Kevin McKidd is trading his medical scrubs for a much darker wardrobe. The actor, who recently announced his departure from ABC's long-running drama Grey's Anatomy after nearly two decades, has secured his next major television role.
McKidd will star as the lead in ITV's upcoming British drama series The Only Suspect, as confirmed by multiple entertainment outlets. The thriller centers on Alex, a London man portrayed by McKidd, who has been living a carefully constructed suburban life with his partner, Beth. However, this peaceful existence is built on a decades-old secret: Alex secretly buried a body thirty years ago.
"The abandoned railway track where the body was hidden—running behind Alex and Beth’s street—is being transformed into a nature trail," reads the show's synopsis. "What is a triumph for the neighbourhood instead threatens catastrophe for Alex…Because Alex is the young man who buried the body."
The series will explore the unraveling of Alex's life as excavation for the nature trail begins on the very spot concealing his past. Faced with the potential exposure of his secret, Alex must decide how far he is willing to go to protect the life he has built.
For McKidd, a native of Scotland, the role represents a professional homecoming. "As an actor, the complex and multilayered role of Alex is exciting to explore," McKidd said in a statement, calling the project "a coming home for me" after two decades filming Grey's Anatomy in Los Angeles.
The Only Suspect marks McKidd's first announced role since confirming his exit from Grey's Anatomy, where he played Dr. Owen Hunt. His final episode is set to air in the Season 22 finale.
Reflecting on his time with the medical drama, McKidd expressed deep gratitude. "Grey’s Anatomy has been a huge chapter of my life, creatively and personally, and I’m deeply grateful for everything the show has given me over the years," the 52-year-old actor stated. "Playing Dr. Owen Hunt and directing on the show have both shaped me enormously."
He also thanked original showrunner Shonda Rhimes, adding, "I’m looking forward to what’s ahead, building new work, telling new stories, and taking everything I’ve learned into the next phase of my career."