Michelle Keegan made a very steamy return to acting with a raunchy public sex scene in the rain in the debut episode of ITV's The Blame last night. 

Viewers watched as the actress, who stars as DI Emma Crane, had a romp with her co-star DI Tom Radley (Douglas Booth) as they investigated the murder of young figure skater Sophie Madsen. 

As the investigation got under way, a stunned DI Crane found deep corruption within her own team and turned to DI Radley to help her expose it. 

DI Radley said he was too much of a coward and stormed out of the car but then said while it would ruin his career to be a whistleblower he would help her – as he has feelings for her. 

Incensed by the support, the pair passionately kissed before things escalated.

Michelle's performance, which was her first role since giving birth to daughter Palma in March last year, was praised by ITV viewers. 

Viewers wrote: 'It's great to have Michelle Keegan back on our screens';

'Michelle is so b****y good in The Blame' and 'Michelle Keegan is actually unreal'. 

'The Blame is b****y brilliant. Twists and turns every episode keeps you guessing to the very last minute. 10 out of 10.'

Others voiced their opinion that DI Crane's colleague DI Tom Radley could be the killer after he started behaving suspiciously when discussing Sophie's death during the episode.

They theorised: 'It's going to be Michelle Keegan's partner on the case isn't it' 

'If this turns out to be Tom's doing then this has been far too easy to figure out... Hoping for some twist that I haven't seen coming.' 

In a dramatic twist, dash-cam footage from a lorry showed Sophie getting into DI Radley's car, instantly implicating DI Crane's own partner. 

The Brassic star recently admitted it was 'daunting' returning to work for the first time after having Palma.

Speaking about The Blame, she said earlier this year: 'Coming back to work after having a baby is quite daunting.

'But the production were so supportive and I was so looked after and it was like working with family.'