I CAN’T BELIEVE YOU’VE NEVER SEEN... SPOOKS

WHAT’S IT ABOUT?

Spooks focuses on the professional and personal lives of a group of MI5 agents led by Harry Pearce, the head of counterterrorism unit Section D. The ensemble cast changes with regularity and, in some cases, extreme violence; it is not uncommon for spies to be killed off, and the death of junior spook Helen Flynn (Lisa Faulkner) in only the second episode proved that no one was safe. The show features local and global crises, and both stand-alone episodes and series-long story arcs; it’s also slickly produced, with input from real-life intelligence officers.

WHO STARS IN IT?

Peter Firth plays Harry Pearce in

every series, and in the follow-up movie. Although flawed, he is the moral anchor of the show, whose relationship with Ruth Evershed (Nicola Walker, above, with Firth) allows him to dream of a life after MI5. Other big names include Matthew Macfadyen (below as spy Tom, with Esther Hall as his girlfriend Ellie), Keeley Hawes, Rupert Penry-jones, David Oyelowo, Jenny Agutter and Robert Glenister.

WHY SHOULD I WATCH IT?

If you want a series that bridges the gap between the realism of John le Carré and the glitz of James Bond, this should fit the bill. While some of the stories may no

longer feel topical, they can still ring true, and the cast changes raise the tension.

It’s also a chance to see the younger cast in the roles that made them famous – David Oyelowo went on to play Martin Luther King Jr in acclaimed 2014 film Selma and Macfadyen recently won a BAFTA for his work in US drama Succession.

HOW MANY SERIES ARE THERE?

There are ten series, with 86 episodes. A feature film, Spooks: The Greater Good was released in 2015, while spin-off series Spooks: Code 9 aired on BBC3.

WHAT THEY SAID...

As tattooed spy Lucas North, Richard Armitage gained a legion of lovesick fans, which left him bemused. ‘Someone told me a woman bought a dog so she could take it to the same park where I go running, but I’m hoping that’s rubbish. People send me underpants they want me to wear. Generally, it’s quite good-natured.’

DID YOU KNOW?

The show made spying an attractive career option – the recruitment agency that screened applications to MI5 reported that interest in working for the security service nearly doubled after the first few episodes aired, from 70 to more than 130 per day.

HOW DO I WATCH?

All ten series are available on iplayer.