I’m Tom Bradby – this is why I wrote my new ITV thriller Secret Service, and why it feels more terrifyingly realistic than ever

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Every now and then, a writer gets an idea that’s so exciting, they have to start writing immediately. That’s what happened with Secret Service – the book became a bestseller in the Sunday Times and is now a TV drama on ITV.

The shifting global political landscape dominated my work, as it did for many journalists. It became clear that we were entering a new Cold War – one far more intricate and perilous than the last. Critically, our adversaries now had simpler ways to attack the foundations of democracy and even democracy itself.

Honestly, watching all this unfold felt deeply unsettling. It became clear that Russian wealth was easily finding its way into the heart of Western society – their sons were attending elite schools like Eton, and they were blending in with the powerful with alarming ease. What really struck me wasn’t just if they were succeeding, but how. It wasn’t about clear-cut actions anymore. Even when investigations into claims of Russian interference in the US came up empty, the damage was done. The accusations themselves had already created so much division. It started to feel like, if this was a new Cold War, Russia was already ahead.

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I was walking by the headquarters of MI6 in London on a bright day and began to imagine what challenges a spy might face.

Imagine you’re on a mission to gather information on prominent Russian officials while they’re on holiday. Let’s say you uncover shocking news: the British Prime Minister is seriously ill and will soon step down, and one of the potential replacements is suspected of being a Russian agent. How would your leaders respond? What if the Foreign Secretary – your direct superior – was a prime suspect?

Usually, developing an idea into characters and a story takes time, but this one came together remarkably quickly. By the time I arrived in Westminster, I already had a basic plot and a good sense of my main character, Kate Henderson. I envisioned her as a brave woman – both in character and physically – who also balanced the challenges of raising teenagers, maintaining a fulfilling family life, and holding down a demanding job that tested her mentally, intellectually, and sometimes even physically.

Early in my career with ITV News, I worked as a foreign correspondent in Asia. I often traveled to dangerous locations, so I understand the difficult feeling of having a young family and being unsure about flying to a conflict zone.

I’ve personally experienced violence – I was shot during a riot in Jakarta in 1999. That experience informed how I portrayed Kate in my painting. I wanted to show that true bravery always has a price, and that price can be paid in both physical pain and emotional suffering.

I wrote this novel – my eleventh – more quickly than any of my others. Looking back, I realize the speed at which I wrote it seems connected to the character Kate’s struggles with intense pressure, which manifested as severe insomnia and the beginnings of a breakdown. Interestingly, I experienced similar symptoms myself shortly after finishing the book.

I took three months to rest and recharge. Looking back at the book now, I’m struck by how much the main character mirrored what I was feeling inside at the time.

I first imagined the story that would become Secret Service as a television drama, while I was in Vauxhall one afternoon. Having previously adapted my novel, Shadow Dancer, into a film – directed by James Marsh and starring Andrea Riseborough, Clive Owen, and Gillian Anderson – I’d gained experience writing scripts for different production companies. I shared the Secret Service idea with a few producers, and they liked it. However, as I explained it, I realized the story was so vivid in my mind that I didn’t want to wait for the slow process of TV development before starting to write it.

The book sold very well, quickly becoming a bestseller in paperback. As soon as I finished it, I began working on the television series I’d always dreamed of creating.

By that point, I knew I wanted to adapt my novels into films or TV series myself, and I teamed up with Gail Egan, a fantastic producer whose work I admired – she’s behind films like The Constant Gardener and A Most Wanted Man. She helped me find Jemma Kennedy, a talented co-writer, and together we pitched the idea for Secret Service to Polly Hill, ITV’s head of drama. She was enthusiastic, and we quickly got the project moving forward.

Our biggest initial concern was whether the story would feel outdated by the time it was released. However, that worry proved unnecessary. What’s been most surprising is how increasingly relevant and believable the situation has become as time has gone on.

According to a recent headline in The Times, European leaders now seem to believe that an unpredictable United States isn’t the biggest threat facing Europe and NATO. They used to worry more about the US potentially becoming hostile and siding with Russia. It’s really shocking to think about how much things are changing.

Polly always kept me informed about the political landscape. While I was working on my book and play, the government changed, so we created a new political character – a potential prime minister who was a unique blend of left and right. He was charming and advocated for higher taxes, increased spending, and progressive social policies, but held conservative views on immigration.

Having worked as ITV’s political editor for a decade, it was crucial to me that the show’s portrayal of politics felt authentic. I needed the main ministers – played by Mark Stanley and Amaka Okafor, along with their advisors – to feel genuinely believable right from the start, and they did, even in their first scenes.

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Overall, creating this project felt truly special. Filmmaking isn’t always smooth sailing, and you never quite know how things will turn out until you see the finished product.

Having James Marsh direct the first three episodes was a huge boost – it was great to work with him again. And we were incredibly lucky to have Gemma Arterton as our lead; seeing her portray Kate with such skill was a career highlight. Rafe Spall was also fantastic as her husband, and their scenes together were truly captivating.

We set out to create a thrilling and captivating story – something fast-paced, suspenseful, and emotionally resonant. It’s a blend of espionage, family dynamics, and political intrigue, designed to keep viewers completely hooked and eager to finish it in one sitting. While our primary goal was to deliver mainstream entertainment, we’d be even more pleased if the story also sparked conversation and left a lasting impression on the audience.

These are difficult times, and a better understanding of the challenges we face will help strengthen our democracy.

Authors

Tom Bradby

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2026-04-20 20:09