If the idea of a Slow Horses replacement is music to your ears, then you’ll be pleased to hear that a new contender has arrived – and it’s a good one at that. Forget being relegated to the basement, ITV’s bold new spy thriller, Secret Service, takes us right to the heart of MI6 where Kate Henderson heads up the Russia Desk and finds herself in some serious trouble (that’s an understatement) – and it’s utterly glorious viewing.

While danger isn’t exactly uncommon when you work for MI6, Kate discovers evidence that suggests a very senior UK politician is actually a Russian asset. Based on ITV News anchor Tom Bradby’s popular novel, he says the series is “a peek behind the curtain for how real life could be. Real life spying, real life politics” – and the clandestine nature of it all makes for truly compelling viewing.

With the series premiering on ITV tonight, here’s everything you need to know about Secret Service before you tune in - and why it’s well worth doing so.

What is Secret Service about?

from potboiler productions ltdsecret service: ep1 on itv1 and itvxpictured: lena [alma prelec], kate [gemma arterton]this photograph is ©potboiler productions ltd and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned above, or itv plc. this photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by itv plc picture publicity. this photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of itv picture publicity. full terms and conditions are available on the website www.itv.com/presscentre/itvpictures/terms
C HARRIS

The five-part series has been adapted from ITV News anchor Tom Bradby’s 2019 novel of the same name and follows senior MI6 officer Kate Henderson (Gemma Arterton) who, on the surface, has a pretty ordinary life. She’s a civil servant married to Stuart (Rafe Spall) and the pair have two teenage children. So far, so typical.

But what a lot of people in Kate’s life don’t know is that she actually heads up the Russia Desk at the Secret Intelligence Service. And when her undercover operations reveal alarming evidence that a high-ranking UK politician may actually be a Russian asset, Kate finds herself in a desperate – and increasingly dangerous - race to uncover their identity.

from potboiler productions ltd secret service: ep2 on itv1 and itvx pictured: kate [gemma arterton], melissa [rochenda sandall] this photograph is ©potboiler productions ltd and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned above, or itv plc. this photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by itv plc picture publicity. this photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of itv picture publicity. full terms and conditions are available on the website www.itv.com/presscentre/itvpictures/terms
ITV

As if that wasn’t quite enough to keep us on our toes, a young woman is then brutally murdered, which throws Kate and her team into the spotlight. With blood on her hands, a reputation to uphold, a family to keep intact, plus an election looming, Kate finds herself trapped in the terrifying world of espionage with no easy way out.

What to read next

Tom Brady, who has collaborated with fellow screenwriter, Jemma Kennedy, (Captain Webb) to write the series has said working on it has been a dream of his for many years and describes the themes as “achingly topical”. What’s perhaps most intriguing – and original – about it is that it blends a career in MI6 with the realities of an ordinary life and the relationships that come with it.

Who’s in the cast of Secret Service?

from potboiler productionssecret service: sr1 on itv1 and itvxpictured: lena [alma prelec].suspenseful, timely, and cinematic, secret service follows senior mi6 officer kate henderson as a covert investigation uncovers evidence that a high ranking uk politician may be working as a russian asset. with trust shattered and her career on the line, kate must navigate the shifting sands of political loyalty, international threat, and personal sacrifice.this photograph is (c) potboiler productions and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned above, or itv plc. this photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by itv plc picture desk. this photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of itv picture desk. full terms and conditions are available on the website www.itv.com/presscentre/itvpictures/termsfor more information please contact michael.taiwo1@itv.com
Chris Harris

The cast of Secret Service includes:

  • Gemma Arterton (Funny Woman)
  • Rafe Spall (Under Salt Marsh)
  • Alex Kingston (Douglas is Cancelled)
  • Mark Stanley (Happy Valley)
  • Roger Allam (Endeavour)
  • Amaka Okafor (Black Rabbit)
  • Khalid Abdalla (The Crown)
  • Avi Nash (Silo)
  • Alma Prelec (The Red Virgin)
  • Aoife Hinds (Normal People)
  • Rochenda Sandall (Amandaland)
  • Petar Zekavica (Vera)
  • Harley Barton
  • Galaxie Clear
  • Michael Tcherepashenets
  • Juris Žagars
  • Lana Vlady
  • Miglen Mirtchev

Is there a trailer for Secret Service?

Yes, you can watch the trailer for Secret Service below.

Is Secret Service any good?

from potboiler productionssecret service: sr1 on itv1 and itvxpictured: julie [aoife hinds].suspenseful, timely, and cinematic, secret service follows senior mi6 officer kate henderson as a covert investigation uncovers evidence that a high ranking uk politician may be working as a russian asset. with trust shattered and her career on the line, kate must navigate the shifting sands of political loyalty, international threat, and personal sacrifice.this photograph is (c) potboiler productions and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned above, or itv plc. this photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by itv plc picture desk. this photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of itv picture desk. full terms and conditions are available on the website www.itv.com/presscentre/itvpictures/termsfor more information please contact michael.taiwo1@itv.com
Chris Harris

Yes – it’s easily the best spy thriller we’ve seen on screen in a while. If you’ve ever thought about what might be like to be an MI6 spy, the series is a real peek behind the curtain. But it’s not all about the job; the beauty of it is in finding out who Kate is besides being part of MI6 and how she navigates those two worlds. Star Gemma Arterton told ITV News: “There has been lots of talk about a female Bond and it’s not like that. What sets this apart from a lot of others is that it looks at the domestic as well. She is a mother of two teenagers, she has a busy life, how do you live a life with so much secrecy? It’s hard enough being a parent, without all this other stuff on top. I really connected with that actually.”

How can I watch Secret Service?

Secret Service premieres on Monday 27th April at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX.

What other spy thrillers can I watch now?

mammoth screen for itvbetrayalstarring::shaun evans as john hughes,zahra ahmadi as mehreen sakari evans and romola garai as claire.this image is under copyright and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes in your print or online publication. this image cannot be syndicated to any other third party.for further information please contact:patrick.smith@itv.com 07909906963
ITV

Another brilliant ITV spy thriller is Betrayal. Shaun Evans plays John Hughes, an MI5 officer caught between duty (the rather large matter of an Iranian terror plot) and personal trauma. You can watch Betrayal on ITVX. For something a little older but just as good, we’d recommend A Spy Among Friends. The series dramatises the real-life story of Nicholas Elliott (Damian Lewis) who worked for MI6 in the 1960s and discovered that his close friend and colleague Kim Philby had actually working as an undercover agent for the KBG. Anna Maxwell Martin also stars and her interrogation of Elliott is exceptional viewing. You can watch A Spy Among Friends on ITVX. For more great spy thrillers you can watch now, check out our pick of the best here.