London Spy BBC America Release Date Set – Renewal Decision On Hold?

BBC AMERICA’s New Original Co-Production London Spy Premieres January 21
Published: December 9, 2015

Provocative and transfixing mystery-drama lead by all-star cast including BAFTA-winner Ben Whishaw, Academy Award winner Jim Broadbent and legendary actress Charlotte Rampling

“How is it that this person, who I’ve never seen before…
…how are they the only person in the whole world who knows…
…that I’m not OK.”
– Danny

New York – December 9, 2015 – BBC AMERICA’s new original co-production, London Spy, begins with a chance romance between two people from two very different walks of life—one from the high-powered ranks of investment banking and the other from a world of clubbing and youthful excess. But their love story quickly unravels when the reclusive banker disappears under suspicious circumstances, exposing his real identity as a spy and forcing his lover down a dark path to reveal the truth. The stirring five-part mystery, from acclaimed best-selling author Tom Rob Smith (Child 44), stars BAFTA-winner Ben Whishaw (Spectre) in a career-defining performance as Danny, an innocent, young romantic drawn into a dangerous world of espionage. He is joined by Academy Award winner Jim Broadbent (Iris), Emmy nominee Charlotte Rampling (Broadchurch) and newcomer Edward Holcroft (Wolf Hall). London Spy premieres Thursday, January 21, 10:00pm ET.

London Spy opens with Danny (Whishaw) after a heavy night on the party scene. It’s dawn and he’s feeling lonely – standing on Lambeth Bridge, asking the London skyline if life gets any easier. London answers him with a chance encounter, an early morning runner who stops to ask if he’s OK, introducing himself as Alex. An unusual connection forms between these men who are polar opposites in many ways. Danny – extroverted, self-indulgent and adrift, falls for the anti-social, enigmatic and brilliant Alex (Edward Holcroft). But just as they realize they’re perfect for each other, Alex is found dead under circumstances that Danny is sure have been staged. And so begins Danny’s descent into the dangerous world of global espionage – a world for which he’s hopelessly ill equipped. Out of his depth, Danny seeks help from his friend and wise mentor, Scottie (Jim Broadbent). They embark on a journey where no one is who they seem, including the formidable Frances (Charlotte Rampling), a mysterious yet omnipresent figure from Alex’s life.

If Danny can prove that the Alex he knew was the real Alex, then he can prove to himself that intimacy does not necessarily end in despair. But ultimately, Danny must decide whether he’s prepared to fight for the truth, knowing he’ll be risking his life in the process.

London Spy is written and created by Tom Rob Smith. The miniseries is directed by Jakob Verbruggen (The Fall). The producer is Guy Heeley, and executive producers are Tom Rob Smith, Juliette Howell, Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner for Working Title Television, Polly Hill, Controller of BBC Drama Commissioning, and Hilary Salmon, Head of Drama, England, for BBC Two. London Spy is a Working Title Television co-production with BBC AMERICA and BBC Two, and is distributed by NBCUniversal and BBC Worldwide.

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