I've never read any of Tom Bradby's thrillers, but I was interested to watch the new ITV series Secret Service, based on one of them which was published a few months before the pandemic. It's a contemporary story, and Tom Bradby is in the perfect position for authorial cameo appearances - he keeps popping up on the screen, reading news bulletins.
The basic scenario - which I would guess is updated from that in the novel - is that the Prime Minister, a centrist Labour politician, resigns after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. The two cabinet ministers poised to do battle for the opportunity (or the misfortune?) of replacing him are Ryan Walker (Mark Stanley) and Imogen Conrad (Amaka Okafor). Both seem equally ruthless.
One of Conrad's closest advisers is Stuart Anderson (Rafe Spall), who is married to Kate Henderson (Gemma Arterton), who is head of the Russian desk in MI6. She's running an operation in Malta with an agent, and learns that the Russians have an agent in the government - seemingly one of the two front-runners to take over as PM.
It's a good premise, and perhaps doesn't require massive suspension of disbelief. There are quite a few familiar plot ingredients in the storyline, but the story moves along at a decent pace, and it's good to see actors like Alex Kingston and the ever-reliable Roger Allam in the supporting cast. It may not match the best of Le Carre or Deighton, and I did anticipate the final twist, but overall, I really did enjoy this one.
7 comments:
Incredibly disappointing as it seems one long plug for itv. Yes of course Tom Bradby worked for itv but this spy/espionage drama is not only plodding and badly scripted but each episode brings in yet more on air itv talent: Susannah Reid, Ed Balls, Robert Peston, Rommily Weeks and of course the author himself Tom Bradby!!! Not gripping, not exciting and not only an homage to itv, but an obvious ending. Don’t waste your time on it!!
Hello Anon. That's a slightly harsh view, in my opinion, and would carry more weight if not anonymous, but of course tastes will always vary.
I sat through it. I didn't mind it as much as Anonymous, but wouldn't be surprised if the suggested second series never materialised. What was disappointing was Roger Allam only appearing for a couple of minutes per episode. The best actor in it, and he was completely marginalised. Alex Kingston didn't fare much better.
I suppose in our short-attention-span world you can only have one central figure, and everyone else is just a satellite. And that central figure has to fit the demographic that the advertisers want to attract. This means poor old Roger and Alex will only get leads on channels whose principle advertisers deal in stairlifts, mobility scooters, and baths with walls. And paying for a cheap funeral in advance.
Initially I struggled to be engaged but I went back and found that the story gathered pace and interest. I would say however that I guessed who the culprit was by the beginning of episode 3 but kept checking myself as it was a rather ludicrous outcome. Enjoyable for all that though. What I would really love to see, talking of ITV journalists, is the TV productions of Robert Peston's novels which I absolutely loved and am very much waiting excitedly for Gil Peck's next adventure.
Good point about demographics, Ian - I'm sorry to say that I think you're right. I am so fed up with those ads, not to mention their junk mail equivalent!
Thanks, Rumpers Ramblings. I haven't read the Robert Peston novels, I must admit.
Puzzles me why advertisers concentrate on younger people when we are told that the oldies have all the money.
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