Endeavour favourite stars in first look at all-new MI5 drama from award-winning writer where “loyalty and deception collide”

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ITV has released the first images from its upcoming drama, Betrayal. The series is written by David Eldridge, a celebrated playwright and screenwriter, and directed by Julian Jarrold, who has received BAFTA and Emmy nominations for his work on A Very Royal Scandal.

We’re getting our first look at the stars of the upcoming series, due in 2026, including Shaun Evans (known for Endeavour), Romola Garai (from Vigil), and Zahra Ahmadi (of Beyond Paradise).

Chris Evans stars as John Hughes, a seasoned MI5 officer, alongside Naomie Harris as his colleague Claire. Sope Dirisu plays Mehreen Askari-Evans, an intelligence expert who unexpectedly joins their team.

As a movie and TV buff, here’s how I’d describe the show: it follows John as he tries to make sense of a world where artificial intelligence is changing everything, all while his own life is falling apart. It sounds like a really compelling mix of high-tech thrills and personal drama!

Following a gut feeling, John encounters a British-Iranian man connected to a criminal group in Stockport. This man says he has information about a planned attack in the UK.

After a surprising event, John is placed under investigation by his bosses, including Simone Grant, and questioned about what happened. Meanwhile, his partner, Claire, struggles with the hidden nature of his work.

I’m really invested in this story about John, and it’s heartbreaking to watch him try to fix his marriage while still being haunted by this case he can’t seem to leave behind. Things get even more interesting when he meets Mehreen Askari-Evans – she’s an intelligence operative brought in to take over his work, and surprisingly, she ends up becoming a real ally for him. It’s a really compelling dynamic!

John is becoming more and more certain that a radical group within the Iranian government is involved, and he’s starting to suspect a threat exists much closer to him. He needs to figure out who the target is and stop the attack before it happens.

I’m really excited about the cast they’ve assembled for ‘Betrayal’! Along with the leads, we’ve got some fantastic actors like Gamba Cole, who I loved in ‘The Outlaws,’ and Omid Djalili, who’s always great – I really enjoyed him in ‘His Dark Materials.’ Matthew Tennyson from ‘Grantchester,’ Hayley Tamaddon, who I remember from ‘Unforgotten,’ Anthony Flanagan who was in ‘House of the Dragon,’ Paddy Rowan from ‘G’wed,’ and Waj Ali, who I’ve seen in ‘Out There,’ are all set to appear too. It’s a seriously strong ensemble!

The cast also includes talented actors like Karim Kadjar, known for his work in Wolf Hall; Emma Cunniffe, who appeared in Suspect: The Shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes; Georgina Rylance from Sherlock; Ben Lambert of Outlander; Julia Watson, recognized from Doctor Who; and Julian Wadham, who starred in Black Doves.

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2025-11-21 14:04