17/04/2025 - The show, directed by James Marsh and Farren Blackburn, revolves around a woman who appears to lead a conventional life, while secretly working at the Secret Intelligence Service

Filming has commenced in Malta on Secret Service, a five-part espionage series being produced by British outfit Potboiler Productions for ITV. Additional shooting is set to take place in London.

Based on the novel of the same name by ITV News anchor Tom Bradby, the project features a script penned by Bradby in collaboration with screenwriter Jemma Kennedy (Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris). Oscar-winning filmmaker James Marsh (The Theory of Everything [+see also:
trailer
film profile]) is attached to direct the first three episodes, while Farren Blackburn (Gangs of London, The Winter King) will helm the remaining two.

The series stars Gemma Arterton (The King’s Man [+see also:
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film profile], Their Finest [+see also:
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interview: Lone Scherfig
film profile]) as Kate Henderson, a senior MI6 officer who appears to lead a conventional life as a wife and mother, while secretly heading the Russia Desk at the Secret Intelligence Service. Rafe Spall, Alex Kingston, Roger Allam, Amaka Okafor and Khalid Abdalla round off the principal cast. Further cast members include Avi Nash, Aoife Hinds, Rochenda Sandall, Alma Prelec, Galaxie Clear, Harley Barton, Michael Tcherepashenets, Petar Zekavica, Miglen Mirtchev, Juris Žagars and Lana Vlady.

Secret Service is being executive-produced by Potboiler’s Gail Egan (Funny Woman, The Little Stranger [+see also:
trailer
film profile]) and Andrea Calderwood (The Buccaneers, The Last King of Scotland [+see also:
trailer
film profile]), with ITV drama commissioners Helen Ziegler and Huw Kennair Jones overseeing the production. All3Media International serves as co-commissioner and is in charge of the project’s global sales.