Secret Service

Secret Service

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7 / 10

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Overview

A British intelligence officer Kate Henderson races against time to uncover a UK politician's potential ties with the Kremlin, risking her reputation and family, as a murder and election loom.

Media

Secret Service | Coming Soon | ITV

Cast

Genres:

Crime Drama War & Politics

Keywords:

british intelligence british politics british spy espionage mi6 russian spy spy

More Show Details

Vote Average: 6.9/10

Vote Count: 16 Votes

Show Popularity: 9.1098

Show Status: Returning Series

Show Type: Scripted

Spoken Languages: English

Review

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Insomniacs Reviews
- 01 May 2026 at 2:22 pm

7 Based on 1 Votes
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⭐ Insomniacs Rating: 7/10 THE SUMMARY Kate Henderson (Gemma Arterton) is a high-level MI6 officer heading up the Russia desk while juggling a deceptively normal life as a wife and mother. Following a tense assignment in Malta, she uncovers a pained piece of intelligence: a senior British politician vying for the role of Prime Minister might actually be a Russian asset. As the current PM steps down, Kate is thrust into a visceral race against time to identify the mole before they seize the heart of the government. It’s a punchy, grounded spy thriller that examines the gritty reality of leading a double life while the nation's security hangs by a thread. THE PROS Gemma Arterton is the sincere anchor of the show, delivering a performance that is stoic, smart, and pained in all the right places. It hits a 7 because the series avoids the flashy, "super-spy" nonsense of bigger franchises, opting instead for a gritty and authentic look at how modern espionage actually works. Rafe Spall provides a total highlight as Kate’s husband, Stuart, bringing an honest, grounded energy to the domestic side of the story that makes the stakes feel visceral. The pacing is confident, using a non-linear start to build a pained tension that keeps you guessing about who is truly pulling the strings in Whitehall. It’s an honest, well-crafted thriller that feels timely without being preachy. THE CONS It stays at a 7 because the plot, while intelligent, follows a fairly familiar "mole in the government" template that doesn't offer many massive narrative surprises. It misses a higher mark because the dialogue can occasionally feel a bit pained and stiff, especially during the heavy exposition scenes in the MI6 offices. While the focus on Kate’s family adds a pained depth, some of the teenage drama subplots feel like a bit of a head-scratcher that pulls focus away from the more visceral political stakes. The five-episode structure is a fair shout for a quick binge, but it can make the final resolution feel a touch rushed compared to the steady, pained build-up of the earlier chapters. THE VERDICT 7/10. A gritty, pained, and intelligently made British spy drama. It’s an honest win for Gemma Arterton and a fair shout for anyone who wants a thriller that prioritizes tradecraft over explosions. INSOMNIAC TRIVIA • The series was adapted for the screen by ITV News anchor Tom Bradby from his own 2019 novel, drawing on his pained, real-world observations of the political landscape and international relations.• To keep the "un-AI" and grounded feel, Gemma Arterton avoided watching modern spy flicks, instead looking to the pained and quiet intensity of 1970s espionage classics like 'The Spy Who Came in from the Cold.'• During the Malta sequences, the production utilized actual historical sites in Valletta to create a visceral, sun-drenched contrast to the grey, gritty corridors of power in London. THE VIBE Like a hushed conversation in a crowded tube station. It smells of damp wool, expensive printer toner, and the metallic tang of a cold morning in Whitehall.

TV Show Poster

Season 1

5 Episodes

Air Date: 2026-04-27

Videos

Secret Service | Coming Soon | ITV

Cast

Alexander Terentyev

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Secret Service

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Secret Service

Comment (1)

Insomniacs Reviews
- 1 May 2026 at 3:22 PM

⭐ Insomniacs Rating: 7/10
THE SUMMARY
Kate Henderson (Gemma Arterton) is a high-level MI6 officer heading up the Russia desk while juggling a deceptively normal life as a wife and mother. Following a tense assignment in Malta, she uncovers a pained piece of intelligence: a senior British politician vying for the role of Prime Minister might actually be a Russian asset. As the current PM steps down, Kate is thrust into a visceral race against time to identify the mole before they seize the heart of the government. It’s a punchy, grounded spy thriller that examines the gritty reality of leading a double life while the nation’s security hangs by a thread.
THE PROS
Gemma Arterton is the sincere anchor of the show, delivering a performance that is stoic, smart, and pained in all the right places. It hits a 7 because the series avoids the flashy, “super-spy” nonsense of bigger franchises, opting instead for a gritty and authentic look at how modern espionage actually works. Rafe Spall provides a total highlight as Kate’s husband, Stuart, bringing an honest, grounded energy to the domestic side of the story that makes the stakes feel visceral. The pacing is confident, using a non-linear start to build a pained tension that keeps you guessing about who is truly pulling the strings in Whitehall. It’s an honest, well-crafted thriller that feels timely without being preachy.
THE CONS
It stays at a 7 because the plot, while intelligent, follows a fairly familiar “mole in the government” template that doesn’t offer many massive narrative surprises. It misses a higher mark because the dialogue can occasionally feel a bit pained and stiff, especially during the heavy exposition scenes in the MI6 offices. While the focus on Kate’s family adds a pained depth, some of the teenage drama subplots feel like a bit of a head-scratcher that pulls focus away from the more visceral political stakes. The five-episode structure is a fair shout for a quick binge, but it can make the final resolution feel a touch rushed compared to the steady, pained build-up of the earlier chapters.
THE VERDICT
7/10. A gritty, pained, and intelligently made British spy drama. It’s an honest win for Gemma Arterton and a fair shout for anyone who wants a thriller that prioritizes tradecraft over explosions.
INSOMNIAC TRIVIA
• The series was adapted for the screen by ITV News anchor Tom Bradby from his own 2019 novel, drawing on his pained, real-world observations of the political landscape and international relations.
• To keep the “un-AI” and grounded feel, Gemma Arterton avoided watching modern spy flicks, instead looking to the pained and quiet intensity of 1970s espionage classics like ‘The Spy Who Came in from the Cold.’
• During the Malta sequences, the production utilized actual historical sites in Valletta to create a visceral, sun-drenched contrast to the grey, gritty corridors of power in London.
THE VIBE
Like a hushed conversation in a crowded tube station. It smells of damp wool, expensive printer toner, and the metallic tang of a cold morning in Whitehall.

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