A new crime thriller called Secret Service will launch on ITV, with Gemma Arterton taking the central role.
The programme is adapted from a novel of the same name written by ITV News presenter Tom Bradby, who collaborated on the screenplay alongside Jemma Kennedy.
The story follows Kate Henderson (played by Arterton), a senior MI6 officer managing the Russian desk within the Secret Intelligence Service.
Her existence is thrown into chaos when classified operations reveal evidence indicating a senior British politician is operating as an informant for Russia.
The series description indicates that as confidence crumbles within the corridors of power, Kate discovers herself trapped in an ever more dangerous web of deception, where shifting loyalties and personal ramifications collide, and exposing the truth could ruin her.
Before the series aired, Arterton offered her thoughts to ITV News regarding her character and her situation.
She explained that what sets this apart from many comparable productions is its exploration of ordinary daily existence alongside the espionage work.
She is a mother to two teenagers, managing a hectic routine, and the question arises of how someone sustains a life burdened with so many hidden truths.
Parenting presents enough challenges without this extra layer of complexity.
She found genuine connection with that element.
When asked why audiences continue to be captivated by the spy genre, Arterton noted that the realm of intelligence work, when turned into drama, carries enormous attraction.
Viewers gravitate towards content featuring covert operations and illicit activities.
It proves an endlessly fruitful genre.
Similarly, writer Tom Bradby shared comparable sentiments, explaining that audiences are experiencing a glamorous spy thriller, but the intention was to give them the sensation of receiving an exclusive glimpse into how things might actually operate behind the scenes.
Genuine intelligence operations, authentic political machinations.
He grew up immersed in classic Cold War literature and hopes this marks the first major drama of this emerging Cold War era.
Full cast for Secret Service
Gemma Arterton as Kate Henderson
Rafe Spall as Stuart Henderson
Khalid Abdalla as Zak Hussein
Alex Kingston as Rose Trewen
Roger Allam as Sir Alan Brabazon
Amaka Okafor as Imogen Conrad
Alexander Terentyev as Sergey Malinski aka Cyclops
Mark Stanley as Ryan Walker
Avi Nash as Ravindra Sangvhi
Aoife Hinds as Julie Price
Rochenda Sandall as Melissa Morris
Alma Prelec as Lena Savic
Lydia Leonard as Amanda Walker
Galaxie Clear as Fiona Henderson
Harley Barton as Gus Henderson
Steven Elder as Anthony Fletcher
Samuel Anderson as Harry Conrad
Maxim Grigorovich as Sandro Borodin
Miglen Mirtchev as Igor Borodin
Michael Tcherepashenets as Mikhail Borodin
Lana Vlady as Irina Borodin
Miglen Mirtchev as Igor Borodin
Marcia Lecky as Angela White
Juris Zagars as Lev Amatov
Ben Lloyd-Hughes as Joshua Long
Sarah Glavin as Jane Fletcher
Paul Clayton as Geoff Walker
Anna Ruben as Meg Simpson
Edward Aczel as Ted Howell
Oleg Levin as Kyril Markov
Niko Bredbacka as Matti
Hugo Nicolau as Laurent
Tom Bradby as himself
Robert Peston as himself
Susanna Reid as herself
Ed Balls as himself
When will Secret Service air?
Secret Service launches at 9pm on ITV1 on Monday, April 27, with the second episode broadcast the following day on Tuesday, April 28.
Subsequently, episode three airs in the same evening timeslot on Sunday, May 3, with episode four on Monday, May 4.
The broadcast time for the final episode has yet to be confirmed.