BBC America

BBC AMERICA’S NEW ORIGINAL CO-PRODUCTION LONDON SPY PREMIERES JANUARY 21

Provocative and transfixing mystery-drama lead by all-star cast including BAFTA-winner Ben Whishaw, Academy Award winner Jim Broadbent and legendary actress Charlotte Rampling 

New York – December 9, 2015 BBC AMERICA’s new original co-production, London Spy, begins with a chance romance between two people from two very different walks of life—one from the high-powered ranks of investment banking and the other from a world of clubbing and youthful excess. But their love story quickly unravels when the reclusive banker disappears under suspicious circumstances, exposing his real identity as a spy and forcing his lover down a dark path to reveal the truth. The stirring five-part mystery, from acclaimed best-selling author Tom Rob Smith (Child 44), stars BAFTA-winner Ben Whishaw (Spectre) in a career-defining performance as Danny, an innocent, young romantic drawn into a dangerous world of espionage. He is joined by Academy Award winner Jim Broadbent (Iris), Emmy nominee Charlotte Rampling (Broadchurch) and newcomer Edward Holcroft (Wolf Hall). London Spy premieres Thursday, January 21, 10:00pm ET.

London Spy opens with Danny (Whishaw) after a heavy night on the party scene. It’s dawn and he’s feeling lonely – standing on Lambeth Bridge, asking the London skyline if life gets any easier. London answers him with a chance encounter, an early morning runner who stops to ask if he’s OK, introducing himself as Alex. An unusual connection forms between these men who are polar opposites in many ways. Danny – extroverted, self-indulgent and adrift, falls for the anti-social, enigmatic and brilliant Alex (Edward Holcroft). But just as they realize they’re perfect for each other, Alex is found dead under circumstances that Danny is sure have been staged. And so begins Danny’s descent into the dangerous world of global espionage – a world for which he’s hopelessly ill equipped. Out of his depth, Danny seeks help from his friend and wise mentor, Scottie (Jim Broadbent). They embark on a journey where no one is who they seem, including the formidable Frances (Charlotte Rampling), a mysterious yet omnipresent figure from Alex’s life.

If Danny can prove that the Alex he knew was the real Alex, then he can prove to himself that intimacy does not necessarily end in despair. But ultimately, Danny must decide whether he’s prepared to fight for the truth, knowing he’ll be risking his life in the process.

London Spy is written and created by Tom Rob Smith. The miniseries is directed by Jakob Verbruggen (The Fall). The producer is Guy Heeley, and executive producers are Tom Rob Smith, Juliette Howell, Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner for Working Title Television, Polly Hill, Controller of BBC Drama Commissioning, and Hilary Salmon, Head of Drama, England, for BBC Two. London Spy is a Working Title Television co-production with BBC AMERICA and BBC Two, and is distributed by NBCUniversal and BBC Worldwide.

 

Note to editors:

Twitter: @BBCAMERICA Hashtag: #LondonSpy

Press Room: www.press.bbcamerica.com

 

CAST & PRODUCTION CREDITS

Danny                                                       Ben Whishaw (Spectre, The Hour)

Alex                                                          Edward Holcroft (Wolf Hall, Kingsman: The Secret Service)

Scottie                                                       Jim Broadbent (Iris, Longford)

Frances                                                      Charlotte Rampling (45 Years, Broadchurch)

Creator/Writer/                                           Tom Rob Smith (Child 44)

Executive Producer

Director                                                      Jakob Verbruggen (The Fall, The Bridge)

Executive Producer                                      Tim Bevan (Bridget Jones’s Baby, The Theory of Everything)

Executive Producer                                      Eric Fellner (Les Misérables, Frost/Nixon)

Executive Producer                                      Juliette Howell (Yonderland, Moonshot)

Executive Producer                                      Liza Chasin (Everest, Les Misérables)

Executive Producer                                      Polly Hill (The Honourable Woman, The Missing)

Producer                                                     Guy Heeley (The Iron Lady, My Week with Marilyn)

 

SYNOPSES

PART ONE

A chance romance between Alex, a seemingly reclusive investment banker, and Danny, a gregarious young man working his way through dead-end jobs (and the London party circuit) promises happiness for both. But tragedy strikes when Alex is found dead under suspicious circumstances, exposing his real identity as a code genius from the headquarters of MI6 (the Secret Intelligence Service). The sudden turn of events (and the suspect nature from which they came about) forces Danny to pursue the dangerous truth behind his lover’s death. Part one premieres Thursday, January 21, 10:00pm ET on BBC AMERICA.

PART TWO

After Danny’s accused by the papers of being involved in the death of his lover, Alex, he’s invited to meet Alex’s parents…parents that Alex had told him were dead. Danny starts to realize that he knew almost nothing about his lover’s true identity and catches a glimpse of just how deep the conspiracy around his death might run. By the time Danny returns to London, his life is in terrible danger. Part two premieres Thursday, January 28, 10:00pm ET on BBC AMERICA.

PART THREE

In a brutal interrogation, the police accuse Danny of being responsible for Alex’s death. Confronted with incriminating evidence, he understands that he’s being framed. In the depths of despair, the only person who can help him is Scottie. Using Scottie’s extensive political connections, they plunge into a Westminster world of power that threatens to swallow both of them. Part three premieres Thursday, February 4, 10:00pm ET on BBC AMERICA.

PART FOUR

Danny’s confronted with a side of his lover’s life that seems to undermine the foundation of their relationship. As he contemplates giving up, he realizes a vital clue that he’s overlooked. But the consequences of continuing for justice are more terrible than he could possibly have imagined. Part four premieres Thursday, February 11, 10:00pm ET on BBC AMERICA.

PART FIVE

Danny finally discovers the shocking truth about what really happened to his lover Alex, and what really took place that night in the attic where he died. Part five premieres Thursday, February 18, 10:00pm ET on BBC AMERICA.

 

BBC AMERICA delivers U.S. audiences high-quality, innovative and intelligent programming. Established in 1998, it has been the launch pad for talent embraced by American mainstream pop culture, including Ricky Gervais, Gordon Ramsay, Graham Norton, and successful programming formats including ground-breaking non-scripted television like Top Gear and top-rated science-fiction like Doctor Who. A joint venture between BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of the BBC, and AMC Networks, BBC AMERICA has attracted both critical acclaim and major awards including four Emmy® Awards, five Golden Globes® and 12 Peabody Awards. The channel attracts one of cable’s most affluent and educated audiences and is available on cable and satellite TV in nearly 80 million homes. It broadcasts in both standard and high-definition, with content available On Demand across all major digital platforms. Online, www.BBCAmerica.com is the place to go to dig deeper into pop culture with a British twist. Find out more by visiting www.Press.BBCAmerica.com/ or follow us on https://twitter.com/BBCAMERICA.

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