Secret Service writer Tom Bradby reveals real-life basis for his ITV spy drama – and how recent events changed the scripts

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The new ITV thriller, Secret Service, centers on Gemma Arterton as Kate, who uncovers evidence suggesting a high-ranking British politician may be working for Russia.

It might sound surprising, but this adaptation comes from ITV newsreader Tom Bradby. He worked with Jemma Kennedy to turn his 2020 book—which shares the same title—into this series.

During a discussion about the show, Bradby shared the real-life events that sparked the story. He explained that when he first developed the idea, it was obvious to him that tensions were rising globally, similar to a new Cold War. He also felt that democracies were under threat, and there were concerns about whether politicians in Western countries were being influenced through bribery, blackmail, or corruption.

As I was thinking about the story, I kept wondering what it would really be like to be the intelligence officer delivering truly earth-shattering news – something like details about nuclear weapons. I mean, how would your superiors handle that? And the politicians? That’s honestly where the character of Kate originated – from imagining her in that unbelievably high-pressure situation.

I initially envisioned this as a TV show and began discussing it with some people. But the story became so vivid in my mind that I knew I needed to write it as a novel first, which I did quite quickly. Then, Gail [Egan] and I started exploring the possibility of adapting it into a TV series.

Things have changed since I first thought of this, but it’s actually becoming more relevant, which creates interesting conflict, though it might not be ideal for healthy democracies.

We aimed to make something truly captivating and thrilling, like a mainstream movie that really pulls you in, and also feels emotionally resonant. Ultimately, we want people to be left with something to think about after it’s over. Whether we achieved that is up to you, but that’s what we were hoping for.

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Bradby said that although much of his novel still felt current, he needed to make some updates to reflect how things are today.

He explained that adapting a novel for the screen – something many novelists prefer not to do themselves – is something he particularly enjoys because he loves working with others, and this project had a fantastic team.

It’s definitely a new experience. After finishing the book, it’s like embarking on a shared journey with readers, and the story naturally changes and grows along the way. It had to, really, because the world around us was changing too. What’s surprising, though, is how consistently relevant it’s remained – and perhaps even more so now than before.

The series features Gemma Arterton alongside Rafe Spall, Mark Stanley, Alex Kingston, Roger Allam, Amaka Okafor, and Khalid Abdalla.

Secret Service starts Monday 27 April at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX.

Don’t miss ‘Secret Service’! Add it to your watchlist on the TopMob: What to Watch app. Download the app today for daily TV suggestions, exclusive content, and more.

Authors

James HibbsDrama Writer

James Hibbs writes about TV dramas for TopMob, covering shows on streaming services and traditional channels. Before becoming a writer, he worked in public relations, first at a business-to-business agency and then at Fremantle, a major international TV production company. He has a Bachelor’s degree in English and Theatre Studies, and a Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.

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2026-04-27 08:35