Katherine Kelly teases all-new career path away from acting after taking on ITV Protection role: ‘I like both’

March 16, 2025 Article

Katherine Kelly has revealed her plans outside of acting as she prepares for the UK release of a new crime drama.

The 45-year-old plays DCI Hannah Wheatley in the series which deals with the dangerous world of witness protection.

Protection will debut this week on UK TV, after a run last year in the US and Canada.

After starring as Becky McDonald on the legendary ITV soap Coronation Street, Kelly has starred in numerous cop dramas.

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Now, she plays an “ambitious and keen-eyed” opposite Siobhan Finneran who plays series lead DI Liz Nyles – who manages confidential informants.

Following a murder in one Nyles safehouses, the two cops butt heads over who should be leading the investigation.

“Wheatley is suspicious of Liz and tenacious in pursuing her,” Kelly explained

She called her character a “modern-day police officer who knows your paperwork has to match what you’re doing.”

Regarding her recent choice of role, Kelly said: “I’m really privileged to be in a position where I can pick and choose a bit.”

She added that the variety of TV content available across multiple platforms meant there was “a lot more choice for the audience and the actors”.

To that end, Kelly has also been looking at opportunities in production as well as performing.

The 45-year-old owns a production company with actor and writer Tony Pitts where she has embraced new responsibilities.

“I like both – I’m always driven by a challenge and a change,” Kelly declared when talking about balancing acting and producing.

She gushed about their company’s first project: a “real abstract” comedy podcast starring Jim Moir and Morgana Robinson called Curl Up and DI.

The actress added they also have a feature film, a TV comedy and another podcast in development.

“It’s thrilling and what a great time to be doing it when there’s all the different platforms,” Kelly glowed.