Spooks
Encyclopedia
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 highly secure suite of offices known as The Grid. In the United States and France, the show is broadcast under the title MI-5. In Canada, the programme originally aired as MI5 but now airs on BBC Canada
as Spooks.
The programme was created by writer David Wolstencroft
and has attracted popular guest actors including Hugh Laurie
, Robert Hardy
, Tim McInnerny
, Bruce Payne
, Reece Dinsdale
, Ian McDiarmid
, Ewen Bremner
, Jimi Mistry
, Andy Serkis
, Andrew Tiernan
, Anton Lesser
, Anupam Kher
, Alexander Siddig
, Martine McCutcheon
and Anthony Head
.
It was announced in August 2011 that the show would end after the tenth series.
Starring Matthew Macfadyen
, Keeley Hawes
, David Oyelowo
, Jenny Agutter
, and Peter Firth
, the initial series of six one-hour episodes premiered in the spring of 2002.
Due to its combination of glossy high production values with fast-paced action/adventure and spy intrigue storylines the series was a critical and popular success, averaging 7.5 million viewers over its six episodes.
The second episode gained notoriety for the violent killing of character Helen Flynn (Lisa Faulkner
), which drew the largest number of complaints to the Broadcasting Standards Commission in 2002. During an undercover operation Helen and Tom were captured by race riot instigator Robert Osborne, played by Kevin McNally
, who tortured Helen with a deep fryer in an attempt to make Tom reveal classified information. He refused and she was killed. This provoked an angry reaction from many viewers who jammed BBC phone switchboards with complaints, despite the show airing after the 9 pm watershed
.
) and Ruth Evershed
(Nicola Walker
), were introduced in the first and second episodes respectively, while the series finale ended with a dramatic cliffhanger
. The series averaged 7.1 million viewers.
as Adam Carter
, who was drafted in from MI6 to help investigate Tom's disappearance. He later takes over Tom's position as Section Chief after the latter jeopardised an important operation.
In episode six, Zoe is taken to court for misconduct during an operation and is forced to leave MI5 and assume a new identity in Chile. She is replaced by Adam's wife, Fiona
(Olga Sosnovska
). In the series finale, Danny is killed while he and Fiona are being held hostage. Audience figures dropped to a series average of 5.8 million viewers.
The opening two-part episode introduces two new characters to the series, Zafar Younis (Raza Jaffrey
, whose character had debuted in the final episode of series three), and Juliet Shaw (Anna Chancellor
). The storyline involves a terrorist bombing central London, something that, in reality, took place on 7 July
, two months prior to the airing but already after the filming was complete.
According to The Guardian
newspaper, the day the first episode aired, "The similarities were sufficient to cause head of drama Jane Tranter
and new BBC One controller Peter Fincham
to agonise over whether to drop the episodes." The episodes eventually aired unedited, although before both instalments of the two-parter the BBC One continuity announcer warned viewers that they featured scenes of terrorist bombing in London which some viewers might find disturbing.
In episode seven, Fiona Carter leaves the show because the actress portraying her, Olga Sosnovska
, was pregnant during filming and chose to leave the programme. In that story arc, Adam attempts to kill Fiona's deranged ex-husband, who she thought was hanged several years prior. However, her ex-husband ultimately abducts her and later shoots her dead in Adam's presence during her attempted escape. Her character is replaced by Jo Portman (played by Miranda Raison
), a new arrival at MI5 who was recruited by Adam in a previous episode.
' return to BBC One's Monday night schedule. These episodes introduced Ros Myers (Hermione Norris
).
This series' storylines include a fake home-grown Al-Qaeda
cell that plans an attack on London; the British government selling nuclear technology to Saudi Arabia; and the US administration selling arms to African dictators.
The ratings for this series remained consistent with those of the previous series, averaging 6 million viewers.
, and concluded on 18 December. The series averaged 5.68 million viewers (the lowest to date)
The sixth series was different in certain respects from the previous five because it had one storyline running right the way through it, and for the first time, the show contained end credits. There was also a less frequent use of the soundtrack composed by Jennie Muskett.
The primary storyline of Series 6 follows Iran seeking the ability to manufacture its own nuclear weapons and searching for sellers of nuclear armaments components. The governments of several nations (principally the United States and its CIA, Russia's FSB, and a shadowy third organisation composed of disenfranchised members of other agencies, including MI5) are woven throughout the plot. Simon Abkarian
plays the Iranian Special Counsel liaising with the various governments, Agni Scott as his wife, Matthew Marsh
as the CIA station chief, and Robert Glenister
as the British Home Secretary, all have recurring roles throughout the series.
A new website called "Spooks Interactive" was created to coincide with the launch of the series. In April 2008, the Spooks production team won the BAFTA Award for Interactivity for their work on Spooks Interactive.
returns as Harry Pearce
, along with Alex Lanipekun
as Ben Kaplan
, Hugh Simon
as Malcolm Wynn-Jones
, Miranda Raison
as Jo Portman
and Gemma Jones
as Connie James
.
In the first episode, central character Adam Carter
(portrayed by Rupert Penry Jones) dies in a car explosion set by terrorists, and the character Ros Myers
(played by Hermione Norris
) returns to the show as a deep-cover agent in Moscow. Richard Armitage
joins the cast as Lucas North
, an agent who has been held in a Russian prison for the past eight years and released as part of a spy
exchange. Following Adam's death, Ros is made the section leader and Lucas replaces her as a Senior Case officer.
The series 8 recommission press release stated there would be a twist in the final episode of series 7. In this episode, a nuclear bomb is set to explode, triggered by a Russian sleeper agent who is part of Operation Tiresias. As Parliament and the Royal Family are evacuated, the nuclear threat to London is eliminated when Ros and Lucas are able to turn Connie James
and elude an FSB kill squad. While defusing the bomb, Connie is killed by its conventional explosives. Seconds before the bomb exploded, Connie revealed that it had not been Harry who sold Lucas North out to the Russians as Lucas had always believed but, rather, herself. The episode concludes with Harry, conscious but with his mouth taped shut, in the boot of a car being zipped up in a body bag by Viktor Sarkisian, head of the FSB's London station.
(Ros
) and Richard Armitage
(Lucas
) returning for series 8. Series 8 started on Wednesday 4 November 2009, at 9 pm on BBC One, with episode 2 broadcast on Friday 6 November at 9 pm on BBC Three. The opening episode of series 8 drew in 6 million viewers a 25% share of audience numbers between 9 pm and 10 pm.
The first episode of the series continues from the cliffhanger at the end of series 7, with Harry Pearce
being held captive by the Russians. During this episode, Ruth Evershed
is reintroduced, having spent her time since series 5 in Cyprus. The only character other than Harry who has been in the programme since its inception, Malcolm Wynn-Jones
departs stating simply that he is "too old". His replacement comes in the form of much younger technician Tariq Masood
(Shazad Latif
).
The series again revolves around one major plot-arc which is a mysterious organisation known only as "Nightingale". During the course of the series, Lucas North
's loyalty is continually called into question, for the most part because of his ongoing relationship with CIA agent Sarah Caulfield who is connected to Nightingale. At the end of the series, Section D does not appear to have made much progress in tackling Nightingale, and Ros Myers
is killed in an explosion with the new Home Secretary Andrew Lawrence
.
New cast members in this series include Sophia Myles
and Max Brown
as MI5 officers and Simon Russell Beale
as the Home Secretary. Iain Glen
and Laila Rouass
also joined the series, playing Vaughn Edwards
and Maya Lahan – figures from Lucas's mysterious past.
The season ends with the deaths of Lucas' lover Maya Lahan, following the death of Lucas' blackmailer, Vaughn, in the climactic end of the penultimate episode. Lucas had kidnapped Ruth, binding and gagging her, and was attempting to get a top-secret computer file for the Chinese. The climactic scene was a showdown between Harry and Lucas on top of a tower block in London. After Harry reveals that the file never actually worked, and that Lucas had apparently betrayed his MI5 colleagues and stolen another man's identity, "Lucas" (apparently "real" name John Bateman) orders Harry to turn around. Harry anticipates execution, but no shots come. Hearing a car alarm and screams from the ground many seconds later, Harry turns around to find Lucas no longer on the roof. Forty-eight hours later, the Home Secretary calls Harry to inform him that a full investigation will be made into his actions at MI5 and to "prepare for life after MI5." The series ends with Harry looking out over the London skyline at night. A caption reveals that a 10th series would be shown in 2011.
Production on the six-episode series reportedly began during March 2011, with Lara Pulver
joining the series as an "ambitious, hungry" new spook "determined to make her mark." Also joining the series were Geoffrey Streatfeild, Alice Krige
and Jonathan Hyde
, while Peter Firth, Nicola Walker, Max Brown, Shazad Latif and Simon Russell Beale reprised their roles, as well as Matthew Macfadyen
in a cameo role in the final episode. Sophia Myles
did not return as Beth Bailey.
The season concludes with the revelation of a plot to force Britain and Russia into war. Harry managed to thwart the plot and decides to leave the service to live a normal life with Ruth Evershed. However, a vengeful Sasha Gavrik attempts to have revenge on him and Ruth takes the blow for him before dying in his arms. Harry then decides to return to MI5, the prospect of a normal life no longer being accessible to him.
Kudos and the BBC announced in a joint statement in August 2011 that Series 10 would be the last series. It began airing on BBC One on Sunday September 18, 2011 at 9:00 pm, moving from its traditional weekday evening slot, with the final episode airing on October 23, 2011.
Each episode begins with a "previously" sequence, recapping recent events. Following a teaser, setting up the episode's narrative, a title sequence runs, featuring the main characters but no actor credits, and ends with the name of the series. Each episode ends with the final scene freezing and changing to a black-and-white negative image that then compresses with a distinctive sound effect into a flat white line against a black screen. With the exception of each season finale, a trailer for the next episode is shown, followed by the Kudos and BBC logos. The series airs with no credits on BBC One
to maintain an atmosphere of the anonymity of real-life spies and the drama of each episode. Full credits are available online.
Prior to Series 9, the subsequent episode was aired on BBC Three
one week ahead of its BBC One showing (the first and last episode were only shown on BBC One
). BBC Three airings included a brief credit sequence following the trailer and before the Kudos and BBC logos.
Broadcast editions of the episodes have been known to feature alternate music to that found on the commercially available DVD releases. In the final episode of Series 2, music from the film score Spy Game
was used—composed by Harry Gregson-Williams
. The tracks used are "Beirut, a War Zone" and "Operation Dinner Out". Both are available on the official soundtrack release for the film.
Many scenes are filmed in and around the Docklands, especially Canary Wharf
, Rotherhithe
, London Bridge
and Greenwich (including The Old Royal Naval College) area as well as the new More London
development.
(the BBC Three
Doctor Who
spin-off series) the controller of BBC Three, Julian Bellamy, announced in December 2006 a Spooks spin-off entitled Spooks: Code 9 (working titles: Rogue Spooks and Spooks: Liberty). The show started filming in Bradford in 2008 and the first and second episodes were broadcast on 10 August 2008. It was not well-received by critics, who said "the script is poor and the acting little better" (The Sunday Times
) and the production "utterly uninspired and stale" (Digital Spy
), "daft and unconvincing" (The Telegraph
), "an utterly cynical venture" that "given its patronising awfulness ... actually damages the Spooks brand" (The Guardian
).
All Series of Spooks are available on iTunes
, with series 7, 8 & 9 becoming available to download one week after original broadcast. Series 1–8 have been released on DVD by Contender Home Entertainment with its successor Entertainment One then taking over; series 9 was released by Universal Playback
.
Now available on Region 1 DVD, Series 9 is also available for streaming on Netflix.
) was nominated for a Webby Award under the category of Best Game.
In the United States, the commercial-free and viewer-supported Public Broadcasting Service
(PBS) began airing the show under the title MI-5 in January 2009, beginning with Series 1. For the first time, the episodes are being broadcast full-length and in widescreen (1.78:1) format. This is the third network to attempt a successful airing of the show. Series 1 – 4 were broadcast on cable channel A&E
from 2003 to 2006, however ratings were poor, and after a marathon showing of Series 4, the show was removed from the schedule. In 2007 and 2008, BBC America
aired MI-5, withdrawing the show from its schedule mid-Series 4, again a victim of ratings. Due to the need to insert commercial breaks, the episodes broadcast on commercial stations (A&E and BBC America) in the U.S. were edited for time, with each 59-minute installment edited down to roughly 45 minutes, and were presented in full screen (1.33:1) format. The full-length episodes were broadcast on some cable "On Demand" services and are available on DVD.
In Canada the series was also screened uncut and unedited on BBC Canada
, a speciality digital cable channel, under its original BBC title Spooks. However, this was stopped after Series 3 because the U.S. A&E channel had exclusive rights to future viewings in Canada and was showing the episodes as well. Since then, BBC Canada has resumed showing the series and began showing Series 5 to Canadian viewers on 26 August 2007.
BBC shows Spooks on its entertainment channel BBC Prime
in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. The programme is also aired as Spooks in Australia and New Zealand on ABC
and TVNZ
respectively. It is syndicated on the Foxtel
Pay-TV channel UKTV. In New Zealand Spooks has being broadcast on Sky Network Television
at 9:30 pm Tuesday, and is presently up to Series 9 as of Tuesday 26 April 2011. Season 9 begins on the ABC on Saturday 2 April.
In Sweden it airs as Spooks on Kanal 9
. As of winter 2010 both series 1 and 7 are broadcast. (Though the first two series were broadcast by SVT1
or SVT2
, the Swedish commercial-free public service channels.)
In France the programme is called MI-5 and broadcast on Canal Plus, France 2
and France 4
.
In Denmark several series have been aired on the DR2
public channel, under its original name, Spooks.
In Finland the show is called Erikoisjoukkue and it was first aired on YLE TV1
(Series 1 and 2) and then MTV3
started airing the programme from Series 1.
In Belgium Spooks was broadcast on the Flemish
public channel Canvas (Series 1-4) and on the French Belgian channel RTBF
. The Flemish channel Acht (only for Digital TV subscribers) broadcasted series 5 till 8, series 9 is to be broadcasted from November 2011.
In the Netherlands Spooks is aired on the channel Nederland 3
.
In the Czech Republic it is called MI5 and is aired on ČT1
. In Israel it was aired under two different names (MI-5 and Spooks) on the Arutz 2 Channel 2 and on cable.
In Slovenia it was aired on Kanal A
as Tajni agenti, with Slovene subtitles.
In Croatia on HRT 2
as Obavještajci, (Intelligence Agents). It is broadcast in English with Croatian subtitles as opposed to being dubbed.
In Southeast Asia Spooks is aired through the Hallmark Channel
.
In India Spooks is aired on the channel BBC Entertainment
.
In Brazil the series is screened on People + Arts, cable channel, under the title Dupla Identidade (Double Identity). In Argentina the same channel screens it as Doble Identidad (also Double Identity).
In Iceland the series is shown on RUV
(The Icelandic National Broadcasting Service) on Tuesdays at 22:25 as Spooks.
Spooks is shown in Hungary under Titkosszolgálat – MI5 (Secret Service – MI5) on Hungarian Television (channel: M1
).
In Germany the series began airing under the title Spooks – Im Visier des MI5 on pay television on the German Fox Channel
on 3 September 2008 with new episodes Thursdays and repeats through the following days. On 2 September 2009 the new digital free-to-air channel ZDFneo
began airing the series on Monday night with a repeat on Tuesday night on the parent channel ZDF
.
In Mexico the series is shown on BBC Entertainment
on the SKY México
satellite network under the title MI-5.
In Bulgaria the series is shown on Bulgarian National Television Channel 1 (Bulgarian: БНТ Канал 1) as Phantoms (Bulgarian: Фантоми). As of January 2010 series 7 is being aired.
British television
Public television broadcasting started in the United Kingdom in 1936, and now has a collection of free and subscription services over a variety of distribution media, through which there are over 480 channelsTaking the base Sky EPG TV Channels. A breakdown is impossible due to a) the number of...
drama series that originally aired on BBC One
BBC One
BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
from 13 May 2002 – 23 October 2011, consisting of 10 series. The title is a popular colloquialism
Colloquialism
A colloquialism is a word or phrase that is common in everyday, unconstrained conversation rather than in formal speech, academic writing, or paralinguistics. Dictionaries often display colloquial words and phrases with the abbreviation colloq. as an identifier...
for spies
Espionage
Espionage or spying involves an individual obtaining information that is considered secret or confidential without the permission of the holder of the information. Espionage is inherently clandestine, lest the legitimate holder of the information change plans or take other countermeasures once it...
, as the series follows the work of a group 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...
officers based at the service's Thames House
Thames House
Thames House is an office development in Millbank, London, on the north bank of the River Thames adjacent to Lambeth Bridge, designed originally as commercial head offices...
headquarters, in a highly secure suite of offices known as The Grid. In the United States and France, the show is broadcast under the title MI-5. In Canada, the programme originally aired as MI5 but now airs on BBC Canada
BBC Canada
BBC Canada is a Canadian English language Category B specialty channel. It presents programming primarily from the BBC. BBC Canada is a joint venture between Shaw Media and BBC Worldwide.-Programming:Main article: List of programs broadcast by BBC Canada...
as Spooks.
The programme was created by writer David Wolstencroft
David Wolstencroft
David Wolstencroft is a Scottish television writer and author. He is best known as creator of the BAFTA award-winning TV spy drama Spooks and its spin-off series, Spooks: Code 9. Wolstencroft was born in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1969 and grew up in Edinburgh, Scotland, later going on to read history at...
and has attracted popular guest actors including Hugh Laurie
Hugh Laurie
James Hugh Calum Laurie, OBE , better known as Hugh Laurie , is an English actor, voice artist, comedian, writer, musician, recording artist, and director...
, Robert Hardy
Robert Hardy
Timothy Sydney Robert Hardy, CBE, FSA is an English actor with a long career in the theatre, film and television. He is also an acknowledged expert on the longbow.-Early life:...
, Tim McInnerny
Tim McInnerny
Tim McInnerny is an English actor. He is known for his role as Percy in Blackadder and Blackadder II, and as Captain Darling in Blackadder Goes Forth...
, Bruce Payne
Bruce Payne
Bruce Martyn Payne is an award winning English character actor and producer and was a member of the 1980's Brit Pack. Although he is best known for his villainous roles, Bruce Payne has played characters across the spectrum...
, Reece Dinsdale
Reece Dinsdale
Reece Dinsdale is an English actor of stage, screen and television.-Acting career:He trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama from 1977 until 1980...
, Ian McDiarmid
Ian McDiarmid
Ian McDiarmid is a Scottish theatre actor and director, who has also made sporadic appearances on film and television.McDiarmid has had a successful career in theatre; he has been cast in many plays, while occasionally directing others and although he has appeared mostly in theatrical productions,...
, Ewen Bremner
Ewen Bremner
-Early life:Bremner was born in Edinburgh, the son of two art teachers. He attended Davidson's Mains Primary School and Portobello High School. He originally wanted to be a circus clown, but was offered a chance in show business by television director Richard D. Brooks. One of his first notable...
, Jimi Mistry
Jimi Mistry
-Early life:Mistry, was born in Scarborough, Yorkshire, England to an Indian Hindu father and an Irish Roman Catholic mother. He was brought up a Roman Catholic and attended St. James' Catholic High in Cheadle Hulme before his family moved to Cardiff where he attended Radyr Comprehensive School...
, Andy Serkis
Andy Serkis
Andrew Clement G. "Andy" Serkis is an English actor, director and author. He is popularly known for playing Gollum in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, for which he earned several award nominations, including the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in The Two Towers...
, Andrew Tiernan
Andrew Tiernan
Andrew James Tiernan is an English actor.-Theatre:Tiernan began acting with the Birmingham Youth Theatre and moved to London in 1984 to study a three-year Diploma in Acting at the Drama Centre London run by Christopher Fettes and Yat Malmgren...
, Anton Lesser
Anton Lesser
Anton Lesser is a British actor. He attended Moseley Grammar School and the University of Liverpool before going to RADA in 1977 where he was awarded the Bancroft Gold Medal as the most promising actor of his year....
, Anupam Kher
Anupam Kher
Anupam Kher is an Indian actor who has appeared in nearly 400 films and 100 plays. Though mainly appearing in Bollywood films, he has had roles in some films from other nations as well...
, Alexander Siddig
Alexander Siddig
Siddig El Tahir El Fadil El Siddig Abderrahman Mohammed Ahmed Abdel Karim El Mahdi is a Sudanese-born English actor, also known as Siddig El Fadil and his stage name Alexander Siddig. He is known for playing Dr...
, Martine McCutcheon
Martine McCutcheon
Martine McCutcheon is an English singer, television personality and Laurence Olivier Award-winning actress. McCutcheon had minor success as one third of the pop group Milan in the early 1990s; however, it was her role as Tiffany Mitchell in BBC's EastEnders that made her a household name in the UK...
and Anthony Head
Anthony Head
Anthony Stewart Head , usually credited as Anthony Head, is an English actor and musician. He rose to fame in the UK following his role in television advertisements for Nescafé Gold Blend , and is known for his roles as Rupert Giles in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and as Uther Pendragon in...
.
It was announced in August 2011 that the show would end after the tenth series.
Series 1
Matthew Macfadyen
David Matthew Macfadyen is an English actor, known for his role as MI5 intelligence officer Tom Quinn in the BBC television drama series Spooks and for starring as Fitzwilliam Darcy in Pride and Prejudice.In June, 2010 Macfadyen won a British Academy Television Award for Best Supporting...
, Keeley Hawes
Keeley Hawes
Keeley Hawes is an English actress and model, known for many television roles. She is best known for her roles as Zoe Reynolds in Spooks and Alex Drake in Ashes to Ashes and Lady Agnes in the remake of Upstairs, Downstairs...
, David Oyelowo
David Oyelowo
- Background :Oyelowo was born in Oxford, England of Nigerian descent. He is married to actress Jessica Oyelowo and they have three sons.Oyelowo first attended a youth theatre after being invited by a girl to whom he was attracted. He then studied Theatre Studies for A level and his teacher...
, Jenny Agutter
Jenny Agutter
Jennifer Ann "Jenny" Agutter is an English film and television actress. She began her career as a child actress in the mid 1960s, starring in the BBC television series The Railway Children and the film adaptation of the same book, before moving on to adult roles and relocating to Hollywood.She...
, and Peter Firth
Peter Firth
Peter Firth is an English actor. He is best known for his role as Sir Harry Pearce in the BBC show Spooks, of which he is the only actor to have starred in every episode of the show's 10 series lifespan...
, the initial series of six one-hour episodes premiered in the spring of 2002.
Due to its combination of glossy high production values with fast-paced action/adventure and spy intrigue storylines the series was a critical and popular success, averaging 7.5 million viewers over its six episodes.
The second episode gained notoriety for the violent killing of character Helen Flynn (Lisa Faulkner
Lisa Faulkner
Lisa Tamsin Faulkner is an English actress and television personality.-Early life:Faulkner was educated at Tiffin Girls' School, Kingston upon Thames.When Faulkner was 16, her mother, Julie, died of cancer...
), which drew the largest number of complaints to the Broadcasting Standards Commission in 2002. During an undercover operation Helen and Tom were captured by race riot instigator Robert Osborne, played by Kevin McNally
Kevin McNally
Kevin McNally is an English actor who has worked in theatre and radio extensively as well as in film and television.-Life and career:...
, who tortured Helen with a deep fryer in an attempt to make Tom reveal classified information. He refused and she was killed. This provoked an angry reaction from many viewers who jammed BBC phone switchboards with complaints, despite the show airing after the 9 pm watershed
Watershed (television)
In television, the term watershed denotes the time period in a television schedule during which programs with adult content can air....
.
Series 2
With the success of the first series, a second, longer series of ten episodes was commissioned and subsequently aired in 2003. New regular characters Sam Buxton (Shauna MacdonaldShauna Macdonald
Shauna Macdonald is a Scottish television and film actress.-Biography:Shauna Macdonald was born in Malaysia and shortly after moved back to her family's native Edinburgh, Scotland, before moving to Glasgow to train at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama.She and her husband, the actor Cal...
) and Ruth Evershed
Ruth Evershed
Ruth Evershed was a fictional Senior Intelligence Analyst seconded from GCHQ to MI5, featured in the British Television Series Spooks, also known as MI-5 in the United States. Ruth was played by Nicola Walker from the time the character joined the show in 2003, until Walker left to have a baby in...
(Nicola Walker
Nicola Walker
Nicola Walker is an English actress, best known for her starring roles in various British television programmes from the 1990s onwards, particularly as Ruth Evershed in the spy drama Spooks. She has also worked in theatre, radio and film....
), were introduced in the first and second episodes respectively, while the series finale ended with a dramatic cliffhanger
Cliffhanger
A cliffhanger or cliffhanger ending is a plot device in fiction which features a main character in a precarious or difficult dilemma, or confronted with a shocking revelation at the end of an episode of serialized fiction...
. The series averaged 7.1 million viewers.
Series 3
A third series of ten episodes was transmitted on BBC One in the autumn of 2004 and concluded on 13 December. The first episode features Rupert Penry-JonesRupert Penry-Jones
Rupert William Penry-Jones is an English actor, best known for his role as Adam Carter in the British television series Spooks, also broadcast under the title MI-5.-Family life:Penry-Jones was born in London on September 22, 1970...
as Adam Carter
Adam Carter
Adam Henry Carter is a fictional character from the BBC espionage television series Spooks, which follows the exploits of Section D, a counter-terrorism division of MI5. He is portrayed by British actor Rupert Penry-Jones...
, who was drafted in from MI6 to help investigate Tom's disappearance. He later takes over Tom's position as Section Chief after the latter jeopardised an important operation.
In episode six, Zoe is taken to court for misconduct during an operation and is forced to leave MI5 and assume a new identity in Chile. She is replaced by Adam's wife, Fiona
Fiona Carter
Fiona Carter, also revealed as being named Amelia, was the character portrayed by Olga Sosnovska in the BBC television series Spooks. Originally an officer of the United Kingdom Secret Intelligence Service , Fiona was seconded to the Security Service following the departure of Zoe Reynolds...
(Olga Sosnovska
Olga Sosnovska
Olga Sosnovska is a Polish-born UK/US-based actress.-Career:Sosnovska is perhaps best known in America for her role as Polish businesswoman Lena Kundera on the soap opera All My Children...
). In the series finale, Danny is killed while he and Fiona are being held hostage. Audience figures dropped to a series average of 5.8 million viewers.
Series 4
The fourth series of Spooks began transmission on Monday 12 September 2005 on BBC One at 9 pm with the first of a two-part story. The next day (13 September) the second episode was shown. The following week Spooks assumed a 9 pm Thursday slot, a break from the Monday 9 pm slot the previous series had traditionally occupied. Once again, the series ran for ten episodes and averaged 6.05 million viewers, a notable increase on the previous series.The opening two-part episode introduces two new characters to the series, Zafar Younis (Raza Jaffrey
Raza Jaffrey
Raza Jaffrey is a British actor, most notable for playing the character of Zafar Younis in the BBC1 television spy drama Spooks / MI-5.-Early life:...
, whose character had debuted in the final episode of series three), and Juliet Shaw (Anna Chancellor
Anna Chancellor
-Family:Chancellor was born in Richmond, London, England, the daughter of the Hon. Mary Alice Jolliffe and John Paget Chancellor. Through her mother's mother, Lady Perdita Rose Mary Asquith, Chancellor is the great-granddaughter of The Hon. Raymond Aquith and the great-great-granddaughter of Prime...
). The storyline involves a terrorist bombing central London, something that, in reality, took place on 7 July
7 July 2005 London bombings
The 7 July 2005 London bombings were a series of co-ordinated suicide attacks in the United Kingdom, targeting civilians using London's public transport system during the morning rush hour....
, two months prior to the airing but already after the filming was complete.
According to The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
newspaper, the day the first episode aired, "The similarities were sufficient to cause head of drama Jane Tranter
Jane Tranter
Jane Tranter is an English television executive who has been the executive vice-president of programming and production at BBC Worldwide's Los Angeles base since January 2009...
and new BBC One controller Peter Fincham
Peter Fincham
Peter Fincham is a British television producer and executive, currently the Director of Television for the ITV network. He was also formerly the Controller of BBC One, the primary television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation, until his resignation on 5 October 2007, following...
to agonise over whether to drop the episodes." The episodes eventually aired unedited, although before both instalments of the two-parter the BBC One continuity announcer warned viewers that they featured scenes of terrorist bombing in London which some viewers might find disturbing.
In episode seven, Fiona Carter leaves the show because the actress portraying her, Olga Sosnovska
Olga Sosnovska
Olga Sosnovska is a Polish-born UK/US-based actress.-Career:Sosnovska is perhaps best known in America for her role as Polish businesswoman Lena Kundera on the soap opera All My Children...
, was pregnant during filming and chose to leave the programme. In that story arc, Adam attempts to kill Fiona's deranged ex-husband, who she thought was hanged several years prior. However, her ex-husband ultimately abducts her and later shoots her dead in Adam's presence during her attempted escape. Her character is replaced by Jo Portman (played by Miranda Raison
Miranda Raison
-Early life:Born in Burnham Thorpe, Norfolk, her father Nick Raison is a jazz pianist and artist, while her mother Caroline read the news for Anglia Television. She has two brothers and two sisters: Ed , Rosie, Sam and May. Her parents divorced when she was six years old, and her father remarried...
), a new arrival at MI5 who was recruited by Adam in a previous episode.
Series 5
The fifth (10-part) series of Spooks aired its first episode in two parts, the first appearing on 17 September 2006. In it, elements within the British Government, MI6 and the UK press conspire in an attempt to overthrow the Parliament and the Prime Minister. These elements agree that for Britain to survive the threats posed by modern day terrorism, democracy had to be replaced with rule by committee. The second part followed the next day (18 September), marking SpooksHermione Norris
Hermione Norris is an English actress.Norris attended the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art in the 1980s before taking small roles in theatre and on television. In 1996, she was cast in her breakout role of Karen Marsden in the comedy drama television series Cold Feet...
).
This series' storylines include a fake home-grown Al-Qaeda
Al-Qaeda
Al-Qaeda is a global broad-based militant Islamist terrorist organization founded by Osama bin Laden sometime between August 1988 and late 1989. It operates as a network comprising both a multinational, stateless army and a radical Sunni Muslim movement calling for global Jihad...
cell that plans an attack on London; the British government selling nuclear technology to Saudi Arabia; and the US administration selling arms to African dictators.
The ratings for this series remained consistent with those of the previous series, averaging 6 million viewers.
Series 6
The sixth series was commissioned by Jane Tranter, Head of Drama Commissioning at the BBC, by the time series 5 was announced. The series returned on 16 October 2007 at 9 pm on BBC OneBBC One
BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
, and concluded on 18 December. The series averaged 5.68 million viewers (the lowest to date)
The sixth series was different in certain respects from the previous five because it had one storyline running right the way through it, and for the first time, the show contained end credits. There was also a less frequent use of the soundtrack composed by Jennie Muskett.
The primary storyline of Series 6 follows Iran seeking the ability to manufacture its own nuclear weapons and searching for sellers of nuclear armaments components. The governments of several nations (principally the United States and its CIA, Russia's FSB, and a shadowy third organisation composed of disenfranchised members of other agencies, including MI5) are woven throughout the plot. Simon Abkarian
Simon Abkarian
Simon Abkarian is a French-Armenian actor.Born in Gonesse, Val d'Oise, of Armenian descent, Abkarian spent his childhood in Lebanon. He moved to Los Angeles, where he joined an Armenian theater company managed by Gerald Papazian. He returned to France in 1985, settling in Paris...
plays the Iranian Special Counsel liaising with the various governments, Agni Scott as his wife, Matthew Marsh
Matthew Marsh (actor)
Matthew Marsh is an English actor. Matthew Marsh is the older brother of Jon Marsh of English dance band The Beloved. He has appeared in the films Alambrado, Spy Game, An American Haunting, Hawking and Bad Company, and guest-starred in the sixth series of the spy drama Spooks in 2007 and the...
as the CIA station chief, and Robert Glenister
Robert Glenister
Robert Lewis Glenister is a British actor known for his roles as con man Ash "Three Socks" Morgan in the British TV series Hustle, and Nicholas Blake in the BBC spy drama Spooks.-Career:...
as the British Home Secretary, all have recurring roles throughout the series.
A new website called "Spooks Interactive" was created to coincide with the launch of the series. In April 2008, the Spooks production team won the BAFTA Award for Interactivity for their work on Spooks Interactive.
Series 7
Series 7 of Spooks began airing on 27 October 2008 for an eight episode run. Peter FirthPeter Firth
Peter Firth is an English actor. He is best known for his role as Sir Harry Pearce in the BBC show Spooks, of which he is the only actor to have starred in every episode of the show's 10 series lifespan...
returns as 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...
, along with Alex Lanipekun
Alex Lanipekun
Alex Lanipekun is a British Actor of Nigerian and Italian/English origin. He trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art but left early to join the cast of the BBC drama Spooks as journalist come spy Ben Kaplan. In 2007 he won the prestigious Carleton Hobbs Award, joining the BBC Radio Drama Rep...
as Ben Kaplan
Ben Kaplan
Ben Kaplan DSO, portrayed by Alex Lanipekun was a starring character in the British spy series, Spooks.- Appearances :Ben Kaplan first appeared in Series 6, Episode 5 as a freelance journalist who was in a relationship with Jo Portman. He tried to expose what was going on with MI5's and Section D's...
, Hugh Simon
Hugh Simon
Hugh Simon is a British actor, best known for his portrayal of the character Malcolm Wynn-Jones in the television series Spooks. His other TV credits include Shackleton, Attachments, Cold Feet, North Square, Big Bad World, and "Unusual Suspects" .He has also appeared onstage, as in the 2005 London...
as 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...
, Miranda Raison
Miranda Raison
-Early life:Born in Burnham Thorpe, Norfolk, her father Nick Raison is a jazz pianist and artist, while her mother Caroline read the news for Anglia Television. She has two brothers and two sisters: Ed , Rosie, Sam and May. Her parents divorced when she was six years old, and her father remarried...
as Jo Portman
Jo Portman
Joanna "Jo" Portman was a fictional Field Operative in the Counter-Terrorism department at MI5, featured in the British television series, Spooks, also known as MI5 in the United States. She was played by Miranda Raison...
and Gemma Jones
Gemma Jones
Gemma Jones is an English character actress on both stage and screen.-Early life:Jones was born in London, England, the daughter of Irene and Griffith Jones, an actor. Her brother, Nicholas Jones, is also an actor...
as Connie James
Connie James
Connie James played by Gemma Jones is a fictional British MI5 spy in the BBC television series Spooks.-Introduction to the Team:According the BBC website, Connie joined MI5 as a secretary when she was 19 in 1963. She was first seen in episode 2 of Series 6, brought in as a regular female lead...
.
In the first episode, central character Adam Carter
Adam Carter
Adam Henry Carter is a fictional character from the BBC espionage television series Spooks, which follows the exploits of Section D, a counter-terrorism division of MI5. He is portrayed by British actor Rupert Penry-Jones...
(portrayed by Rupert Penry Jones) dies in a car explosion set by terrorists, and the character Ros Myers
Ros Myers
Rosalind "Ros" Sarah Myers was a fictional character from the BBC espionage television series Spooks, which follows the exploits of Section D, a counter-terrorism division in MI5. She is portrayed by British actress Hermione Norris. The character was a former MI6 officer who works with MI5 in the...
(played by Hermione Norris
Hermione Norris
Hermione Norris is an English actress.Norris attended the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art in the 1980s before taking small roles in theatre and on television. In 1996, she was cast in her breakout role of Karen Marsden in the comedy drama television series Cold Feet...
) returns to the show as a deep-cover agent in Moscow. Richard Armitage
Richard Armitage (actor)
Richard Crispin Armitage is an English actor famous for his roles as John Thornton in North and South, Guy of Gisborne in Robin Hood, and Lucas North in Spooks...
joins the cast as Lucas North
Lucas North
Lucas North, formerly known as John Bateman, is a fictional character from the BBC espionage television series Spooks , which follows the exploits of Section D, a counter-terrorism division of MI5. North is portrayed by British actor Richard Armitage...
, an agent who has been held in a Russian prison for the past eight years and released as part of a spy
SPY
SPY is a three-letter acronym that may refer to:* SPY , ticker symbol for Standard & Poor's Depositary Receipts* SPY , a satirical monthly, trademarked all-caps* SPY , airport code for San Pédro, Côte d'Ivoire...
exchange. Following Adam's death, Ros is made the section leader and Lucas replaces her as a Senior Case officer.
The series 8 recommission press release stated there would be a twist in the final episode of series 7. In this episode, a nuclear bomb is set to explode, triggered by a Russian sleeper agent who is part of Operation Tiresias. As Parliament and the Royal Family are evacuated, the nuclear threat to London is eliminated when Ros and Lucas are able to turn Connie James
Connie James
Connie James played by Gemma Jones is a fictional British MI5 spy in the BBC television series Spooks.-Introduction to the Team:According the BBC website, Connie joined MI5 as a secretary when she was 19 in 1963. She was first seen in episode 2 of Series 6, brought in as a regular female lead...
and elude an FSB kill squad. While defusing the bomb, Connie is killed by its conventional explosives. Seconds before the bomb exploded, Connie revealed that it had not been Harry who sold Lucas North out to the Russians as Lucas had always believed but, rather, herself. The episode concludes with Harry, conscious but with his mouth taped shut, in the boot of a car being zipped up in a body bag by Viktor Sarkisian, head of the FSB's London station.
Series 8
In December 2008, the BBC announced that series 8 would start filming in March 2009 and air late 2009, with both Hermione NorrisHermione Norris
Hermione Norris is an English actress.Norris attended the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art in the 1980s before taking small roles in theatre and on television. In 1996, she was cast in her breakout role of Karen Marsden in the comedy drama television series Cold Feet...
(Ros
Ros Myers
Rosalind "Ros" Sarah Myers was a fictional character from the BBC espionage television series Spooks, which follows the exploits of Section D, a counter-terrorism division in MI5. She is portrayed by British actress Hermione Norris. The character was a former MI6 officer who works with MI5 in the...
) and Richard Armitage
Richard Armitage (actor)
Richard Crispin Armitage is an English actor famous for his roles as John Thornton in North and South, Guy of Gisborne in Robin Hood, and Lucas North in Spooks...
(Lucas
Lucas North
Lucas North, formerly known as John Bateman, is a fictional character from the BBC espionage television series Spooks , which follows the exploits of Section D, a counter-terrorism division of MI5. North is portrayed by British actor Richard Armitage...
) returning for series 8. Series 8 started on Wednesday 4 November 2009, at 9 pm on BBC One, with episode 2 broadcast on Friday 6 November at 9 pm on BBC Three. The opening episode of series 8 drew in 6 million viewers a 25% share of audience numbers between 9 pm and 10 pm.
The first episode of the series continues from the cliffhanger at the end of series 7, with 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...
being held captive by the Russians. During this episode, Ruth Evershed
Ruth Evershed
Ruth Evershed was a fictional Senior Intelligence Analyst seconded from GCHQ to MI5, featured in the British Television Series Spooks, also known as MI-5 in the United States. Ruth was played by Nicola Walker from the time the character joined the show in 2003, until Walker left to have a baby in...
is reintroduced, having spent her time since series 5 in Cyprus. The only character other than Harry who has been in the programme since its inception, 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...
departs stating simply that he is "too old". His replacement comes in the form of much younger technician Tariq Masood
Tariq Masood
Tariq Masood was a character from the BBC television series Spooks, played by Shazad Latif. Masood was the technical wizard who replaced Malcolm Wynn-Jones in Series 8...
(Shazad Latif
Shazad Latif
Shazad Latif, is a British actor, who starred in the BBC TV series Spooks as the highly skilled technician and data analyst for Section D, Tariq Masood from series 8 to his death in series 10.-Early life:...
).
The series again revolves around one major plot-arc which is a mysterious organisation known only as "Nightingale". During the course of the series, Lucas North
Lucas North
Lucas North, formerly known as John Bateman, is a fictional character from the BBC espionage television series Spooks , which follows the exploits of Section D, a counter-terrorism division of MI5. North is portrayed by British actor Richard Armitage...
's loyalty is continually called into question, for the most part because of his ongoing relationship with CIA agent Sarah Caulfield who is connected to Nightingale. At the end of the series, Section D does not appear to have made much progress in tackling Nightingale, and Ros Myers
Ros Myers
Rosalind "Ros" Sarah Myers was a fictional character from the BBC espionage television series Spooks, which follows the exploits of Section D, a counter-terrorism division in MI5. She is portrayed by British actress Hermione Norris. The character was a former MI6 officer who works with MI5 in the...
is killed in an explosion with the new Home Secretary Andrew Lawrence
Andrew Lawrence (Spooks)
Andrew Lawrence MP is a Home Secretary in the BBC television drama Spooks. He was appointed during the events of Series 8, Episode 7 after the resignation of his predecessor Nicholas Blake who was implicated in a faked scandal by covert organization Nightingale.-Series 8:Lawrence is a young...
.
Series 9
Spooks returned for a ninth series on Monday 20 September 2010 for an eight-episode run.New cast members in this series include Sophia Myles
Sophia Myles
-Early life:Myles was born in London. She is the daughter of Jane, who works in educational publishing, and Peter Myles, a retired Anglican vicar in Isleworth, west London. Her maternal grandmother was Russian, and she refers to herself as "half-Welsh, half-Russian". She grew up in Notting Hill,...
and Max Brown
Max Brown
Max Brown is an English actor. Max was born in Ilkley, Yorkshire, England, but spent most of his childhood in the town of Shrewsbury, Shropshire, which he refers to as his home....
as MI5 officers and Simon Russell Beale
Simon Russell Beale
Simon Russell Beale, CBE is an English actor. He has been described by The Independent as "the greatest stage actor of his generation."-Early years:...
as the Home Secretary. Iain Glen
Iain Glen
Iain Glen is a Scottish film and stage actor.Iain Glen was born in Edinburgh, Scotland and trained at RADA where he won the Bancroft Gold Medal. He was married to Susannah Harker from 1993 to 2004; they have one son, Finlay...
and Laila Rouass
Laila Rouass
Laila Abdesselam Rouass is a British actress. She is best known for her role as Amber Gates in the British television drama Footballers' Wives and as Sarah Page in the third season of Primeval .-Career:...
also joined the series, playing Vaughn Edwards
Vaughn Edwards
Vaughn Edwards is a fictional character the BBC television drama Spooks being portrayed by actor Iain Glen. He appears in the ninth series as a mysterious figure from the past of Lucas North...
and Maya Lahan – figures from Lucas's mysterious past.
The season ends with the deaths of Lucas' lover Maya Lahan, following the death of Lucas' blackmailer, Vaughn, in the climactic end of the penultimate episode. Lucas had kidnapped Ruth, binding and gagging her, and was attempting to get a top-secret computer file for the Chinese. The climactic scene was a showdown between Harry and Lucas on top of a tower block in London. After Harry reveals that the file never actually worked, and that Lucas had apparently betrayed his MI5 colleagues and stolen another man's identity, "Lucas" (apparently "real" name John Bateman) orders Harry to turn around. Harry anticipates execution, but no shots come. Hearing a car alarm and screams from the ground many seconds later, Harry turns around to find Lucas no longer on the roof. Forty-eight hours later, the Home Secretary calls Harry to inform him that a full investigation will be made into his actions at MI5 and to "prepare for life after MI5." The series ends with Harry looking out over the London skyline at night. A caption reveals that a 10th series would be shown in 2011.
Series 10
At the end of Series 9, a teaser screen announced that the programme would return for a tenth series in 2011.Production on the six-episode series reportedly began during March 2011, with Lara Pulver
Lara Pulver
Lara Pulver is an English actress who has received nominations for the 2008 Laurence Olivier Awards and 'Whatsonstage' Theatregoers Choice Awards.-Career:...
joining the series as an "ambitious, hungry" new spook "determined to make her mark." Also joining the series were Geoffrey Streatfeild, Alice Krige
Alice Krige
Alice Maud Krige is a South African actress. Her first feature film role was as the Gilbert and Sullivan singer Sybil Gordon in the 1981 Academy Award-winning film Chariots of Fire...
and Jonathan Hyde
Jonathan Hyde
Jonathan Hyde is an Australian-born English actor, well known for his roles as J. Bruce Ismay, the managing director of the White Star Line in Titanic, Egyptologist Allen Chamberlain in The Mummy and Sam Parrish/Van Pelt, the hunter in Jumanji. He is married to the Scottish soprano Isobel Buchanan...
, while Peter Firth, Nicola Walker, Max Brown, Shazad Latif and Simon Russell Beale reprised their roles, as well as Matthew Macfadyen
Matthew Macfadyen
David Matthew Macfadyen is an English actor, known for his role as MI5 intelligence officer Tom Quinn in the BBC television drama series Spooks and for starring as Fitzwilliam Darcy in Pride and Prejudice.In June, 2010 Macfadyen won a British Academy Television Award for Best Supporting...
in a cameo role in the final episode. Sophia Myles
Sophia Myles
-Early life:Myles was born in London. She is the daughter of Jane, who works in educational publishing, and Peter Myles, a retired Anglican vicar in Isleworth, west London. Her maternal grandmother was Russian, and she refers to herself as "half-Welsh, half-Russian". She grew up in Notting Hill,...
did not return as Beth Bailey.
The season concludes with the revelation of a plot to force Britain and Russia into war. Harry managed to thwart the plot and decides to leave the service to live a normal life with Ruth Evershed. However, a vengeful Sasha Gavrik attempts to have revenge on him and Ruth takes the blow for him before dying in his arms. Harry then decides to return to MI5, the prospect of a normal life no longer being accessible to him.
Kudos and the BBC announced in a joint statement in August 2011 that Series 10 would be the last series. It began airing on BBC One on Sunday September 18, 2011 at 9:00 pm, moving from its traditional weekday evening slot, with the final episode airing on October 23, 2011.
Grid-based
- Sir Harry PearceHarry PearceSir Henry James "Harry" Pearce KBE is the fictional head of the Counter-Terrorism department of MI5, featured in the British television series, Spooks...
KBE (Peter FirthPeter FirthPeter Firth is an English actor. He is best known for his role as Sir Harry Pearce in the BBC show Spooks, of which he is the only actor to have starred in every episode of the show's 10 series lifespan...
; 2002—2011) Head of Counter-Terrorism Department ("Section D") MI5 - Erin WattsErin WattsErin Watts is a fictional character from the BBC espionage television series Spooks, which follows the exploits of Section D, a counter-terrorism division in MI5. She is portrayed by British actress Lara Pulver...
(Lara PulverLara PulverLara Pulver is an English actress who has received nominations for the 2008 Laurence Olivier Awards and 'Whatsonstage' Theatregoers Choice Awards.-Career:...
; 2011) Section Chief, Section D; former acting Head of Counter-Terrorism Department, MI5 - Dimitri LevendisDimitri LevendisDimitri Levendis is a fictional character from the BBC espionage television series, Spooks, portrayed by actor, Max Brown.-Character arc:...
(Max BrownMax BrownMax Brown is an English actor. Max was born in Ilkley, Yorkshire, England, but spent most of his childhood in the town of Shrewsbury, Shropshire, which he refers to as his home....
; 2010—2011) Piracy and Terrorism Case Officer, Section D. Also ex-Special Boat ServiceSpecial Boat ServiceThe Special Boat Service is the special forces unit of the British Royal Navy. Together with the Special Air Service, Special Reconnaissance Regiment and the Special Forces Support Group they form the United Kingdom Special Forces and come under joint control of the same Director Special... - Calum Reed (Geoffrey Streatfeild; 2011) Junior Case Officer, Section D
Other
- William Towers MPWilliam Towers (Spooks)William Towers MP is the Home Secretary in the ninth series of the BBC television drama Spooks. He is portrayed by actor Simon Russell Beale. Towers is appointed after the election of the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government....
(Simon Russell BealeSimon Russell BealeSimon Russell Beale, CBE is an English actor. He has been described by The Independent as "the greatest stage actor of his generation."-Early years:...
; 2010—2011) British Home SecretaryHome SecretaryThe Secretary of State for the Home Department, commonly known as the Home Secretary, is the minister in charge of the Home Office of the United Kingdom, and one of the country's four Great Offices of State...
. Serves as part of the Conservative/Liberal Democrat CoalitionConservative – Liberal Democrat Coalition AgreementThe Conservative – Liberal Democrat Coalition Agreement was a policy document drawn up following the 2010 general election in the United Kingdom... - Ilya Gavrik (Jonathan HydeJonathan HydeJonathan Hyde is an Australian-born English actor, well known for his roles as J. Bruce Ismay, the managing director of the White Star Line in Titanic, Egyptologist Allen Chamberlain in The Mummy and Sam Parrish/Van Pelt, the hunter in Jumanji. He is married to the Scottish soprano Isobel Buchanan...
; 2011) Russian Minister for International Development former KGB Operative and old adversary of Harry during the cold war. - Sasha Gavrik (Tom Weston-Jones, 2011) FSB officer and son of Elena Gavrik and Ilya Gavrik.
Grid-based (Deceased)
- Helen FlynnHelen FlynnHelen 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...
(Lisa FaulknerLisa FaulknerLisa Tamsin Faulkner is an English actress and television personality.-Early life:Faulkner was educated at Tiffin Girls' School, Kingston upon Thames.When Faulkner was 16, her mother, Julie, died of cancer...
; 2002) Administrative Officer, Section D. Tortured and shot by a right-wing terrorist. - Danny HunterDanny HunterDanny Hunter is a fictional character appearing in the first three seasons of the BBC television series Spooks, known as MI5 in the United States. The character, played by British actor David Oyelowo, is a Junior Case Officer in Section D, the counter-terrorism department of MI5...
(David OyelowoDavid Oyelowo- Background :Oyelowo was born in Oxford, England of Nigerian descent. He is married to actress Jessica Oyelowo and they have three sons.Oyelowo first attended a youth theatre after being invited by a girl to whom he was attracted. He then studied Theatre Studies for A level and his teacher...
; 2002–2004) Junior Case Officer, Section D. Executed during a terrorist hostage situation. - Fiona CarterFiona CarterFiona Carter, also revealed as being named Amelia, was the character portrayed by Olga Sosnovska in the BBC television series Spooks. Originally an officer of the United Kingdom Secret Intelligence Service , Fiona was seconded to the Security Service following the departure of Zoe Reynolds...
(Olga SosnovskaOlga SosnovskaOlga Sosnovska is a Polish-born UK/US-based actress.-Career:Sosnovska is perhaps best known in America for her role as Polish businesswoman Lena Kundera on the soap opera All My Children...
; 2004–2005) MI6 Officer, Section D. Shot by ex-husband during an operation. - Colin WellsColin Wells (Spooks)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 until the first episode of series 5, when he is...
(Rory MacGregorRory MacGregorRory 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...
; 2002–2006) Technician and Data Analyst, Section D. Hanged by corrupt MI6 officers during their attempted coup d'état. - Zafar YounisZafar YounisZafar Younis is a fictional character in the popular BBC espionage drama Spooks, known in the United States as MI-5. The show follows the exploits of MI5's counter-terrorism group, Section D. The character is played by British actor Raza Jaffrey. Zafar is introduced in the last episode of series...
(Raza JaffreyRaza JaffreyRaza Jaffrey is a British actor, most notable for playing the character of Zafar Younis in the BBC1 television spy drama Spooks / MI-5.-Early life:...
; 2004–2007) Junior Case Officer, Section D. Killed by an Al-Qaeda group in Afghanistan after being sold by "The Redbacks". - Adam CarterAdam CarterAdam Henry Carter is a fictional character from the BBC espionage television series Spooks, which follows the exploits of Section D, a counter-terrorism division of MI5. He is portrayed by British actor Rupert Penry-Jones...
(Rupert Penry-JonesRupert Penry-JonesRupert William Penry-Jones is an English actor, best known for his role as Adam Carter in the British television series Spooks, also broadcast under the title MI-5.-Family life:Penry-Jones was born in London on September 22, 1970...
; 2004–2008) Chief of Section and Senior Case Officer, Section D. Killed by a car bomb. - Ben KaplanBen KaplanBen Kaplan DSO, portrayed by Alex Lanipekun was a starring character in the British spy series, Spooks.- Appearances :Ben Kaplan first appeared in Series 6, Episode 5 as a freelance journalist who was in a relationship with Jo Portman. He tried to expose what was going on with MI5's and Section D's...
DSODistinguished Service OrderThe Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
(Alex LanipekunAlex LanipekunAlex Lanipekun is a British Actor of Nigerian and Italian/English origin. He trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art but left early to join the cast of the BBC drama Spooks as journalist come spy Ben Kaplan. In 2007 he won the prestigious Carleton Hobbs Award, joining the BBC Radio Drama Rep...
; 2007–2008) Junior Case Officer, Section D. Throat cut by FSB mole Connie James. - Connie JamesConnie JamesConnie James played by Gemma Jones is a fictional British MI5 spy in the BBC television series Spooks.-Introduction to the Team:According the BBC website, Connie joined MI5 as a secretary when she was 19 in 1963. She was first seen in episode 2 of Series 6, brought in as a regular female lead...
(Gemma JonesGemma JonesGemma Jones is an English character actress on both stage and screen.-Early life:Jones was born in London, England, the daughter of Irene and Griffith Jones, an actor. Her brother, Nicholas Jones, is also an actor...
; 2007–2008) Former Senior Analyst Section D. Arrested as an FSB mole. Killed while defusing a nuclear bomb. - Jo PortmanJo PortmanJoanna "Jo" Portman was a fictional Field Operative in the Counter-Terrorism department at MI5, featured in the British television series, Spooks, also known as MI5 in the United States. She was played by Miranda Raison...
(Miranda RaisonMiranda Raison-Early life:Born in Burnham Thorpe, Norfolk, her father Nick Raison is a jazz pianist and artist, while her mother Caroline read the news for Anglia Television. She has two brothers and two sisters: Ed , Rosie, Sam and May. Her parents divorced when she was six years old, and her father remarried...
; 2005–2009) Junior Case Officer Section D. Shot by Ros Myers while restraining a terrorist during a hostage situation - Ros MyersRos MyersRosalind "Ros" Sarah Myers was a fictional character from the BBC espionage television series Spooks, which follows the exploits of Section D, a counter-terrorism division in MI5. She is portrayed by British actress Hermione Norris. The character was a former MI6 officer who works with MI5 in the...
(Hermione NorrisHermione NorrisHermione Norris is an English actress.Norris attended the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art in the 1980s before taking small roles in theatre and on television. In 1996, she was cast in her breakout role of Karen Marsden in the comedy drama television series Cold Feet...
; 2006–2009) Chief of Section and Senior Case Officer, Section D. Killed in an explosion while attempting to rescue the Home Secretary. - Lucas North/John BatemanLucas NorthLucas North, formerly known as John Bateman, is a fictional character from the BBC espionage television series Spooks , which follows the exploits of Section D, a counter-terrorism division of MI5. North is portrayed by British actor Richard Armitage...
(Richard ArmitageRichard Armitage (actor)Richard Crispin Armitage is an English actor famous for his roles as John Thornton in North and South, Guy of Gisborne in Robin Hood, and Lucas North in Spooks...
; 2008–2010) Chief of Section and Senior Case Officer, Section D. Jumped from a rooftop to his death after a showdown with Harry Pearce. - Tariq MasoodTariq MasoodTariq Masood was a character from the BBC television series Spooks, played by Shazad Latif. Masood was the technical wizard who replaced Malcolm Wynn-Jones in Series 8...
(Shazad LatifShazad LatifShazad Latif, is a British actor, who starred in the BBC TV series Spooks as the highly skilled technician and data analyst for Section D, Tariq Masood from series 8 to his death in series 10.-Early life:...
; 2009–2011) Technician and Data Analyst, Section D Assassinated with Hydrogen Cyanide during the second episode of Series 10 after discovering vital intel at his bugged home. - Ruth EvershedRuth EvershedRuth Evershed was a fictional Senior Intelligence Analyst seconded from GCHQ to MI5, featured in the British Television Series Spooks, also known as MI-5 in the United States. Ruth was played by Nicola Walker from the time the character joined the show in 2003, until Walker left to have a baby in...
(Nicola WalkerNicola WalkerNicola Walker is an English actress, best known for her starring roles in various British television programmes from the 1990s onwards, particularly as Ruth Evershed in the spy drama Spooks. She has also worked in theatre, radio and film....
; 2003–2006, 2009—2011) Former Senior Intelligence Analyst, Section D, now Security Advisor to Home Secretary William TowersAccidentally stabbed by Sasha Gavrik when he tried to kill Harry Pearce.
Grid-based (Alive)
- Jed KelleyJed KelleyJed Kelley, played by Graeme Mearns, was a fictional administrative officer in the British BBC spy drama Spooks. One of Jed's most memorable moments was in the opening sequence of the very first Spooks episode....
(Graeme Mearns; 2002) Administrative Officer, Section D. Status unknown. - Tessa PhillipsTessa PhillipsTessa Phillips is a character in the television drama series Spooks. She was played by actress Jenny AgutterTessa joined MI5 in the early 1980s and eventually headed her own counter-terrorism unit, known as Section K...
(Jenny AgutterJenny AgutterJennifer Ann "Jenny" Agutter is an English film and television actress. She began her career as a child actress in the mid 1960s, starring in the BBC television series The Railway Children and the film adaptation of the same book, before moving on to adult roles and relocating to Hollywood.She...
; 2002–2003) Senior Case Officer, Section K. Left the Grid after being discovered by Harry running "ghost" agents. Fled the country after sabotaging an operation - Tom Quinn (Matthew MacfadyenMatthew MacfadyenDavid Matthew Macfadyen is an English actor, known for his role as MI5 intelligence officer Tom Quinn in the BBC television drama series Spooks and for starring as Fitzwilliam Darcy in Pride and Prejudice.In June, 2010 Macfadyen won a British Academy Television Award for Best Supporting...
; 2002–2004; 2011) Chief of Section and Senior Case Officer, Section D. Decommissioned after jeopardising a key mission and took early retirement. Became a private contractor after leaving MI5. Quinn appears in the last-ever episode of the series, hired by Harry as an 'outside-source' (assassin) to travel to Russia to kill Leverov, the Russian ultra-nationalist, who Elena Gavrik worked for as a double agent for both MI5 and the FSB (formerly, KGB). - Zoe ReynoldsZoe ReynoldsZoe Reynolds is a fictional case officer in the counterterrorism department of MI5, featured in the British television series, Spooks, also known as MI5 in the United States. The character was played by Keeley Hawes...
(Keeley HawesKeeley HawesKeeley Hawes is an English actress and model, known for many television roles. She is best known for her roles as Zoe Reynolds in Spooks and Alex Drake in Ashes to Ashes and Lady Agnes in the remake of Upstairs, Downstairs...
; 2002–2004) Junior Case Officer, Section D. Hidden "off-the-books" in Chile after she was caught making a mistake on an undercover mission. - Sam Buxton (Shauna MacdonaldShauna MacdonaldShauna Macdonald is a Scottish television and film actress.-Biography:Shauna Macdonald was born in Malaysia and shortly after moved back to her family's native Edinburgh, Scotland, before moving to Glasgow to train at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama.She and her husband, the actor Cal...
; 2003–2005) Administrative Officer, Section D. Reassigned to GCHQ following Danny's demise - Malcolm Wynn-JonesMalcolm Wynn-JonesMalcolm 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...
(Hugh SimonHugh SimonHugh Simon is a British actor, best known for his portrayal of the character Malcolm Wynn-Jones in the television series Spooks. His other TV credits include Shackleton, Attachments, Cold Feet, North Square, Big Bad World, and "Unusual Suspects" .He has also appeared onstage, as in the 2005 London...
; 2002–2009; 2010) Technician and Data Analyst, Section D. Retired - Beth BaileyBeth BaileyBeth Bailey is a fictional character from the BBC espionage television series Spooks, which follows the exploits of Section D, a counter-terrorism division in MI5. She is portrayed by British actress Sophia Myles. Beth Bailey was introduced in Spooks's ninth series as a private contractor in her...
(Sophia MylesSophia Myles-Early life:Myles was born in London. She is the daughter of Jane, who works in educational publishing, and Peter Myles, a retired Anglican vicar in Isleworth, west London. Her maternal grandmother was Russian, and she refers to herself as "half-Welsh, half-Russian". She grew up in Notting Hill,...
; 2010) Junior Case Officer, Section D Decommissioned by Erin Watts in the time between Series 9 and 10.
Other (Dead)
- Viktor Sarkisian (Peter SullivanPete SullivanPeter Sullivan is a British theatre, film and television actor known mainly for new work with theatre companies and writers from both Europe and the United States.- Biography :...
; (2008–2009) – Former head of the FSB's London station. Murdered early in series 8 episode 1 by the man to whom he had intended to sell a kidnapped Harry Pearce. Viktor's killer was himself killed at the end of the 1st episode by Lucas when he and Ros rescued Harry and Ruth, who had returned from Cyprus. - Sam Walker (Brian ProtheroeBrian ProtheroeBrian Protheroe , of a Welsh father and English mother, is a musician and actor.-Career:Protheroe joined a local church choir when he was twelve years old, and started piano lessons at about the same time. The music of Cliff Richard and The Shadows inspired him to start learning the guitar...
; 2009) – Director of the CIA's London station. Murdered by Nightingale operative Sarah Caulfield for investigating Nightingale. - Sarah Caulfield (Genevieve O'ReillyGenevieve O'ReillyGenevieve O'Reilly is an Irish actress who has worked in both the United Kingdom and Australia.-Background:O'Reilly was born in Dublin and raised in Adelaide. She is the eldest of four siblings. At the age of twenty O'Reilly moved to Sydney to attend the National Institute of Dramatic Art,...
; 2009) – CIA agent and MI5 liaison officer. Lucas North's lover. Assassinated by a hitman for Nightingale after being captured by MI5 and exposed as a traitor. - Andrew Lawrence MPAndrew Lawrence (Spooks)Andrew Lawrence MP is a Home Secretary in the BBC television drama Spooks. He was appointed during the events of Series 8, Episode 7 after the resignation of his predecessor Nicholas Blake who was implicated in a faked scandal by covert organization Nightingale.-Series 8:Lawrence is a young...
(Tobias MenziesTobias MenziesTobias Menzies is an English stage, television, and film actor, best known for his role as Brutus in the 2005/2007 TV series Rome.-Early years:...
; 2009) – Former British Home SecretaryHome SecretaryThe Secretary of State for the Home Department, commonly known as the Home Secretary, is the minister in charge of the Home Office of the United Kingdom, and one of the country's four Great Offices of State...
. Killed in an explosion alongside Ros Myers, though his body was never seen. - Nicholas Blake MPNicholas Blake (Spooks)Nicholas Blake MP is a fictional character in the British TV series Spooks, portrayed by British actor Robert Glenister. Blake was Home Secretary in the British government. He was regularly in contact with Harry Pearce, regarding National Security....
(Robert GlenisterRobert GlenisterRobert Lewis Glenister is a British actor known for his roles as con man Ash "Three Socks" Morgan in the British TV series Hustle, and Nicholas Blake in the BBC spy drama Spooks.-Career:...
; 2006–2010) – Former British Home SecretaryHome SecretaryThe Secretary of State for the Home Department, commonly known as the Home Secretary, is the minister in charge of the Home Office of the United Kingdom, and one of the country's four Great Offices of State...
. Forced to resign after allegations of corruption. Later exposed by Ruth as a senior member of Nightingale who ordered the hotel bombing that killed Home Secretary Andrew Lawrence and Ros Myers. Poisoned by Harry, who had learned from Ruth that Blake was a traitor. - Vaughn EdwardsVaughn EdwardsVaughn Edwards is a fictional character the BBC television drama Spooks being portrayed by actor Iain Glen. He appears in the ninth series as a mysterious figure from the past of Lucas North...
(Iain GlenIain GlenIain Glen is a Scottish film and stage actor.Iain Glen was born in Edinburgh, Scotland and trained at RADA where he won the Bancroft Gold Medal. He was married to Susannah Harker from 1993 to 2004; they have one son, Finlay...
; 2010) – Lucas North/John Bateman's blackmailer and his apparent employer in relation to the Dakar Bombings. Died from blood loss received from a knife wound after a confrontation with Lucas/John. - Maya LahanMaya LahanDoctor Maya Lahan is a fictional character from the British espionage television series Spooks, which follows the exploits of Section D, a counter-terrorism division in MI5. She is portrayed by British actress Laila Rouass...
(Laila RouassLaila RouassLaila Abdesselam Rouass is a British actress. She is best known for her role as Amber Gates in the British television drama Footballers' Wives and as Sarah Page in the third season of Primeval .-Career:...
; 2010) – Lucas' ex-girlfriend. Died from gunshot wounds during a shoot out with Alec, Beth and Dimitri whilst attempting to flee the country with Lucas/John. - James 'Jim' Coaver (William HopeWilliam HopeColonel William Hope VC was a Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces....
, 2011) CIA Deputy Director and an old friend of Harry Pearce; helped turn Elena Gavrik in the 1980s. Suspected of being behind the attacks on MI5 and Gavrik as well as the death of Tariq Masood, but apparently set-up for Harry to believe this. Beaten and fatally injured by mercenaries posing as CIA agents, died minutes later. - Elena Gavrik (Alice KrigeAlice KrigeAlice Maud Krige is a South African actress. Her first feature film role was as the Gilbert and Sullivan singer Sybil Gordon in the 1981 Academy Award-winning film Chariots of Fire...
, 2011) Wife of Ilya Gavrik and former asset and lover of Harry Pearce during the cold war. Killed by Ilya Gavrik after being revealed to be a Russian ultra-nationalist double-agent.
Other (Alive)
- Jools Siviter (Hugh LaurieHugh LaurieJames Hugh Calum Laurie, OBE , better known as Hugh Laurie , is an English actor, voice artist, comedian, writer, musician, recording artist, and director...
; 2002) MI6 Section Chief. Reassigned out of the country - Christine Dale (Megan DoddsMegan DoddsMegan Lynne Dodds is an American stage and television actress.-Biography:Megan Dodds was born in Sacramento, California, and after High School she enrolled in a community college where she was cast as Bananas in John Guare's The House of Blue Leaves...
; 2002–2004) CIA agent and MI5 liaison officer. Resigned following her involvement in Tom's investigation and apprehension - Oliver Mace (Tim McInnernyTim McInnernyTim McInnerny is an English actor. He is known for his role as Percy in Blackadder and Blackadder II, and as Captain Darling in Blackadder Goes Forth...
; 2004–2006) Chairman of the Joint Intelligence CommitteeUK Joint Intelligence CommitteeThe Joint Intelligence Committee is the part of the British Cabinet Office responsible for directing the national intelligence organisations of the United Kingdom on behalf of the Cabinet of the United Kingdom and providing advice to the Cabinet related to security, defence and foreign affairs...
. Forced to resign after being exposed as the mastermind behind illegal torture of terror suspects - Wes Carter (James Dicker; 2004–2008) Son of Adam and Fiona. Sent to live with his grandmother after being orphaned following his father's death
- Juliet ShawJuliet ShawJuliet Shaw is a fictional character in the British TV show Spooks, portrayed by British actress Anna Chancellor. She rose fast as a spy, achieving the position of National Security Coordinator, at the Cabinet Office...
(Anna ChancellorAnna Chancellor-Family:Chancellor was born in Richmond, London, England, the daughter of the Hon. Mary Alice Jolliffe and John Paget Chancellor. Through her mother's mother, Lady Perdita Rose Mary Asquith, Chancellor is the great-granddaughter of The Hon. Raymond Aquith and the great-great-granddaughter of Prime...
; 2005–2007) Former National Security Coordinator, exposed as Head of Yalta. Fate Unknown - Dariush Bakhshi (Simon AbkarianSimon AbkarianSimon Abkarian is a French-Armenian actor.Born in Gonesse, Val d'Oise, of Armenian descent, Abkarian spent his childhood in Lebanon. He moved to Los Angeles, where he joined an Armenian theater company managed by Gerald Papazian. He returned to France in 1985, settling in Paris...
; 2007) Iranian Special Consul - Bob HoganBob HoganBob Hogan is a fictional character in the British television series Spooks. Bob is a high ranking CIA agent in Britain working from Grosvenor House, the US embassy. Hogan is an ally or enemy of the team at times, however he normally will work with his counterpart Harry Pearce. Hogan was introduced...
(Matthew MarshMatthew Marsh (actor)Matthew Marsh is an English actor. Matthew Marsh is the older brother of Jon Marsh of English dance band The Beloved. He has appeared in the films Alambrado, Spy Game, An American Haunting, Hawking and Bad Company, and guest-starred in the sixth series of the spy drama Spooks in 2007 and the...
; 2007) Director of the CIA's London branch. Dismissed from CIA for working with mercenaries against MI5 - Sir Richard Dolby (Robert East; 2008) Director General of MI5
- Elisavieta Starkova (Paloma BaezaPaloma Baeza-Biography:Baeza lived in Mexico during her childhood. Her Mexican father and her English mother were hippie musicians. In 1975, when Baeza was 5 months old, her parents married in London and they went to Mexico City. They divorced nine years afterwards....
; 2009) Lucas North's ex wife and a double agent. Dropped as an asset on Lucas's request - Bernard QualtroughBernard QualtroughBernard Qualtrough is a fictional British spy appearing in series 7 of the BBC television drama Spooks . The character was played by Richard Johnson....
(Richard JohnsonRichard Johnson (actor)Richard Johnson is an English actor, writer and producer, who starred in several British films of the 1960s and has also had a distinguished stage career. He most recently appeared in The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas.-Life and career:...
; 2008) Harry's former mentor and retired SIS officer. Exposed as an FSB mole after the Sugarhorse incident. Status unknown. - Alton Beecher (Colin SalmonColin SalmonColin Salmon is a British actor best known for playing the character Charles Robinson in three James Bond films.-Personal life:...
; 2010) The head CIA liaison officer station in London. Status Unknown
Episodes
Including the final (tenth) series, the show consists of 86 episodes. Spooks series 10 started transmission on 18 September 2011.Each episode begins with a "previously" sequence, recapping recent events. Following a teaser, setting up the episode's narrative, a title sequence runs, featuring the main characters but no actor credits, and ends with the name of the series. Each episode ends with the final scene freezing and changing to a black-and-white negative image that then compresses with a distinctive sound effect into a flat white line against a black screen. With the exception of each season finale, a trailer for the next episode is shown, followed by the Kudos and BBC logos. The series airs with no credits on BBC One
BBC One
BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
to maintain an atmosphere of the anonymity of real-life spies and the drama of each episode. Full credits are available online.
Prior to Series 9, the subsequent episode was aired on BBC Three
BBC Three
BBC Three is a television network from the BBC broadcasting via digital cable, terrestrial, IPTV and satellite platforms. The channel's target audience includes those in the 16-34 year old age group, and has the purpose of providing "innovative" content to younger audiences, focusing on new talent...
one week ahead of its BBC One showing (the first and last episode were only shown on BBC One
BBC One
BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
). BBC Three airings included a brief credit sequence following the trailer and before the Kudos and BBC logos.
Music
The music for series 1 to 4 and theme tune was composed by Jennie Muskett. Music for series 5 to 10 was composed by Paul Leonard-Morgan. Four soundtracks have been released for the show, the first includes music from series 1 & 2, the second (currently and perhaps only ever available on iTunes) featuring music from series 5 & 6. Track listings for the latter contain spoilers to the episode content. Two additional tracks are available on the composer's website. The third and fourth soundtracks (containing tracks from series 7 & 8, and 9 & 10 respectively) were released on iTunes in November 2011.Broadcast editions of the episodes have been known to feature alternate music to that found on the commercially available DVD releases. In the final episode of Series 2, music from the film score Spy Game
Spy Game
Spy Game is a 2001 American spy film directed by Tony Scott and starring Robert Redford and Brad Pitt. The film grossed $62,362,785 in the United States and $143,049,560 worldwide.-Plot:...
was used—composed by Harry Gregson-Williams
Harry Gregson-Williams
Harry Gregson-Williams is a prolific British composer, orchestrator, conductor, and music producer. He is best known for his film scores, of which he has composed over sixty using electronic music and orchestral pieces...
. The tracks used are "Beirut, a War Zone" and "Operation Dinner Out". Both are available on the official soundtrack release for the film.
Regular
- Thames HouseThames HouseThames House is an office development in Millbank, London, on the north bank of the River Thames adjacent to Lambeth Bridge, designed originally as commercial head offices...
(headquarters of MI5MI5The 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...
) - Freemasons' Hall, LondonFreemasons' Hall, LondonFreemasons' Hall in London is the headquarters of the United Grand Lodge of England and a meeting place for the Masonic Lodges in the London area. It is in Great Queen Street between Holborn and Covent Garden and has been a Masonic meeting place since 1775...
(headquarters of the United Grand Lodge of EnglandUnited Grand Lodge of EnglandThe United Grand Lodge of England is the main governing body of freemasonry within England and Wales and in other, predominantly ex-British Empire and Commonwealth countries outside the United Kingdom. It is the oldest Grand Lodge in the world, deriving its origin from 1717...
), playing entrance to Thames HouseThames HouseThames House is an office development in Millbank, London, on the north bank of the River Thames adjacent to Lambeth Bridge, designed originally as commercial head offices...
and some internal filming locations - SIS BuildingSIS BuildingThe SIS Building, also commonly known as the MI6 Building, is the headquarters of the British Secret Intelligence Service . It is known within the intelligence community as Legoland and also as "Babylon-on-Thames" due to its resemblance to an ancient Babylonian ziggurat...
(headquarters of the Secret Intelligence ServiceSecret Intelligence ServiceThe Secret Intelligence Service is responsible for supplying the British Government with foreign intelligence. Alongside the internal Security Service , the Government Communications Headquarters and the Defence Intelligence , it operates under the formal direction of the Joint Intelligence...
or MI6) - Victoria Embankment from Lambeth to Westminster bridges
- The London Underground and rail system
- Millennium Bridge (London)Millennium Bridge (London)The Millennium Bridge, officially known as the London Millennium Footbridge, is a steel suspension bridge for pedestrians crossing the River Thames in London, England, linking Bankside with the City. It is located between Southwark Bridge and Blackfriars Railway Bridge...
Many scenes are filmed in and around the Docklands, especially Canary Wharf
Canary Wharf
Canary Wharf is a major business district located in London, United Kingdom. It is one of London's two main financial centres, alongside the traditional City of London, and contains many of the UK's tallest buildings, including the second-tallest , One Canada Square...
, Rotherhithe
Rotherhithe
Rotherhithe is a residential district in inner southeast London, England and part of the London Borough of Southwark. It is located on a peninsula on the south bank of the Thames, facing Wapping and the Isle of Dogs on the north bank, and is a part of the Docklands area...
, London Bridge
London Bridge
London Bridge is a bridge over the River Thames, connecting the City of London and Southwark, in central London. Situated between Cannon Street Railway Bridge and Tower Bridge, it forms the western end of the Pool of London...
and Greenwich (including The Old Royal Naval College) area as well as the new More London
More London
More London is a new development on the south bank of the River Thames, immediately south-west of Tower Bridge in London. The southern exit is on Tooley Street....
development.
Single episodes
- University College LondonFilming at UCLFilming at University College London is a frequent occurrence. The university is used as a location for film and television recording because of its position within London and the historical nature of the UCL Main Building and quad...
- The University of Birmingham
- Royal Horseguards Hotel
- Somerset HouseSomerset HouseSomerset House is a large building situated on the south side of the Strand in central London, England, overlooking the River Thames, just east of Waterloo Bridge. The central block of the Neoclassical building, the outstanding project of the architect Sir William Chambers, dates from 1776–96. It...
- National Liberal ClubNational Liberal ClubThe National Liberal Club, known to its members as the NLC, is a London gentlemen's club, now also open to women, which was established by William Ewart Gladstone in 1882 for the purpose of providing club facilities for Liberal Party campaigners among the newly-enlarged electorate after the Third...
- Royal Opera HouseRoyal Opera HouseThe Royal Opera House is an opera house and major performing arts venue in Covent Garden, central London. The large building is often referred to as simply "Covent Garden", after a previous use of the site of the opera house's original construction in 1732. It is the home of The Royal Opera, The...
- Thames BarrierThames BarrierThe Thames Barrier is the world's second-largest movable flood barrier and is located downstream of central London. Its purpose is to prevent London from being flooded by exceptionally high tides and storm surges moving up from the sea...
- Lord's Cricket GroundLord's Cricket GroundLord's Cricket Ground is a cricket venue in St John's Wood, London. Named after its founder, Thomas Lord, it is owned by Marylebone Cricket Club and is the home of Middlesex County Cricket Club, the England and Wales Cricket Board , the European Cricket Council and, until August 2005, the...
- King's Cross StationKing's Cross stationKing's Cross station may refer to::* London King's Cross railway station in London, England** King's Cross St. Pancras tube station for London Underground lines.** King's Cross Thameslink, a disused railway station in London, England...
- Paternoster SquarePaternoster SquarePaternoster Square is an urban development, owned by the Mitsubishi Estate Co., next to St Paul's Cathedral in the City of London, England. In 1942 the area, which takes its name from Paternoster Row, centre of the London publishing trade, was devastated by aerial bombardment in The Blitz during...
- The Old Royal Naval College, GreenwichGreenwichGreenwich is a district of south London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich.Greenwich is best known for its maritime history and for giving its name to the Greenwich Meridian and Greenwich Mean Time...
- Brunel UniversityBrunel UniversityBrunel University is a public research university located in Uxbridge, London, United Kingdom. The university is named after the Victorian engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel....
(Exterior shots of the library and Student Union bar can be seen in series 6) - Finsbury SquareFinsbury SquareFinsbury Square is a square in central London. It was developed in 1777 on the site of a previous area of green space to the east of London known as Finsbury Fields, in the parish of St Luke's and near Moorfields. It is sited on the east side of City Road, opposite the east side of Bunhill Fields....
- Merchant Taylors' School, NorthwoodMerchant Taylors' School, NorthwoodMerchant Taylors' School is a British independent day school for boys, originally located in the City of London. Since 1933 it has been located at Sandy Lodge in the Three Rivers district of Hertfordshire ....
- Hedsor HouseHedsor HouseHedsor House is a Georgian style mansion in England in the southern most point of Buckinghamshire in the village of Hedsor, Taplow. Perched overlooking the River Thames, a Manor house at Hedsor can be dated back to 1166 when the estate was owned by the de Hedsor Family...
(Opening of Season 8 – where Harry was taken to and tortured)
Spooks: Code 9
Following the success of TorchwoodTorchwood
Torchwood is a British science fiction television programme created by Russell T Davies. The series is a spin-off from Davies's 2005 revival of the long-running science fiction programme Doctor Who. The show has shifted its broadcast channel each series to reflect its growing audience, moving from...
(the BBC Three
BBC Three
BBC Three is a television network from the BBC broadcasting via digital cable, terrestrial, IPTV and satellite platforms. The channel's target audience includes those in the 16-34 year old age group, and has the purpose of providing "innovative" content to younger audiences, focusing on new talent...
Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
spin-off series) the controller of BBC Three, Julian Bellamy, announced in December 2006 a Spooks spin-off entitled Spooks: Code 9 (working titles: Rogue Spooks and Spooks: Liberty). The show started filming in Bradford in 2008 and the first and second episodes were broadcast on 10 August 2008. It was not well-received by critics, who said "the script is poor and the acting little better" (The Sunday Times
The Sunday Times
The Sunday Times is a British Sunday newspaper.The Sunday Times may also refer to:*The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times...
) and the production "utterly uninspired and stale" (Digital Spy
Digital Spy
Digital Spy is a British entertainment and media news website. According to Alexa Internet traffic statistics, as of February 2011, Digital Spy is the 93rd most popular website in the United Kingdom, with an overall Alexa ranking of 2,088....
), "daft and unconvincing" (The Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...
), "an utterly cynical venture" that "given its patronising awfulness ... actually damages the Spooks brand" (The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
).
DVD releases
| Series | Region 1 | Region 2 | Region 4 | Extras | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Series One | 13 January 2004 | 16 June 2003 | 18 August 2003 | Deleted scenes, a guide to Spooks terminology, character biographies, image galleries, interviews and commentaries with the cast and crew. | ||
| Series Two | 11 January 2005 | 20 September 2004 | 21 March 2004 | Outtakes, cast interviews and commentaries, and featurettes. | ||
| Series Three | 31 January 2006 | 5 September 2005 | 23 May 2005 | Audio commentaries, "behind the scenes" featurettes, deleted scenes and DVDROM content, including scripts, wallpapers and image gallery. | ||
| Series Four | 9 January 2007 | 4 September 2006 | 19 May 2007 | Audio commentaries, a "behind the scenes" documentary and interviews with the series producer and the director of episodes 9 and 10. | ||
| Series Five | 8 January 2008 | 10 September 2007 | 19 May 2008 | 2 audio commentaries, cast interviews and Miranda Raison's video diary for series 6. | ||
| Series Six | 20 January 2009 | 6 October 2008 | 2 August 2008 | 2 audio commentaries from the location managers, 2 audio commentaries with the producer and writer, a "behind the scenes" documentary on episode 6.8, series 6 trailers, 4 cast interviews and Miranda's video diary. | ||
| Series Seven | 26 January 2010 | 12 October 2009 | 18 March 2009 | 2 audio commentaries, a "behind the scenes" in Russia with Richard Armitage and Hermione Norris, cast interviews. | ||
| Series Eight | 25 January 2011 | 20 September 2010 | 3 November 2010 | 2 audio commentaries with the producer and director, two brief featurettes of the Colleville explosion and Walker's murder. This DVD set does not include a Dolby Digital 5.1 which all other sets have. Only a 2.0 soundtrack was included. | ||
| Series Nine | 12 July 2011 | 28 February 2011 | 1 June 2011 | 2 audio commentaries, and two mini-featurettes, "The Cost of Being a Spy" and "The Downfall of Lucas North". | ||
| Series Ten | n/a | 28 November 2011 | n/a | Harry's Game - Feature, Top Ten Spooks Moments | ||
All Series of Spooks are available on iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
, with series 7, 8 & 9 becoming available to download one week after original broadcast. Series 1–8 have been released on DVD by Contender Home Entertainment with its successor Entertainment One then taking over; series 9 was released by Universal Playback
Universal Playback
Playback is a label of Universal Studios Home Entertainment in the United Kingdom, which specialises in releasing Region 2 DVDs of classic and cult television programmes. In particular, it has the rights to a number of well-known BBC sitcoms.-DVD releases:...
.
Now available on Region 1 DVD, Series 9 is also available for streaming on Netflix.
Books
- Sangster, Jim: Spooks Confidential: The Official Handbook (2003), Contender Books (London) ISBN 1-84357-069-6
- Episode guide of the first two seasons, and background information on MI5 and the making of the series
- Spooks: The Personnel Files (2007), Headling Publishing Group (London) ISBN 978-0-7553–3397-4
- Detailed MI5 personnel files of eight of the show's main characters: Adam Carter, Danny Hunter, Zoe Reynolds, Tom Quinn, Ruth Evershed, Harry Pearce, Zafar Younis and Malcolm Wynn-Jones, presented through a compilation of transcripts, reports and forms.
- Spooks: Behind the Scenes (2006), Orion Books (London) ISBN 0-75287-610-4
- Background information on British intelligence and episode guides for the first four series
- Spooks: Harry's Diary: Top Secret (2007), Headling Publishing Group (London) ISBN 978-0-7553–3398-1
- The untold stories of Spooks, and MI5, as seen from the perspective of Harry Pearce, the Spooks team leader
- Adam Carter: Revealed (2008), Headling Publishing Group (London) ISBN 978-0-7553-3401-8
- Revealing the truth about Adam Carter after his death, explaining the true details of his childhood, the extraordinary responsibilities he took on as a teenager, and how he nearly betrayed his country but never betrayed the people he loved.
Video games
Video games based on the show were created by Preloaded for promotional purposes. In 2005, the video game The Grid (a promotion for Spooks series 3Spooks (series 3)
The third series of the BBC espionage television series Spooks began broadcasting on 11 October 2004 on BBC One, before ending on 13 December 2004. It consists of ten episodes. The series continues to follow the actions of Section D, a counter-terrorism division of the British Security Services...
) was nominated for a Webby Award under the category of Best Game.
International broadcasts and DVD sales
All of the programmes were filmed on Super 16 and are not available in HD/Blu-ray.In the United States, the commercial-free and viewer-supported Public Broadcasting Service
Public Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
(PBS) began airing the show under the title MI-5 in January 2009, beginning with Series 1. For the first time, the episodes are being broadcast full-length and in widescreen (1.78:1) format. This is the third network to attempt a successful airing of the show. Series 1 – 4 were broadcast on cable channel A&E
A&E Network
The A&E Network is a United States-based cable and satellite television network with headquarters in New York City and offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, London, Los Angeles and Stamford. A&E also airs in Canada and Latin America. Initially named the Arts & Entertainment Network, A&E launched...
from 2003 to 2006, however ratings were poor, and after a marathon showing of Series 4, the show was removed from the schedule. In 2007 and 2008, BBC America
BBC America
BBC America is an American television network, owned and operated by BBC Worldwide, and available on both cable and satellite.-History:The channel launched on March 29, 1998, broadcasting comedy, drama and lifestyle programs from BBC Television and other British television broadcasters like ITV and...
aired MI-5, withdrawing the show from its schedule mid-Series 4, again a victim of ratings. Due to the need to insert commercial breaks, the episodes broadcast on commercial stations (A&E and BBC America) in the U.S. were edited for time, with each 59-minute installment edited down to roughly 45 minutes, and were presented in full screen (1.33:1) format. The full-length episodes were broadcast on some cable "On Demand" services and are available on DVD.
In Canada the series was also screened uncut and unedited on BBC Canada
BBC Canada
BBC Canada is a Canadian English language Category B specialty channel. It presents programming primarily from the BBC. BBC Canada is a joint venture between Shaw Media and BBC Worldwide.-Programming:Main article: List of programs broadcast by BBC Canada...
, a speciality digital cable channel, under its original BBC title Spooks. However, this was stopped after Series 3 because the U.S. A&E channel had exclusive rights to future viewings in Canada and was showing the episodes as well. Since then, BBC Canada has resumed showing the series and began showing Series 5 to Canadian viewers on 26 August 2007.
BBC shows Spooks on its entertainment channel BBC Prime
BBC Prime
BBC Prime was the BBC's general entertainment TV channel in Europe and the Middle East from 30 January 1995 until 11 November 2009, when it was replaced by BBC Entertainment.-Launch:...
in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. The programme is also aired as Spooks in Australia and New Zealand on ABC
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
and TVNZ
Television New Zealand
Television New Zealand, more commonly referred to, and stylized as TVNZ, is a government-owned corporation television network broadcasting in New Zealand and parts of the Pacific. It operates TV1, TV2, TVNZ7, TVNZ Heartland, TVNZ U and new media services....
respectively. It is syndicated on the Foxtel
Foxtel
Foxtel is an Australian pay television company, operating cable, direct broadcast satellite television and IPTV services. It was formed in 1995 through a joint venture established between Telstra and News Corporation....
Pay-TV channel UKTV. In New Zealand Spooks has being broadcast on Sky Network Television
SKY Network Television
Sky Network Television Limited , , is a New Zealand pay television service. On 30 June 2011, Sky had 829,421 subscribers, which comprises:*808,617 digital subscribers*20,840 other subscribers...
at 9:30 pm Tuesday, and is presently up to Series 9 as of Tuesday 26 April 2011. Season 9 begins on the ABC on Saturday 2 April.
In Sweden it airs as Spooks on Kanal 9
Kanal 9
Kanal 9 is a commercial television channel owned by ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG broadcasting to Sweden. It targets the 30-59 age group, which is a slightly older age group than the sister channel Kanal 5. The channel launched on 25 February 2007. Its opening night featured the 79th Academy Awards...
. As of winter 2010 both series 1 and 7 are broadcast. (Though the first two series were broadcast by SVT1
SVT1
SVT1 is the primary television station of the Swedish public service broadcaster Sveriges Television in Sweden.-History:The channel began broadcasting in 1956 and was known as Radiotjänst TV, A year later, it was renamed Sveriges Radio TV. In 1969, the second television station TV2 was launched and...
or SVT2
SVT2
SVT2, until 1996 TV2, is one of two television channels broadcast by Sveriges Television in Sweden. It was started by Sveriges Radio in 1969. SVT2 is generally more specialist, compared to SVT1.-History:...
, the Swedish commercial-free public service channels.)
In France the programme is called MI-5 and broadcast on Canal Plus, France 2
France 2
France 2 is a French public national television channel. It is part of the state-owned France Télévisions group, along with France 3, France 4, France 5 and France Ô...
and France 4
France 4
France 4 is a french public channel owned by France Télévisions, dedicated to the entertainment. At first named Festival, the channel took its current name in 2005, to mark better its membership to the group France Télévisions...
.
In Denmark several series have been aired on the DR2
DR2
DR2 is a Danish television station. It is part of Danmarks Radio, the public service broadcasting company of Denmark.It was launched in 1996 as a satellite-/cable-only channel. This was highly controversial at the time, as it was considered close to a breach of public service principles that the...
public channel, under its original name, Spooks.
In Finland the show is called Erikoisjoukkue and it was first aired on YLE TV1
YLE TV1
YLE TV1 is a Finnish television channel owned and operated by Finnish public broadcaster Yleisradio. It is the first and oldest Television channel in Finland. More than 70% of channel's programs are documentaries, news or educative programmes...
(Series 1 and 2) and then MTV3
MTV3
MTV3 is a Finnish commercial television station owned by Bonnier. It had the biggest audience share of all Finnish TV channels until Finnish Broadcasting Company’s YLE1 took the lead. The letters MTV stand for Mainos-TV , due to the channel getting its revenue from running commercials...
started airing the programme from Series 1.
In Belgium Spooks was broadcast on the Flemish
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
public channel Canvas (Series 1-4) and on the French Belgian channel RTBF
La Une
La Une is a Belgian national television channel, owned and operated by RTBF.- INR :The Institut National de Radiodiffusion began experimental television in Belgium on 2 June 1953, with the crowning of Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom...
. The Flemish channel Acht (only for Digital TV subscribers) broadcasted series 5 till 8, series 9 is to be broadcasted from November 2011.
In the Netherlands Spooks is aired on the channel Nederland 3
Nederland 3
Nederland 3 is the third and youngest of the terrestrial television channels operated by the Dutch public-broadcasting organization NPO in the Netherlands and carries programs provided by member-based non-profit broadcasting associations. It is oriented towards children, youth and innovative...
.
In the Czech Republic it is called MI5 and is aired on ČT1
Ceská televize
Česká televize is the public television broadcaster in the Czech Republic, broadcasting four channels.- Czechoslovak Television :Television in Czechoslovakia started to take its first steps before World War II. However, before visible results could be achieved, all activities were interrupted by...
. In Israel it was aired under two different names (MI-5 and Spooks) on the Arutz 2 Channel 2 and on cable.
In Slovenia it was aired on Kanal A
Kanal A
Kanal A is the first commercial television station in Slovenia. The television program, which has been operating within PRO PLUS d.o.o., has national coverage. In its primary target group of viewers , Kanal A is the second most watched TV programme in Slovenia...
as Tajni agenti, with Slovene subtitles.
In Croatia on HRT 2
Croatian Radiotelevision
Croatian Radiotelevision is a Croatian public broadcasting company. It operates several radio and television channels, over a domestic transmitter network as well as satellite...
as Obavještajci, (Intelligence Agents). It is broadcast in English with Croatian subtitles as opposed to being dubbed.
In Southeast Asia Spooks is aired through the Hallmark Channel
Hallmark Channel
The Hallmark Channel is a cable television network that broadcasts across the United States. Their programming includes a mix of television movies/miniseries, syndicated series, and lifestyle shows that are appropriate for the whole family...
.
In India Spooks is aired on the channel BBC Entertainment
BBC Entertainment
BBC Entertainment is an international television channel showcasing comedy, drama, light entertainment and children's programming from the BBC and other UK production houses...
.
In Brazil the series is screened on People + Arts, cable channel, under the title Dupla Identidade (Double Identity). In Argentina the same channel screens it as Doble Identidad (also Double Identity).
In Iceland the series is shown on RUV
RÚV
Ríkisútvarpið is Iceland's national public-service broadcasting organization.Operating from studios in the country's capital, Reykjavík, as well as regional centres around the country, the service broadcasts a variety of general programming to a wide audience across the whole country via radio...
(The Icelandic National Broadcasting Service) on Tuesdays at 22:25 as Spooks.
Spooks is shown in Hungary under Titkosszolgálat – MI5 (Secret Service – MI5) on Hungarian Television (channel: M1
Magyar Televízió
Magyar Televízió is the Hungarian national public service television company, with three TV channels, called m1 , m2 and m3....
).
In Germany the series began airing under the title Spooks – Im Visier des MI5 on pay television on the German Fox Channel
Fox Channel (Germany)
Fox Channel is a German television channel dedicated to television drama series.The channel started broadcasting on the Arena platform and the Unitymedia cable network on May 20, 2008....
on 3 September 2008 with new episodes Thursdays and repeats through the following days. On 2 September 2009 the new digital free-to-air channel ZDFneo
ZDFneo
ZDFneo is a German digital terrestrial television channel, programmed for an audience aged 18 to 45 to counter the primarily older-skewing main programmes of public broadcasters ZDF and ARD. It replaced ZDF's documentary channel, "ZDFdokukanal", on November 1, 2009.-Name:Although the channel's logo...
began airing the series on Monday night with a repeat on Tuesday night on the parent channel ZDF
ZDF
Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen , ZDF, is a public-service German television broadcaster based in Mainz . It is run as an independent non-profit institution, which was founded by the German federal states . The ZDF is financed by television licence fees called GEZ and advertising revenues...
.
In Mexico the series is shown on BBC Entertainment
BBC Entertainment
BBC Entertainment is an international television channel showcasing comedy, drama, light entertainment and children's programming from the BBC and other UK production houses...
on the SKY México
SKY México
SKY México is a company that operates a subscription television service in the Mexico, Central America, Dominican Republic area. It produces TV content, and owns several TV channels...
satellite network under the title MI-5.
In Bulgaria the series is shown on Bulgarian National Television Channel 1 (Bulgarian: БНТ Канал 1) as Phantoms (Bulgarian: Фантоми). As of January 2010 series 7 is being aired.
Awards
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | BAFTA Television Awards British Academy Television Awards The British Academy Television Awards are presented in an annual award show hosted by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts . They have been awarded annually since 1954, and are analogous to the Emmy Awards in the United States.-Background:... |
Best Drama Series British Academy Television Award for Best Drama Series The British Academy Television Award for Best Drama Series is one of the major categories of the British Academy Television Awards , the primary awards ceremony of the British television industry... |
||
| Original Television Music | Jennie Muskett Jennie Muskett Jennie Muskett is a British Emmy winning and Bafta nominated film and TV composer.-Biography:Jennie Muskett has lived in London, South Africa and LA and has established an international reputation as a composer for film and television, having written scores for Miramax, Paramount, Disney, IMAX, the... |
|||
| Editing in Entertainment | Colin Green | |||
| Royal Television Society Royal Television Society The Royal Television Society is a British-based educational charity for the discussion, and analysis of television in all its forms, past, present and future. It is the oldest television society in the world... Awards |
Best Drama Series | |||
| Broadcast Awards | Best Drama Series | |||
| BBC Drama Awards | Best Drama | |||
| Best Drama Website | ||||
| 2005 | BAFTA Television Awards British Academy Television Awards The British Academy Television Awards are presented in an annual award show hosted by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts . They have been awarded annually since 1954, and are analogous to the Emmy Awards in the United States.-Background:... |
Best Drama Series British Academy Television Award for Best Drama Series The British Academy Television Award for Best Drama Series is one of the major categories of the British Academy Television Awards , the primary awards ceremony of the British television industry... |
||
| 2006 | BAFTA Television Awards British Academy Television Awards The British Academy Television Awards are presented in an annual award show hosted by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts . They have been awarded annually since 1954, and are analogous to the Emmy Awards in the United States.-Background:... |
Best Drama Series British Academy Television Award for Best Drama Series The British Academy Television Award for Best Drama Series is one of the major categories of the British Academy Television Awards , the primary awards ceremony of the British television industry... |
||
| 2008 | BAFTA Television Awards British Academy Television Awards The British Academy Television Awards are presented in an annual award show hosted by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts . They have been awarded annually since 1954, and are analogous to the Emmy Awards in the United States.-Background:... |
Interactivity | ||
| Crime Thriller Awards | Best Actor | Rupert Penry Jones | ||
| Best Actress | Hermione Norris Hermione Norris Hermione Norris is an English actress.Norris attended the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art in the 1980s before taking small roles in theatre and on television. In 1996, she was cast in her breakout role of Karen Marsden in the comedy drama television series Cold Feet... |
|||
| Crime Drama | ||||
| 2009 | BAFTA Television Awards British Academy Television Awards The British Academy Television Awards are presented in an annual award show hosted by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts . They have been awarded annually since 1954, and are analogous to the Emmy Awards in the United States.-Background:... |
Best Drama Series British Academy Television Award for Best Drama Series The British Academy Television Award for Best Drama Series is one of the major categories of the British Academy Television Awards , the primary awards ceremony of the British television industry... |
||
| Original Television Music | 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... |
|||
| Crime Thriller Awards | The TV Dagger | |||
| Best Actress | Hermione Norris |
External links
- Spooks Kudos ProductionsKudos (production company)Kudos Film and Television is a British independent film and television production company. It has produced television series for the BBC, ITV and Channel 4, and its productions include Spooks , Hustle, Life on Mars and its spin-off Ashes to Ashes, The Amazing Mrs Pritchard and M.I. High...
- Spooks British Film InstituteBritish Film InstituteThe British Film Institute is a charitable organisation established by Royal Charter to:-Cinemas:The BFI runs the BFI Southbank and IMAX theatre, both located on the south bank of the River Thames in London...