In Code of Silence, ITV’s latest six-part crime drama, a quiet canteen worker hears what no one else can — and it’s not metaphorical. Rose Ayling-Ellis stars as Alison Woods, a deaf woman whose extraordinary lip-reading skills land her at the centre of a high-stakes police surveillance operation in Canterbury. What begins as routine observation escalates into a globe of secrets, tension, and unexpected emotional entanglements.
Created by Catherine Moulton and inspired in part by her own experience with hearing loss, the 2025 series features a stellar cast, including Charlotte Ritchie as DS Ashleigh Francis and Andrew Buchan as DI James Marsh.Code of Silence filmed on location in Kent, and its grounded, observational tone is matched by striking visuals and sharp writing. Early reviews have praised its balance of character-driven storytelling and genre thrills, and ITV’s decision to air a fully silent ad break with sign language and subtitles during the premiere was a rare, brilliant gesture.
Series premiered on ITV1 and ITVX on May 18, 2025, with a North American release via BritBox coming soon. For fans of smart procedural drama with heart (and just enough tension to keep your teeth clenched), Code of Silence speaks volumes without ever raising its voice.
