Tom Bradby to turn his book Secret Service into a series

British journalist Tom Bradby is set to adapt his espionage thriller Secret Service for the small screen, alongside co-writer Jemma Kennedy. Potboiler Productions, best known for The Last King of Scotland, will produce the series that will consist of five parts and will be a reimagining of the 2019 thriller. 

Secret Service explores the complex tensions between the United Kingdom and Russia and the interference of Kremlin in UK politics. The story follows Kate Henderson, who heads the Russia department for MI6, as she finds proof that a British politician is potentially a Kremlin resource.

Andrea Calderwood and Gail Egan are serving as executive producers on the series for Potboiler Productions. Polly Hill and Helen Ziegler of ITV commissioned the drama, which Potboiler will produce in association with All3Media International.

Expecting it to be a “compelling and enthralling” drama, Bradby stated, “I felt the themes were achingly topical when I wrote the novel – and they have only become more so since.”

Calderwood and Egan stated, “Tom and Jemma have created a bold and compelling drama that looks behind the curtain at the real world of modern-day spies and the machinations happening in the corridors of power.”

Bradby's previous works include The Great Fire for ITV, as well as a film titled Shadow Dancer that he wrote based on his own eponymous novel and stars Andrea Riseborough, Gillian Anderson, and Clive Owen.