Colin Wells (Spooks)
Encyclopedia
Colin Wells is a fictional character appearing in the BBC
spy drama Spooks
, known in the United States as MI-5. He is a technical officer of Section D, the counterterrorism unit of MI5
, and appears regularly from the second episode of series 1 ("Looking After Our Own") until the first episode of series 5, when he is murdered by corrupt MI6 agents. Colin was played by British actor Rory MacGregor
from 2002 until MacGregor left the series in 2006.
According to the fictional Spooks: Harry's Diary, Colin Wells joined Section D before December 1999. The BBC's Spooks website characterizes Colin as a technical wizard, a master in the use of "all the gadgets and tools of his trade," and notes that he is "also known as the geek" (although by whom he is so known is not specified). After the character's introduction in series 1 his appearances become more frequent, and he plays an instrumental role in building on-screen chemistry within the team. While Colin's private life is not explored, he is shown to have great camaraderie with his older colleague and fellow technician Malcolm Wynn-Jones
. Like Malcolm, Colin works primarily on "The Grid," Section D's offices in Thames House, rather than in the field, with the exception of occasions when he participates in surveillance activities such as bugging rooms or manning a surveillance van.
The last episode in which the character appears ("Gas and Oil, Part 1") opens with London subject to a series of acts of terrorism. A gas and oil depot has been attacked, several people have died from a mysterious infection, and rumors of biological warfare are rampant. With the government under pressure to pass antiterrorist measures that erase civil liberties, the prime minister's Special Policy Advisor—an important voice of moderation—is murdered. Harry Pearce
, head of Section D, learns that MI6 knew about the impending terrorist attack but ignored the intelligence. Harry suspects that his MI6 counterpart, Michael Collingwood, is involved in a conspiracy to bring about a virtual overthrow of the government, and he orders a careful watch on Collingwood's agents. Colin, alone in an MI5 van, is conducting surveillance when he is accosted by two of Collingwood's agents and driven to a lonely wooded area. He tries to run from his captors but is no match for them. The final words he is heard to speak are, "I'm not strong enough to fight you. I was never any good at this running and jumping thing. . . . Just get on with whatever it is you’re going to do to me, because I might be smaller and weaker than you, you can hurt me, but you won’t humiliate me.” Soon thereafter, viewers see Colin hanged from a tree. The music soundtrack to series 5, by Paul Leonard-Morgan
, includes a track titled "Hanging Colin."
After a phone call notifies Harry of Colin's death, the team, visibly shaken, gathers off the Grid to discuss strategy. Malcolm is distraught at the suggestion that for the time being they must not retaliate for Colin's murder, declaring, "He wasn’t just some geek who did crossword puzzles, he was my bloody best friend!”
At the end of Part 2 of "Gas and Oil," after the conspiracy has been foiled, Malcolm asks Harry if he will do a reading at Colin's memorial service. Malcolm notes that Colin's favourite book had been The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
, but as it doesn't suit the occasion, he recites a line from Walt Whitman
's elegy "When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom'd": "Comrades mine and I in the midst, and their memory ever to keep, for the dead I loved so well." Harry agrees that this would be perfect.
A poll issued in January 2010 by the entertainment website LastBroadcast asked viewers to vote for the Spooks character with "the most shocking death scene"; over the course of the eight series that had by then been broadcast, nine employees of Section D had met violent ends. Colin Wells's death by hanging in series 5, episode 1 was voted second only to the death of Helen Flynn
in series 1, episode 2.
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
spy drama Spooks
Spooks
Spooks is a British television drama series that originally aired on BBC One from 13 May 2002 – 23 October 2011, consisting of 10 series. The title is a popular colloquialism for spies, as the series follows the work of a group of MI5 officers based at the service's Thames House headquarters, in a...
, known in the United States as MI-5. He is a technical officer of Section D, the counterterrorism unit of MI5
MI5
The Security Service, commonly known as MI5 , is the United Kingdom's internal counter-intelligence and security agency and is part of its core intelligence machinery alongside the Secret Intelligence Service focused on foreign threats, Government Communications Headquarters and the Defence...
, and appears regularly from the second episode of series 1 ("Looking After Our Own") until the first episode of series 5, when he is murdered by corrupt MI6 agents. Colin was played by British actor Rory MacGregor
Rory MacGregor
Rory MacGregor is a British actor, who has played a variety of roles on television, generally in the 2000s. He is best known as Colin Wells in the BBC television series Spooks, a part he performed from 2002-2006.He trained at Rose Bruford College of Speech and Drama, graduating in 1999.-External...
from 2002 until MacGregor left the series in 2006.
According to the fictional Spooks: Harry's Diary, Colin Wells joined Section D before December 1999. The BBC's Spooks website characterizes Colin as a technical wizard, a master in the use of "all the gadgets and tools of his trade," and notes that he is "also known as the geek" (although by whom he is so known is not specified). After the character's introduction in series 1 his appearances become more frequent, and he plays an instrumental role in building on-screen chemistry within the team. While Colin's private life is not explored, he is shown to have great camaraderie with his older colleague and fellow technician Malcolm Wynn-Jones
Malcolm Wynn-Jones
Malcolm Wynn-Jones was the fictional MI5 analyst, featured in the British television series Spooks, also known as MI5 in the United States. Malcolm was played by Hugh Simon from the start of Spooks in 2002 until the character was retired at the start of Series 8 in 2009...
. Like Malcolm, Colin works primarily on "The Grid," Section D's offices in Thames House, rather than in the field, with the exception of occasions when he participates in surveillance activities such as bugging rooms or manning a surveillance van.
The last episode in which the character appears ("Gas and Oil, Part 1") opens with London subject to a series of acts of terrorism. A gas and oil depot has been attacked, several people have died from a mysterious infection, and rumors of biological warfare are rampant. With the government under pressure to pass antiterrorist measures that erase civil liberties, the prime minister's Special Policy Advisor—an important voice of moderation—is murdered. Harry Pearce
Harry Pearce
Sir Henry James "Harry" Pearce KBE is the fictional head of the Counter-Terrorism department of MI5, featured in the British television series, Spooks...
, head of Section D, learns that MI6 knew about the impending terrorist attack but ignored the intelligence. Harry suspects that his MI6 counterpart, Michael Collingwood, is involved in a conspiracy to bring about a virtual overthrow of the government, and he orders a careful watch on Collingwood's agents. Colin, alone in an MI5 van, is conducting surveillance when he is accosted by two of Collingwood's agents and driven to a lonely wooded area. He tries to run from his captors but is no match for them. The final words he is heard to speak are, "I'm not strong enough to fight you. I was never any good at this running and jumping thing. . . . Just get on with whatever it is you’re going to do to me, because I might be smaller and weaker than you, you can hurt me, but you won’t humiliate me.” Soon thereafter, viewers see Colin hanged from a tree. The music soundtrack to series 5, by Paul Leonard-Morgan
Paul Leonard-Morgan
Christopher Paul Leonard-Morgan is a Scottish composer, particularly known for his work in scoring for television and film. He won a BAFTA award for his first film score, for the movie Pineapple. He was nominated for a BAFTA and an Ivor Novello award for his score to the ITV drama Fallen. He...
, includes a track titled "Hanging Colin."
After a phone call notifies Harry of Colin's death, the team, visibly shaken, gathers off the Grid to discuss strategy. Malcolm is distraught at the suggestion that for the time being they must not retaliate for Colin's murder, declaring, "He wasn’t just some geek who did crossword puzzles, he was my bloody best friend!”
At the end of Part 2 of "Gas and Oil," after the conspiracy has been foiled, Malcolm asks Harry if he will do a reading at Colin's memorial service. Malcolm notes that Colin's favourite book had been The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is a science fiction comedy series created by Douglas Adams. Originally a radio comedy broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1978, it was later adapted to other formats, and over several years it gradually became an international multi-media phenomenon...
, but as it doesn't suit the occasion, he recites a line from Walt Whitman
Walt Whitman
Walter "Walt" Whitman was an American poet, essayist and journalist. A humanist, he was a part of the transition between transcendentalism and realism, incorporating both views in his works. Whitman is among the most influential poets in the American canon, often called the father of free verse...
's elegy "When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom'd": "Comrades mine and I in the midst, and their memory ever to keep, for the dead I loved so well." Harry agrees that this would be perfect.
A poll issued in January 2010 by the entertainment website LastBroadcast asked viewers to vote for the Spooks character with "the most shocking death scene"; over the course of the eight series that had by then been broadcast, nine employees of Section D had met violent ends. Colin Wells's death by hanging in series 5, episode 1 was voted second only to the death of Helen Flynn
Helen Flynn
Helen Flynn , played by Lisa Faulkner, is a fictional administrative officer appearing in the first two episodes of the BBC spy drama Spooks, known in the United States as MI-5...
in series 1, episode 2.