Code of Silence ITV Lipreading Drama

Introduction

Code of Silence first aired on ITV in May 2025 and quickly attracted the attention of both television audiences and large UK community of people with hearing loss. The six-part crime drama stars Rose Ayling-Ellis as Alison, a Deaf woman whose exceptional (some would say fantastical!) lipreading skills lead her into a dangerous police investigation. What begins as an ordinary life working in a police canteen develops into a gripping story of crime, deception and divided loyalties. It's tense stuff. For many viewers, the series provided their first real insight into lipreading and the important role it plays in helping many people with hearing loss communicate more effectively.

Rose Ayling-Ellis

Rose Ayling-Ellis was already well known for her role in soap opera EastEnders, but her appearance on Strictly Come Dancing transformed public awareness of deafness and British Sign Language (BSL). As the first Deaf contestant to win the competition, she challenged many long-held assumptions about hearing loss and disability. Do you remember when they killed the music and they continued dancing? With Code of Silence, Rose has helped bring hearing loss onto mainstream TV, this time by placing lipreading at the centre of a prime-time television drama.

The Story

Alison is juggling two jobs, working both in a police canteen and a local pub, while also helping to care for her Deaf mother. Her life changes dramatically when detectives recruit her to interpret covertly filmed conversations between members of a criminal gang. As Alison's forensic lipreading skills become increasingly important to the investigation, she finds herself drawn ever deeper into a dangerous world where the line between police work and personal involvement becomes increasingly blurred.

How Realistic is the Lipreading?

Naturally, Code of Silence is a television drama (not real life), so some aspects of forensic lipreading are exaggerated to create suspense. It works rather well.  Alison is portrayed as having remarkable lipreading abilities that are central to solving the investigation. But please try to remember that this is a written for TV drama rather than a real life scenario. It makes compelling television, but it is important to remember that real-life forensic lipreading is a highly specialised field that differs significantly from the lipreading taught in everyday classes. What you see in the programme is typically not the kind of content we would cover in a lip reading class. For a good indication, it's worth finding out a bit more about the myths of lipreading. 

In reality, lipreading is a highly skilled form of communication that takes time, patience and regular practice to develop. Only some of the information contained in speech is visible on the lips. Many speech sounds look virtually identical, so successful lipreading relies on combining visible speech movements with facial expressions, body language, context and informed prediction. Anticipation, and prior knowledge play a very important role in being able to lipread successfully. 

Even the most experienced lipreaders do not understand every word they see. Everyday conversations can become particularly difficult in noisy environments, when people cover their mouths, turn away while speaking or when lighting conditions are less than ideal. These are just some of the lipreading challenges that people with hearing loss face every day. 

For most people with hearing loss, lipreading is just one part of effective communication. It works best alongside hearing aids, cochlear implants where appropriate, and other forms of communication support. Rather than replacing hearing technology, lipreading helps people make the most of the hearing they have and often makes conversations less tiring and more enjoyable. 

Written by Someone Who Understands Hearing Loss

One of the reasons Code of Silence feels more authentic than many previous portrayals of hearing loss is that it was created and written by Catherine Moulton, who has personal experience of hearing loss and lipreading herself.

Her lived experience gives the programme a depth and authenticity that resonates with many viewers. The sound engineering is particularly clever and is worth listening out for if you are able. Everyday situations, communication frustrations and the subtle challenges of living with hearing loss are woven naturally into the story, rather than feeling artificially added. While Code of Silence is a fictional drama, many of the communication experiences portrayed will be familiar to people living with hearing loss.

The Wider Impact of Code of Silence

The series proved to be one of ITV's biggest drama successes and introduced millions of viewers to the concept of lipreading. It encouraged many people to ask whether lipreading is a skill that can actually be learned. The answer is yes, of course. With the right tuition, realistic expectations and regular practice, many people with hearing loss can significantly improve their communication by attending lipreading classes. Our lipreading teachers are some of the most experienced in the business and all qualified at City Lit, as well as being members of ATLA, which is the national body for lipreading tutors. 

Can Anyone Learn to Lipread?

Yes. Although Code of Silence focuses on an exceptional forensic lipreader, the good news is that lipreading is a practical skill that many people with hearing loss can learn and improve. We don't teach forensic lipreaders in our classes, they are just for everyday people with any level of hearing loss. Like any new skill, it takes time, commitment and regular practice, but the rewards can be considerable.

If you're wondering how to learn to lipread, structured classes provide a supportive environment where you can develop practical techniques, build confidence and learn alongside others who understand the challenges of hearing loss.

Learning to lipread can help you to:

• follow everyday conversations more easily

• improve confidence in social situations

• reduce listening fatigue

• become less reliant on asking people to repeat themselves

• make better use of hearing aids or cochlear implants

• stay connected with family, friends and colleagues

• reduce feelings of isolation.

Many people also enjoy the social aspect of attending lipreading classes, where they can share experiences, exchange practical tips and meet others who understand the everyday realities of living with hearing loss.

Code of Silence – Series 2 in 2027!

The success of Code of Silence means Alison's story is far from over. ITV has commissioned a second six-part series, with Rose Ayling-Ellis returning in the lead role and Catherine Moulton once again writing the series. Filming has taken place during 2026, with the new series expected to be broadcast in 2027.

ITV have revealed very little about the new storyline, viewers can expect more of the same, placing lipreading and Deaf representation firmly in the spotlight. The success of the first series demonstrated that audiences are keen to see authentic stories featuring Deaf characters, and the second series is likely to continue raising awareness of all types of hearing loss and communication. We are expecting another bump in interest about lipreading classes when this series is broadcast. 

Looking Ahead

Whether you watched Code of Silence because you enjoy crime dramas or because of its focus on hearing loss, the series has achieved something genuinely important and impressive. It has introduced lipreading to millions of people who may never previously have considered how those with hearing loss communicate or realised that lipreading is a skill that can be learned. That has to be a good thing. 

If the programme has inspired you to find out more, why not explore our lipreading classes page? Whether you're completely new to lipreading or looking to build on existing skills, you'll find practical support, friendly tuition and techniques that can help make everyday conversations easier and more enjoyable.

While Code of Silence has brought lipreading into the public eye, the real story continues every day in lipreading classes up and down the UK, where people with hearing loss are developing practical skills that help them communicate with greater confidence and independence. We don't teach forensic lipreading to people with hearing loss. We help them to add lipreading to their hearing loss tool kit just to make their life a little bit easier. If you are unable to find a face-to-face class in your area , then you are welcome to join one of our online lipreading classes. 

Did you come here looking for lipreading courses near me? Online lipreading classes are available to UK students via this website.