing over whether the case is a murder-suicide or something even more sinister. Elsewhere, young mother Sally Thorne tells her best friend that she had an affair with the husband of the dead woman, and her friend warns her to stay away.

Episode 2

After a mother and daughter are found dead in strange circumstances, a mysterious young woman calling herself Esther visits the crime scene. DS Charlie Zailer and DC Simon Waterhouse track the woman to a bird sanctuary but she disappears, leaving behind only a photograph of an unknown mother and child. Who are they - and what is their connection to the dead family? Then a woman's body is found floating in the river and Sally begins to realise that she is in terrible danger

ITV drama series Case Sensitive starring Olivia Williams

A mother and her five-year-old daughter are found dead in the bath

Starring Olivia Williams, Darren Boyd, Rupert Graves, Ralph Ineson and Amy Beth Hayes.

Photograph shows Darren Boyd and Olivia Williams in character as DS Zailer and Darren Boyd as DC Whitehouse

Preview from Amazon UK

Photograph of Darren Boyd and Olivia Williams in character as DS Zailer and DC Whitehouse.