A new spy thriller called Betrayal will start filming in London at the beginning of January 2025. The ITV-commissioned show promises an exciting story of spying, personal conflict, and serious threats to national security, all taking place in the mysterious world of MI5.
Shaun Evans, who has been in movies like Endeavour and Vigil, plays John Hughes — a veteran MI5 agent who is having a hard time with changes in security and problems in his personal life. John used to be at the forefront of major UK counter-terrorism efforts, but now he is having a hard time adapting to the new needs of MI5, where threats have changed and he has to work in a more modern setting.
John meets Ehsan, a British-Iranian informant with ties to the Manchester gang world, on a hunch. This is the beginning of the show. When Ehsan is killed before he can give John important information, John makes the snap decision to kill the killer, which gets him caught up in a web of conspiracy. As John learns more, he has to face not only the threats from outside the UK, but also his failing career, his troubled marriage, and his own inner demons. Mehreen, a new intelligence officer who is taking over John’s job, adds to the tension because they have an undeniable attraction to each other, which makes John’s situation even more difficult.
David Eldridge, who has won awards for his plays, has written Betrayal which is a complicated and emotional story. Eldridge talked about John Hughes’s personality and said that he was a “flawed but likeable man” who was torn between the stresses of family life and the dangerous world of espionage.
The show is made by Mammoth Screen, the same company that made Endeavour. It takes place in both London and Manchester. Damien Timmer, Chief Creative Officer of Mammoth said that the scripts look at the fragile mind of a middle-aged man whose job is to protect the country which comes with a lot of personal and professional risks.
Betrayal is shaping up to be an exciting drama that will keep viewers hooked as they follow John’s journey to find a threat that could put the UK and his own life in danger. Evans is leading the way and Eldridge’s writing is sharp.
The show will air on ITV and ITVX and ITV Studios will handle distribution in other countries. Fans of spy dramas can look forward to Betrayal, which will bring a new, character-driven take to the genre when it starts airing in 2025.
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