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Homepage ► Spooks

Photograph of Hermione Norris, Peter Firth and Richard Armitage, part of the cast of the BBC’s spy series Spooks

Spooks is a series that follows the adventures of a group of intelligence officers based at the MI5 Thames House headquarters. Their offices are a highly secure suite called The Grid. The title is a colloquialism for spies although overseas the show is titled MI-5.

The programme was created by writer David Wolstencroft.

Cast

The principle characters are:

Sir Harry (Henry) James Pearce (played by Peter Firth) is the Head of Counter-Terrorism Department. Harry's name is synonymous with the fight against terrorism at MI5. His career began in the Army, before he was head-hunted for MI5. He hasn't looked back. He's dedicated to his job and really believes he can make a difference to the country. Calm and confident, Harry can usually make the toughest of decisions without showing a flicker of doubt.

Rosalind Sarah Myers (played by Hermione Norris) is Senior Case Officer. Ros has the Secret Service in her blood. Her father was a business mogul with high-ranking political links. The world of politics and espionage is all she knows, and it's all she wants to know. She's married to her job, utterly uncompromising, ruthless and will do anything for what she believes to be the 'greater good'. Ros became a spy for Yalta and after being exposed as a traitor, Adam helped her fake her own death. She's now back on The Grid.

Lucas North (played by Richard Armitage) is a Senior Case Officer. Having spent the past eight years in a Russian prison, Lucas is welcomed back by MI5 supremo and old friend, Harry, who was instrumental in finally securing his release. Lucas is keen to get back to work straight away and, with Section D's current priority operation having a strong Russian connection, he could well prove invaluable. But, after eight years with only a high ranking Russian spymaster for company, can Lucas's loyalty really be taken for granted?

Malcolm Wynn-Jones is Technician and Data Analyst (played by Hugh Simon). Malcolm's mind works at the speed at light, making connections and deductions that can make the difference between life and death to the spooks in the field. While some of the rest of the team might tend to take all the glory, they can usually owe their success to a piece of Malcolm's expert knowledge. But he's not the kind of guy to make a fuss. He doesn't relish the limelight and when the job's done, he's more likely to bury his head in a cryptic crossword than start shouting about his success

Eight series

The show began on 13th May 2002 and has run for eight series and 72 episodes. The programme has achieved good audiences from the beginning and averaged 7.5 million for its first series. The show has glossy high production values and is fast-paced with stories that have many surprises. It has been a trademark from the beginning that even central characters can be killed off at any time. Agent Helen Flynn (Lisa Faulkner) was killed in the second episode after being tortured by having her face forced into a deep fat fryer. SIS agent Fiona Carter seconded to MI5 was abducted by her ex-husband and shot dead. Connie James, senior analyst died trying to disarm a bomb.

Typically the show is about terrorist bombings, attempted political assassination or even a plot to kidnap the Prime Minister’s son.

BBC’s spy series Spooks starring Peter Firth & Hermione Norris

Not a nine to five job, the spooks of Thames House

Starring Peter Firth, Hermione Norris, Richard Armitage & Hugh Simon

Photograph of Hermione Norris, Peter Firth and Richard Armitage, part of the cast of the BBC’s spy series Spooks

Episode Guide Series 10 ►