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Following the critical acclaim and ratings success of the first series of Innocent, ITV’s Head of Drama Polly Hill has commissioned a new story with the Innocent label from writers and co-creators Chris Lang and Matt Arlidge.

Katherine Kelly (Liar II, Cheat, Mr Selfridge) will take the leading role of Sally Wright who is fighting, against all odds, to prove her innocence.

Katherine commented:

“I’m thrilled to be working on this complex and thoughtprovoking drama by Matt Arlidge and Chris Lang. I look forward to bringing the mix of Sally’s fragility and quiet strength to life.”

Innocent II focuses upon the scandal that rocked the small Cumbrian town of Keswick in 2015 involving schoolteacher, Sally Wright, who was alleged to be having an affair with her 16-year-old pupil, Matty Taylor. When Matty is found dead, brutally stabbed with a broken cider bottle, suspicion falls upon Sally, who had admitted to taking special interest in the boy. In spite of having no criminal record, no history of violence and vehemently protesting her innocence, Sally was convicted by a majority verdict and sentenced to a minimum of 15 years in jail.

The new four-part series opens with Sally in the dock of Carlisle Crown Court, steely and determined to prove her innocence and that she’s been the victim of a terrible miscarriage of justice. As she waits for the jury to deliver on her appeal, Sally contemplates how she’s lost everything she holds dear. With the unwavering support of her best friend, Jenny, Editor of the local Cumbrian Post newspaper, Sally has been given a lifeline, as new evidence emerges.

The series has started filming on location in the Lake District and Ireland.