Behind the Silence: Inside the Making of Code of Silence

When Code of Silence first hit screens, audiences were captivated not just by the intricate plot twists of a crime drama, but by a uniquely layered protagonist, Allison, a deaf woman whose mastery of lip reading turns her into a formidable investigator. In our recent interview, series creator and showrunner Katherine Molton and actor/executive producer Rose Ayling-Ellis opened up about how the show came to life, the power of lived experience in storytelling, and the beauty of characters that are flawed, human, and deeply real.

For Katherine Molton, the idea behind Code of Silence didn’t just come from a love of crime dramas, it was born from her own experience teaching herself how to lip read. That deep familiarity with the skill led her to a revelation: lip reading is more than watching lips move, it's about observing body language, mannerisms, and piecing together fragmented information. “Readers are detectives,” she said. “They're constantly putting a big puzzle together.”

This insight became the foundation for Allison’s character, a deaf woman whose perceptiveness and intelligence make her essential to a police investigation. For Molton, centering a deaf woman in a crime thriller wasn’t just fresh, it was necessary.

Rose Ayling-Ellis, who plays Allison and also serves as an executive producer, was brought into the creative process early even before the scripts were written. This collaboration led to rich, authentic character development. “We had meetings where I shared my experiences,” Ayling-Ellis said. “Katherine would take those little things and turn them into character details like the way I order a cocktail, she noticed everything.”

That organic connection between real experience and scripted drama gives Code of Silence a grounded, lived in quality that sets it apart.

One of the series’ most compelling themes is how society underestimates people with disabilities—and how that underestimation can become a source of power. For Allison, being seen as incapable allows her to fly under the radar. “She’s finally being listened to and utilized,” Ayling-Ellis noted. “She realizes she’s got power, but she also makes mistakes. She’s not a superhuman character—she’s real, she’s messy.” That messiness is central to the show’s ethos. As Molton puts it, Code of Silence is filled with characters who aren’t simply good or bad, they’re complex, flawed, and sometimes contradictory.

The series also explores the emotional connection between Allison and Liam, a character with his own complicated past. Both feel invisible in different ways, and their bond grows from that shared experience. “We all go through being underestimated,” Ayling-Ellis said. “That’s what connects them.”

But as Allison’s feelings evolve, her judgment begins to cloud. Ayling-Ellis approached this subtly, focusing on her scene partners rather than over intellectualizing each moment. “When I’m acting, I focus on the other character. I don’t want to be thinking about myself, I want to be present.”

One of Code of Silence's most innovative features is how it visualizes lip reading for the audience. From surveillance footage to on-screen text revealing only fragments of conversations, the show immerses viewers in Allison’s perspective. Molton said these sequences were carefully designed to show “how hard lip reading is.” Rose was also instrumental in developing these elements during post-production, ensuring authenticity while maintaining narrative clarity. “Some things you just can’t lip read,” she explained. “So we had to find the balance between realism and drama.”

As an executive producer, Ayling-Ellis played a vital role in ensuring the set was inclusive and accessible. For the first time, she was officially credited for work she’s long done behind the scenes on other projects advising on representation, script edits, and production accessibility. She described the experience as a relief. “I didn’t have to do everything this time,” she laughed. “Katherine knew what she was doing, and we had an incredible access coordinator. Every department had someone who was deaf, disabled, or neurodivergent.”

Ultimately, Code of Silence isn't just another gripping detective story, it's a groundbreaking portrayal of a protagonist who defies stereotypes. Allison is clever, vulnerable, bold, and imperfect. She pushes boundaries and makes missteps, but she’s never a victim—she owns her narrative. As Molton put it: “It was really important that this was Allison’s story from beginning to end.”

Watch the full conversation below:

Q&A on the series Code of Silence with creator & showrunner Catherine Moulton and actor & executive producer Rose Ayling-Ellis. Moderated by Mara Webster, In Creative Company.

Alison Brooks, deaf caterer, works to support her mother, and herself. Alison is asked by the police to lip-read conversations with dangerous criminals. Alison starts to fall for one of the suspects, but will not abandon the investigation.