ITV's Code of Silence

ITV 2025 Drama Code of Silence 

A Groundbreaking Lipreading Thriller starring Rose Ayling-Ellis.

Code of Silence is an upcoming ITV thriller featuring Rose Ayling-Ellis as a forensic lipreading expert. Rose plays Alison, a Deaf woman whose exceptional lipreading abilities place her at the heart of a tense police investigation. Known for her memorable victory on Strictly Come Dancing and her portrayal of Frankie in the BBC's EastEnders, Rose has become a prominent figure in raising awareness about the d/Deaf community. In this ITV drama, she plays an ordinary woman whose skill in lipreading becomes central to solving a complex murder case.

Alison's life is far from humdrum. She juggles two jobs—working in a police canteen and serving at a local pub - all while also caring for her Deaf BSL using mother. However, when the police learn of her uncanny ability to lipread, they request her help to decipher & interpret covertly filmed conversations of the bad guys. What starts as a simple, one-off request soon becomes much more complicated when Alison discovers a personal connection to one of the suspects, adding emotional intrigue to the investigation.

What remains to be seen, is whether Code of Silence is going to portray a realistic depiction of lipreading. Lipreading is by no means an easy skill to master—it demands focus, patience, and a deep understanding of context, facial expressions, and the ability to pick up on subtle, non-verbal cues. Anyone who has attended lipreading classes before will recognise the challenges presented by the acquisition of the skill. Hopefully, the show will realistically portray how lipreading can be particularly difficult in noisy environments, emphasising the true complexity of the process. Context is everything, and this can often be overlooked.

The series is written by Catherine Moulton, who draws on her own experiences with hearing loss and lipreading to create an authentic narrative. Moulton’s personal insight ensures that Code of Silence offers a genuine and sensitive portrayal of the daily challenges faced by those with hearing loss, potentially making the show a valuable resource for the d/Deaf community. Her perspective also highlights how lipreading courses can play an important role in improving communication for people with hearing impairments, but also how truly difficult it can be to fully grasp the skill.

Rose Ayling-Ellis has already made a tremendous impact on public awareness of the d/Deaf community, especially after her time on Strictly Come Dancing, where British Sign Language (BSL) gained widespread attention. Her involvement in Code of Silence is likely to spark a similar interest in lipreading classes and courses. With the show’s focus on the skill of lipreading, viewers may be inspired to learn more about this valuable communication tool, pick up the few lipreading tips and perhaps take the first steps in learning to lipread themselves.

However, it’s important to note that learning to lipread takes time and dedication. For anyone considering lipreading courses, it is essential to recognise that the process is gradual and requires persistence. These classes are not intended to train you as a forensic lipreading expert! A realistic depiction of the effort involved in learning the skill will undoubtedly resonate with those who are already familiar with lipreading or are considering starting their own learning to lipread journey.

Filming was completed in and around Bristol and  parts of Hertfordshire. Code of Silence is set to air on ITV and ITVX in 2025. With its suspenseful storyline, strong performances, and focus on the challenges of hearing loss and communication, the series promises to be both a thrilling drama and an important conversation starter. It will shine a light on lipreading as a vital skill, raise visibility for the d/Deaf community, and perhaps even inspire more people to take up lipreading classes in the future.