Acclaimed actress Gemma Arterton (Funny Woman, The Critic) stars in ITV’s espionage drama Secret Service, adapted from Tom Bradby’s novel and produced by Potboiler Productions.
Joining Gemma features an impressive cast including Rafe Spall, Mark Stanley, Amaka Okafor, Rochenda Sandall, Alex Kingston, Roger Allam, Avi Nash, Aoife Hinds, Khalid Abdalla, Lydia Leonard, and Steven Elder.
The five-part series is a reunion of Tom Bradby and Oscar-winning director James Marsh, known for Man on Wire (2008 Oscar for Best Documentary) and The Theory of Everything, a biopic of Stephen Hawking. Their collaboration follows Shadow Dancer. Tom Bradby also teamed with Jemma Kennedy (The Buccaneers, Captain Webb) to create this gripping drama.
The series, produced by Gail Egan and filmed in Malta and London, was commissioned for ITV by Polly Hill. It offers a suspenseful, topical drama rooted in today’s geopolitics, exploring tensions between Russia and the UK and raising questions about Russian interference in British politics.
The drama follows MI6 officer Kate Henderson (Gemma Arterton). She seems to have an ordinary life: a civil servant married to Stuart (Rafe Spall) with two teenagers. But behind that, Kate manages the Russia Desk at the Secret Intelligence Service.
Kate’s undercover work uncovers that a top UK politician might be a Russian asset. As a murder puts her team in the spotlight, she must navigate espionage, protect her family, and maintain her reputation.
The cast includes Alma Prelec, Galaxie Clear, Harley Barton, Michael Tcherepashenets, Miglen Mirtchev, Juris Žagars, Lana Vlady, Alexander Terentyev, Oleg Levin, Marcia Lecky, Paul Clayton, Ben Lloyd-Hughes, and Samuel Anderson.
Produced by Potboiler Productions, the series is executive produced by Gail Egan and Andrea Calderwood. James Marsh directs the first three episodes, with Farren Blackburn directing episodes four and five. All episodes are co-written by Tom Bradby and Jemma Kennedy.
The series is overseen by ITV Drama Commissioner Huw Kennair Jones. All3Media International co-commissioned and will handle international distribution.
“Secret Service” premiered on ITV on Monday, 27th April, at 9 pm. The series is a five-part mini-series, with new episodes airing on Mondays and Tuesdays, culminating in the finale on 11th May 2026.