HEART-STOPPING, SUSPENSEFUL CRIME THRILLER, SAVIOUR, COMMISSIONED BY ITV

Published: December 11, 2024 — ITV’s Director of Drama Polly Hill and Senior Drama Commissioner Helen Ziegler have commissioned a refreshing reimagining of the crime and courtroom genre, Saviour, produced by Nisha Parti’s indie, Parti Productions and written by first time screen writer Imran Mahmood.

Commented Nisha Parti:
“I am so grateful to Polly Hill and ITV for seeing the potential in our script and giving us a chance to make this wonderfully gripping story. I have always been a fan of the court room drama and am excited to bring a new version from a different perspective that feels unexpected and authentic with such a brilliant team to support us on our journey.”

Saviour will air on ITV1 and STV and be available for streaming on ITVX and STV Player. Helen Ziegler will oversee production from the channel’s perspective. Parti Productions has partnered with Drama Republic (One Day, Doctor Foster, The English) to co-produce. Acclaimed screenwriter, Peter Moffat, known for Scoop, 61st Street, Silk and Criminal Justice will executive produce the drama alongside Nisha Parti.

The drama introduces us to a well-brought up medical student, Ben, who goes to a fancy-dress party, dressed in a police uniform. Ben only has eyes for Xenia, and when he sees her being attacked by a man on his way home, he has no choice but to intervene, urged on by a bystander innocently assuming he was a real police officer.

He chases the man into a tunnel, we hear the faint hum of an on-coming train, as we realise Ben is the only one to emerge from the tunnel alive. He makes a desperate call, to his dad, Eddie whose uniform he ‘borrowed’ for the party. Eddie is a long serving and well-respected police officer, and he tells Ben exactly what to do next.

Nisha has worked closely with writer Imran Mahmood, a full-time criminal barrister, to create an authentic drama set in the world of the criminal justice system.

Screenwriter Imran Mahmood, who has created this heart-stopping, suspenseful thriller, commented:
“I am thrilled to be bringing to screen my first scripted TV series for ITV and Parti Productions. I’ve always wanted to use my experience as a criminal barrister to explore the real criminal justice system at work – both its strengths and its failings and there is no better medium than the screen to explore it.”

Running parallel with Ben’s story, we’re introduced to Indy, a criminal barrister.

Admired by all who work alongside her, Indy is going places as all her hard work, evening classes and dedication to her profession is beginning to pay off.

Married to supportive husband, Dev, a senior clinician who headed the ICU at their local hospital during the pandemic, and with 15-year-old daughter Nita doing well at school, Indy appears to have it all.

When she meets a terrified Ben in a police cell, facing a charge of murder, she will have to navigate a world of police corruption, fervent press interest and a defendant who is keeping secrets from her.

She will fight tooth and nail for the truth, but Indy has secrets of her own. Deeply personal secrets that are finally coming to the surface and threatening to tear the case and her family apart.

Throughout the drama we are left asking the question – how far are you prepared to go to protect the ones you love?

Commented Polly Hill:
“We are delighted to be working with Nisha and to have commissioned Imran’s first original series. The script delivers a really compelling case that has you hooked in from the start and introduces us to a great new leading character in Indy. Imran’s knowledge of the law makes this series feel utterly authentic while delivering a brilliantly original story that will give the audiences all the twists and surprises they demand.”

Known for producing BAFTA nominated The Boy with the Topknot, Nisha Parti founded her production company to focus on producing commercial drama for the international market with a strong link to her Indian roots.

Imran Mahmood is also known for writing the novel, You Don’t Know Me, which was adapted as a drama series, airing in 2021.

Casting for Saviour will be advised at a date closer to filming commencing in 2025.

The credit for Nisha’s image is Suki Dhanda and for Imran’s photograph is copyright Imran Mahmood.