The Blame is UK's biggest new drama of 2026 so far, ITV says, in record ITVX September

Centre · 2ITV has said The Blame, a six-part crime drama starring Michelle Keegan, is the UK's biggest new drama on any channel or streaming platform so far in 2026, based on 14 days of viewing. 1 2 Centre · 2The series was released on ITVX on 20 September and was the platform's top title of the month, with its launch episode averaging 6.6 million viewers so far and viewing still rising. 1 2 Centre · 1Keegan plays DI Emma Crane, who investigates the death of a teenage figure skater, Sophie Madsen, in the fictional town of Wakestead, and the case exposes lies, cover-ups and misconduct within her own police station. 1

Centre · 2Douglas Booth plays her colleague DI Tom Radley, with Ian Hart, Joe Armstrong and Josh Bolt among the cast. Digital Spy says the drama is based on a novel by Charlotte Langley and was written for television by Megan Gallagher. 2 1 Centre · 1ITVX also passed 3 billion streams for the year on 9 September, two full months faster than in 2025. 1 Centre · 1Trigger Point, with Vicky McClure returning as Lana Washington, was ITV's biggest returning drama; its first episode has been seen by 6 million viewers so far, making it ITVX's second biggest title of the month. 1

Centre · 1Among other September results, streams of Big Brother were up more than 50 per cent year on year, The Only Way is Essex ended its 38th series with its biggest audience in four years, and the two-part finale of 70 Up drew 4.3 million and rising, ITV's most-watched factual programme since Mr Bates vs the Post Office: The Real Story in January 2024. 1 Centre · 1The Rainmaker, a 10-part drama from Peacock, was ITVX's most-watched acquired title, with more than 6 million programme streams across the month. 1 Centre · 1Digital Spy quoted IMDb user reviews, one praising the twists and another calling the plot partly unconvincing, though still effective enough to keep viewers guessing. 2