Protection viewers have been left floored after realising where they have seen the actor who plays DI Richard Bewley before.

The brand new thriller returned to screens on Sunday night (March 23) for another instalment. Debuting earlier this month, Protection follows Detective Inspector Liz Nyles, played by Siobhan Finneran.

The DI finds herself at the centre of a security breach within her witness protection unit following an incident that saw a family in her care get attacked.

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Alongside Finneran, the cast includes Katherine Kelly, Barry Ward, Nadine Marshall and Jodie Price. But it’s actor Andrew Knott that has got plenty of people talking, after viewers have only just realised where they’ve seen him before.

Andrew plays DI Richard Bewley on ITV’s Protection, but he is probably best known for playing Dirtbox on ’s iconic sitcom Gavin and Stacey. Andrew appeared in the show from 2007 to 2024, and also reprised his role in the record-breaking episode last year.

Sharing their shock at recognising Andrew Knott on Protection, one person penned alongside a photo of him on the ITV show and wrote: “Can anyone tell me what he has been in please it’s bugging me."

Someone else chimed in: “It’s Dirtbox from Gavin and Stacey!” A third declared: “Thought I recognised Dirtbox!” Another person wrote: “No way it is.”

As well as Gavin and Stacey and Protection, Andrew has also starred in the 1993 classic film The Secret Garden, playing Dickon Sowerby. He’s also appeared in the likes of , Silent Witness and Grantchester.

While Protection will continue airing on ITV on a weekly basis, the entire six-part series has been released on ITVX to allow fans to binge-watch the full programme.

The show's complete synopsis explains: "Based on the first-hand experiences of a long serving witness protection officer, Protection is about what happens when the system breaks down.

"It's about a police officer, Detective Inspector Liz Nyles, who finds herself at the heart of such a breach; personally compromised by an affair with a colleague, but determined to fight back, and uncover the true source of corruption within her unit. To redeem herself, the reputation of her lover, and to keep her witnesses safe."

"Even if they don't always deserve it. Navigating the morally-grey, clandestine of witness protection, Liz's mission to find the truth will take her deep into the heart of the criminal underbelly and beyond as she becomes more and more torn between caring for her family, her loyalty to her lover and her duty as a police officer.

Protection airs on on ITV1. All episodes are available to stream on ITVX.