Michelle Keegan steps away from major ITV drama to spend more time with daughter Palma

Michelle Keegan has withdrawn from a major new ITV drama just months before filming was due to begin, with the actress understood to have made the decision after deciding that its demanding schedule would take her away from her young daughter, Palma, for too long.

The 39-year-old actress had been lined up to play a working-class barrister in the highly anticipated series. She had committed to the project several months ago and a filming date had already been agreed, but she stepped away before signing a contract.

Jodie Whittaker, 44, has now been brought in to take over the role.

A difficult decision over the filming schedule

The decision is understood to have come down to the intensity of the production and its timing.

A source told The Sun on Sunday that Keegan had been enthusiastic about taking on what was described as a substantial role, but the demanding filming schedule would have meant spending too much time away from Palma.

The source said the hours were particularly intense and that the ITV project was scheduled to begin immediately after Keegan’s Netflix drama The Woods. As a result, she felt unable to commit to the production.

Although Keegan remains dedicated to her acting career, the decision reflects the challenge of balancing a demanding schedule with caring for a young child.

Keegan and her husband, Mark Wright, welcomed their daughter Palma in March 2025. The couple have generally kept their daughter out of the public eye, although Keegan has occasionally shared glimpses of family life.

Returning to work after becoming a mother

The decision comes after Keegan spoke openly about how daunting it was to return to work following Palma’s birth.

While discussing her ITV drama The Blame earlier this year, she acknowledged that going back to work after having a baby had been a significant adjustment.

She also praised the production team for the support she received while returning to filming, saying she felt well looked after and that working on the project was like being part of a family.

Keegan appeared in The Blame alongside Douglas Booth, and the series marked one of her first major acting projects after becoming a mother. She had taken a short break from acting following Palma’s arrival in March 2025.

Her decision to leave the new ITV drama therefore comes as she continues to navigate the demands of a busy acting career alongside motherhood.

Keegan has previously spoken about protecting her private life

The actress has also been candid about the pressure she experienced before becoming a mother, particularly over public speculation about when she and Wright would start a family.

In an interview with Grazia last year, Keegan recalled that she had been open when she and Wright married about wanting children. But after they did not have children within the timeframe some people expected, speculation surrounding their personal lives intensified.

She said stories about the subject began appearing regularly, to the point that members of her own family were asking her about it.

Keegan eventually decided that she would no longer discuss that part of her life publicly.

She also explained that growing older had made her increasingly confident about establishing boundaries around her private life.

Jodie Whittaker takes over the role

With Keegan no longer attached to the ITV production, Doctor Who star Jodie Whittaker will take on the role of the working-class barrister.

Whittaker, 44, becomes the new lead for the project after Keegan’s departure, which came only a few months before filming was scheduled to start.

For Keegan, however, the change comes as she continues to work while placing greater emphasis on being present for her daughter. Her most recent project was The Blame, while her next major Netflix project is The Woods.

The decision marks a significant change to her upcoming workload, but it does not signal a withdrawal from acting. Instead, Keegan appears to be taking a more selective approach to the projects she can commit to while raising Palma.