Michelle Keegan has reportedly exited a new ITV drama before filming was set to begin.
The 39-year-old actress rose to fame on Coronation Street before graduating to fan favourite roles in Our Girl and Brassic.
She was set to star in a high-budget drama about a working-class barrister, written by Sherlock writer Steve Thompson.
However, with filming scheduled to start in November, the production is said to have been thrown into chaos following Michelle’s sudden departure.
The actress, who had not yet signed a contract for the show, is believed to have changed her mind, saying that she wanted to focus on her family – prioritising young daughter Palma – instead.
A source said: ‘Michelle was really keen to take on the meaty role, but the heavy filming schedule would take her away from daughter Palma for too long.’
Speaking to The Sun, the TV insider continued: ‘The hours were quite intense and the project was starting straight after her Netflix drama The Woods and she just couldn’t commit.
‘She is dedicated to her acting career, but like all working mums has to prioritise being there for her family, juggling work, parenting and being present for Palma.’
According to The Sun, producers have brought in Doctor Who star Jodie Whittaker to fill the now-vacant role.
When contacted, a spokesperson for Michelle told Metro: ‘Early conversations occurred, but Michelle was never contracted so it’s incorrect to say she pulled out.’
Michelle and DJ husband Mark Wright welcomed daughter Palma last year, after marrying in 2015.
The star has continued to balance her home life with her acting duties, and will appear on ITV later this year in upcoming crime thriller The Blame.
She has also been busy filming a second Netflix drama by Harlan Coben, following the release of their 2024 hit Fool Me Once.
Titled The Woods and co-starring Mandeep Dhillon and Tom Bateman, it’s expected to drop on Netflix later this year.
The synopsis on Netflix’s Tudum reads as such: ‘Twenty years ago, Paul ‘Cope’ Copeland’s sister, Camille, vanished from a summer camp in the woods, a loss that tore his family apart.
‘Now a top barrister and devoted single father to ten-year-old daughter Cami, Cope appears to have rebuilt his life. But when the body of a man turns up — twenty years after he was supposedly murdered alongside Camille — Cope becomes convinced his sister may have made it out of the woods alive too.’
On working with Coben again, Michelle said: ‘Lucy is a totally different character to Maya.
‘She’s a little damaged and never found true peace. She believed that by moving away and having a successful career, she could escape the past, but somehow it never leaves her.’
Michelle previously described the process of returning work after having a baby as ‘daunting.’
Speaking to Graham Norton at the ITV Showcase 2026 in April, she said: ‘Coming back to work after having a baby is quite daunting.
On the subject of ITV’s The Blame, in which she plays DI Emma Crane, she said: ‘The production were so supportive and I was so looked after and it was like working with family.’
Metro has contacted ITV for comment on this story.
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