With Easter fast approaching, it’s almost time to do some serious binge watching - and there’s one series at the very top of our list. Introducing Safe Harbor, the new crime drama coming to ITVX from Ozark creator Mark Williams. With a cast featuring stars of The Split and Happy Valley and a plot that will (literally) have you on the edge of your seat, the top-notch series is dangerously good viewing.

Starring The Split’s Damien Molony and Happy Valley’s Charlie Murphy, the thrilling drama follows Tobias (Alfie Allen) and Marco (Martijn Lakemeier), two friends who are hell-bent on making a name for themselves - and a rather generous amount of money - through hacking for a pair of mafia siblings. The end goal? To enter the tech billionaires club. If only it were quite that simple.

With the series arriving on our screens imminently, here’s everything you need to know before you tune in, including the plot, cast and how to watch it.

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What is Safe Harbor about?

Created by Ozark’s Mark Williams and inspired by true events, the eight-part series follows gifted hacker Tobias (Alfie Allen) and his ambitious best friend Marco (Martijn Lakemeier), who are determined to crack into the tech billionaires club. They're plucked from quiet obscurity and plunged headfirst into the chaos of organised crime when they cross paths with the Irish mob.

safe harbor
ITV

According to the official synopsis, "Leading the family’s operations in Holland are Sloane (Charlie Murphy) and Farrell (Jack Gleeson), who enlist Tobias and Marco’s services to hack into the security system of Rotterdam harbour - Europe’s largest shipping port - to secure undetected deliveries of drug shipments."

Executive producer Femke Wolting has said: "This unique thriller will leave audiences on the edge of their seat, and with such a brilliant cast and talented creative team including writer/director Mark Williams and director Arne Toonen, it's going to be an unforgettable experience."

from ecco rightssafe harbour: sr1: ep4 on itvxseries cast: tobias chapman [alfie allen], sloane walsh [charlie murphy], marco de bont [martijn lakemeier], farrell walsh [jack gleeson], kieran walsh [colm meaney], rika rogers [gaite jansen], mr. o'brien [ian lloyd anderson], brina walsh [pauline mclynn], jolie [charlotte timmers].this photograph is (c) ecco rights and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned above, or itv plc. this photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by itv plc picture desk. this photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of itv picture desk. full terms and conditions are available on the website www.itv.com/presscentre/itvpictures/terms
ITV

The series was originally commissioned by Dutch streaming service Videoland and Belgium streamer, Streamz, but international buyers have jumped at the chance to acquire it. The series has since been bought by ITV in the UK, Virgin Media Television in Ireland and SBS in Australia.

Is Safe Harbor based on a true story?

Yes – the initial idea for the show came from Femke Wolting, co-founder of production company Submarine, who had read about a case in Belgium in which drug traffickers had recruited hackers to breach IT systems in a major harbour.

from ecco rightssafe harbour: sr1: ep6 on itvxseries cast: tobias chapman [alfie allen], sloane walsh [charlie murphy], marco de bont [martijn lakemeier], farrell walsh [jack gleeson], kieran walsh [colm meaney], rika rogers [gaite jansen], mr. o'brien [ian lloyd anderson], brina walsh [pauline mclynn], jolie [charlotte timmers].this photograph is (c) ecco rights and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned above, or itv plc. this photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by itv plc picture desk. this photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of itv picture desk. full terms and conditions are available on the website www.itv.com/presscentre/itvpictures/terms
ITV

“I loved the story, felt it was cool and could make for a great international thriller series,” she told Variety. “Mark [Williams] and I met, he loved the idea and we spent time brainstorming. That was two years and a half ago.”

Who’s starring in Safe Harbor?

from ecco rightssafe harbour: sr1: ep7 on itvxseries cast: tobias chapman [alfie allen], sloane walsh [charlie murphy], marco de bont [martijn lakemeier], farrell walsh [jack gleeson], kieran walsh [colm meaney], rika rogers [gaite jansen], mr. o'brien [ian lloyd anderson], brina walsh [pauline mclynn], jolie [charlotte timmers].this photograph is (c) ecco rights and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned above, or itv plc. this photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by itv plc picture desk. this photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of itv picture desk. full terms and conditions are available on the website www.itv.com/presscentre/itvpictures/terms
ITV

The cast of Safe Harbor includes:

  • Alfie Allen (Game of Thrones)
  • Charlie Murphy (Happy Valley, Peaky Blinders)
  • Damien Molony (The Split, Brassic)
  • Colm Meaney (Hell on Wheels)
  • Jack Gleeson (Game of Thrones)
  • Martijn Lakemeier (Maxima)
  • Pauline McLynn (EastEnders)
  • Charlotte Timmer (Thieves of the Wood, Zillion)
  • Daniel Lapaine (Catastrophe, A Spy Among Friends)

How can I watch Safe Harbor?

Good news – Safe Harbor is coming to our screens very soon! The series will be available to stream exclusively on ITVX from this coming Sunday 20th April.