SECRET SERVICE: TOM BRADBY NOVEL TO BE ADAPTED INTO ITV DRAMA

ITV’s Head of Drama, Polly Hill has commissioned thrilling espionage drama, Secret Service, from the pen of ITV News anchor, Tom Bradby.

Adapted from Tom’s tense, topical novel of the same title, Secret Service, is a suspenseful, fresh-from-the-headlines story deeply rooted in today’s political landscape.

Tom has collaborated with fellow screenwriter, Jemma Kennedy,(Captain Webb) to write the series which will premiere on ITV1 and be available for streaming on ITVX.

Secret Service delves into the long-standing tensions between Russiaand the UK, and asks how far can Russian interference in British politics really go? 

Secret Service follows senior MI6 officer, Kate Henderson, whose life must seem pretty ordinary to those who don’t know her well, as she’s happily married with two teenagers and a job in the civil service. 

However, Kate’s real job is heading up the Russia Desk of the Secret Intelligence Service. When her undercover operations reveal alarming evidence that a senior UK politician is possibly a high-level Russian asset, Kate is in a race against time to uncover their identity.

 Then a young woman is brutally murdered, throwing Kate and her team into the spotlight. With blood on her hands, her reputation to uphold, her family hanging by a thread, and an election looming, Kate is quickly running out of options and the clock is ticking….

Set in London, and moving between vivid European locations, Secret Service, is produced by leading independent producers Potboiler Productions with filming commencing in London and Malta early next year.

Producders Gail Egan and Andrea Calderwood said: “It is very exciting to be working with Polly and Helen at ITV onthis thrilling story of espionage and politics. Tom and Jemma havecreated a bold and compelling drama that looks behind the curtain at the real world of modern-day spies and the machinations happening in the corridors of power which affect us all.”

Commented Tom Bradby: “I always dreamed of turning Secret Service into a compelling and enthralling TV series, so I am completely thrilled that ITV have commissioned this series and can’t wait to be on set in London and Malta. I felt the themes were achingly topical when I wrote the novel - and they have only become more so since.”

ITV's Helen Ziegler said: “We are delighted to be working with Tom, Jemma and the team at Potboiler to bring this story of a new cold war to our screens. Tom and Jemma's thrilling scripts could not be more timely in their exploration of this complex cat-and-mouse game between East and West.”

More details will be announced in due course.