View source for Spooks (TV series)

{{short description|British television drama series (2002–2011)}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{more citations needed|date=October 2010}}
{{Infobox television
| alt_name             = ''MI-5''
| image                = Spooks002.JPG
| caption              = ''Spooks'' [[title sequence]]
| genre                = {{Plainlist|
* [[Drama (film and television)|Spy drama]]
* [[Action fiction|Action-adventure]]
* [[Mystery fiction|Mystery]]
}}
| creator              = [[David Wolstencroft]]
| starring             = {{Unbulleted list|[[Peter Firth]]|[[Matthew Macfadyen]]|[[Keeley Hawes]]|[[David Oyelowo]]|[[Hugh Simon]]|[[Rory MacGregor]]|[[Nicola Walker]]|[[Rupert Penry Jones]]|[[Olga Sosnovska]]|[[Raza Jaffrey]]|[[Miranda Raison]]|[[Hermione Norris]]|[[Gemma Jones]]|[[Richard Armitage (actor)|Richard Armitage]]|[[Shazad Latif]]|[[Sophia Myles]]|[[Max Brown (English actor)|Max Brown]]|[[Lara Pulver]]|[[Geoffrey Streatfeild]]|[[William Hope (actor)|William Hope]]|[[Simon Russell Beale]]|[[Tim McInnerny]]|[[Jenny Agutter]]}}
| theme_music_composer = [[Jennie Muskett]]
| composer             = {{Plainlist|
* Jennie Muskett (Series 1–4)
* [[Paul Leonard-Morgan]] (Series 5–10)
}}
| country              = United Kingdom
| language             = English
| num_series           = 10
| num_episodes         = 86
| list_episodes        = List of Spooks episodes
| network              = {{Unbulleted list|[[BBC One]]|[[BBC Three]]}}
| runtime              =
| first_aired          = {{start date|2002|5|13|df=yes}}
| last_aired           = {{end date|2011|10|23|df=yes}}
| related              = {{ubl |''[[Spooks: Code 9]]'' |''[[Spooks: The Greater Good]]''}} 
}}

'''''Spooks''''' (known as '''''MI-5''''' in some countries) is<!-- Do not change to was per [[WP:MOS]]--> a British television spy drama series that originally aired on [[BBC One]] from 13 May 2002 to 23 October 2011, consisting of 10 seasons. The title is a [[colloquialism]] for spies, and the series follows the activities of the intelligence officers of Section D in [[MI5]], based at the service's [[Thames House]] headquarters, in a highly secure suite of offices known as The Grid. In the United States, the show is broadcast under the title ''MI-5''. In Canada, the programme originally aired as ''MI-5'', but later aired on [[BBC Canada]] as ''Spooks''.

The series continued with a film, ''[[Spooks: The Greater Good]]'', which was released on 8 May 2015.<ref name=digspy1>{{cite web |url=https://www.digitalspy.co.uk/movies/s120/spooks/news/a528064/spooks-movie-the-greater-good-to-shoot-in-2014-plot-details-revealed.html |title='Spooks' movie 'The Greater Good' to shoot in 2014, plot details revealed |first=Simon |last=Reynolds |date=1 November 2013 |access-date=1 November 2013 |work=[[Digital Spy]]}}</ref><ref name=screendaily>{{cite web |url=http://www.screendaily.com/5063143.article |title=Altitude spies Spooks film |first=Andreas |last=Wiseman |date=1 November 2013 |access-date=1 November 2013 |work=Screen Daily}}</ref>

==Series synopses==
{{Main|List of Spooks episodes}}

{{:List of Spooks episodes}}

The show consists of 86 episodes, beginning in May 2002 and ending in October 2011. Most episodes end with the final scene freezing and changing to a black-and-white negative image that then compresses with a distinctive sound effect into a flat white line against a black screen.

===Series 1===
{{Main|Spooks (series 1)}}
Starring [[Matthew Macfadyen]], [[Keeley Hawes]], [[David Oyelowo]], [[Jenny Agutter]], and [[Peter Firth]], the initial series of six one-hour episodes premiered 13 May 2002.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.empireonline.com/spooks/|title=The Definitive history of Spooks|date=15 May 2015|work=Empire|access-date=15 May 2015}}</ref>	

Due to its combination of stylistic photography with fast-paced storylines,<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/spooks/series1.shtml Spooks – Series 1 Episode Guide] BBC Drama</ref> the series was a critical and popular success, averaging 7.5&nbsp;million viewers over its six episodes.<ref>Exact figure: 7.491666667, calculated from [[BARB]] figures for week ending 19 May 2002 and all subsequent weeks until 23 June 2002 [http://www.barb.co.uk/viewingsummary/weekreports.cfm?Requesttimeout=500&report=weeklyterrestrial Weekly Top 30 Programmes] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051215174702/http://www.barb.co.uk/viewingsummary/weekreports.cfm?report=weeklyterrestrial&requesttimeout=500 |date=15 December 2005 }} BARB</ref>

The second episode gained notoriety for the violent killing of character Helen Flynn ([[Lisa Faulkner]]), which drew the largest number of complaints to the [[Broadcasting Standards Commission]] in 2002.<ref>The Broadcasting Standards Commission receives 154 complaints after Helen Flynn's killing, [https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3073921.stm Spy show draws record complaints] BBC News, 17 July 2003</ref> During an undercover operation Helen and Tom were captured by race riot instigator Robert Osborne, played by [[Kevin McNally]], who tortured Helen with a [[deep fryer]] in an attempt to make Tom reveal classified information. He refused and she was killed. This provoked an angry reaction from many viewers who jammed BBC phone switchboards with complaints, despite the show airing after the [[Watershed (television)|9&nbsp;pm watershed]].<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/dozens-protest-to-bbc-over-horrific-death-scene-in-spooks-189423.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220524/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/dozens-protest-to-bbc-over-horrific-death-scene-in-spooks-189423.html |archive-date=24 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live | work=The Independent | title=Dozens protest to BBC over horrific death scene in 'Spooks' | first=Paul | last=Peachey | date=22 May 2002}}</ref>

===Series 2===
{{Main|Spooks (series 2)}}
With the success of the first series, a second, longer series of ten episodes was commissioned and aired in 2003. New regular characters [[Sam Buxton]] ([[Shauna Macdonald (Scottish actress)|Shauna Macdonald]]) and [[Ruth Evershed]] ([[Nicola Walker]]), were introduced in the first and second episodes respectively, while the series finale ended with a dramatic [[cliffhanger]].<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/spooks/series2.shtml Spooks – Series 2 Episode Guide] BBC Drama</ref> The series averaged 7.1&nbsp;million viewers.<ref>Exact figure: 7.097, calculated from [[BARB]] figures for week ending 8 June 2003 and all subsequent weeks until 17 August 2003 [http://www.barb.co.uk/viewingsummary/weekreports.cfm?Requesttimeout=500&report=weeklyterrestrial Weekly Top 30 Programmes] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051215174702/http://www.barb.co.uk/viewingsummary/weekreports.cfm?report=weeklyterrestrial&requesttimeout=500 |date=15 December 2005 }} BARB</ref>

===Series 3===
{{Main|Spooks (series 3)}}
A third series of ten episodes was transmitted on BBC One in the autumn of 2004 and concluded on 13 December. The first episode features [[Rupert Penry-Jones]] as [[Adam Carter]], who was drafted in from [[MI6]] to help investigate Tom's disappearance. He later takes over Tom's position as Section Chief after the latter jeopardised an important operation.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/spooks/series3.shtml Spooks – Series 3 – Episode Guide] BBC Drama, November 2009</ref>

In episode six, Zoe is taken to court for misconduct during an operation and is forced to leave MI5 and assume a new identity in Chile. She is replaced by Adam's wife, [[Fiona Carter|Fiona]] ([[Olga Sosnovska]]). In the series finale, Danny is killed while he and Fiona are being held hostage. Audience figures dropped to a series average of 5.8&nbsp;million viewers.<ref>Exact figure: 5.771, calculated from [[BARB]] figures for week ending 17 October 2004 and all subsequent weeks until 19 December 2004 [http://www.barb.co.uk/viewingsummary/weekreports.cfm?Requesttimeout=500&report=weeklyterrestrial Weekly Top 30 Programmes] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051215174702/http://www.barb.co.uk/viewingsummary/weekreports.cfm?report=weeklyterrestrial&requesttimeout=500 |date=15 December 2005 }} BARB</ref>

===Series 4===
{{Main|Spooks (series 4)}}
The fourth series of ''Spooks'' began airing on Monday 12 September 2005 on BBC One at 9&nbsp;pm with the first instalment of a two-part story. The next day the second episode was shown. The following week ''Spooks'' began airing in the Thursday 9&nbsp;pm slot, a change from the Monday 9&nbsp;pm slot that the previous three series had occupied. Once again, the series ran for ten episodes. It averaged 6.05&nbsp;million viewers per episode, notably more than the previous series.<ref>Exact figure: 6.045, calculated from [[BARB]] figures for week ending 18 September 2005 and all subsequent weeks until 13 November 2005 [http://www.barb.co.uk/viewingsummary/weekreports.cfm?Requesttimeout=500&report=weeklyterrestrial Weekly Top 30 Programmes] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051215174702/http://www.barb.co.uk/viewingsummary/weekreports.cfm?report=weeklyterrestrial&requesttimeout=500 |date=15 December 2005 }} BARB</ref>

The opening two-part episode introduces two new characters to the series, Zafar Younis ([[Raza Jaffrey]], whose character had first appeared in the final episode of series three), and Juliet Shaw ([[Anna Chancellor]]). The storyline involves a terrorist bombing in central London, something that, in reality, took place on [[7 July 2005 London bombings|7 July]], two months before the episode was due to air, but after it had already been filmed.

According to ''[[The Guardian]]'' newspaper, the day the first episode aired, "The similarities were sufficient to cause head of drama, [[Jane Tranter]] and new BBC One controller [[Peter Fincham]] to agonise over whether to drop the episodes."<ref>Gibson, Owen ''[https://www.theguardian.com/media/2005/sep/12/mondaymediasection.bbc Spooky coincidences]'' "The Guardian", 12 September 2005</ref> The episodes were eventually aired unedited, although before both instalments of the two-parter the BBC One [[continuity announcer]] warned viewers that they featured scenes of terrorist bombing in London which some viewers might find disturbing.

In episode seven, the character  Fiona Carter gets killed off because the actress portraying her, [[Olga Sosnovska]], was pregnant during filming and chose to leave the programme. In that story arc, Fiona attempts to kill her deranged ex-husband, who she thought had been hanged several years earlier. However, her ex-husband ultimately abducts her and later shoots her dead in Adam's presence during her attempted escape. Fiona Carter is replaced at MI5 by Jo Portman (played by [[Miranda Raison]]), a character who had been recruited by Adam Carter in a previous episode.

===Series 5===
{{Main|Spooks (series 5)}}
The fifth (ten-part) series of ''Spooks'' aired its first episode in two parts, the first appearing on 17 September 2006. In it, elements within the British Government, MI6 and the British media conspire in an attempt to overthrow the Parliament and the Prime Minister. These elements agree that for Britain to survive the threats posed by modern-day terrorism, democracy had to be replaced with rule by committee. The second part followed the next day,  marking ''Spooks<nowiki>'s</nowiki>'' return to BBC One's Monday night schedule.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/spooks/episodeguide.shtml Spooks – Episode Guide] BBC Drama, November 2009</ref> These episodes introduced Ros Myers ([[Hermione Norris]]).

This series's storylines include a fake home-grown [[Al-Qaeda]] cell that plans an attack on London; the British government selling nuclear technology to Saudi Arabia; and the US administration selling arms to African dictators.

The ratings for this series remained consistent with those of the previous series, averaging six million viewers.<ref>Exact figure: 5.968, calculated from [[BARB]] figures for week ending 17 September 2006 and all subsequent weeks until 19 November 2006 [http://www.barb.co.uk/viewingsummary/weekreports.cfm?Requesttimeout=500&report=weeklyterrestrial Weekly Top 30 Programmes] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051215174702/http://www.barb.co.uk/viewingsummary/weekreports.cfm?report=weeklyterrestrial&requesttimeout=500 |date=15 December 2005 }} BARB</ref>

===Series 6===
{{Main|Spooks (series 6)}}
The sixth series was commissioned by Jane Tranter, Head of Drama Commissioning at the BBC, by the time series 5 was announced. The series returned on 16 October 2007 at 9&nbsp;pm on [[BBC One]], and concluded on 18 December.<ref name=Home>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006mf4b Spooks] BBC One</ref><ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/spooks/episodeguide.shtml Spooks – Series 6 Episode Guide] BBC Drama</ref> The series averaged 5.68&nbsp;million viewers (the lowest to date)<ref>Calculated from [[BARB]] figures for week ending 21 October 2007 and all subsequent weeks until 23 December 2007 [http://www.barb.co.uk/viewingsummary/weekreports.cfm?Requesttimeout=500&report=weeklyterrestrial Weekly Top 30 Programmes] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051215174702/http://www.barb.co.uk/viewingsummary/weekreports.cfm?report=weeklyterrestrial&requesttimeout=500 |date=15 December 2005 }} BARB</ref>
The sixth series was different in certain respects from the previous five because it had a dominant storyline running through the entire season and the show contained end credits for the first time. There was also a less frequent use of the soundtrack composed by Jennie Muskett.{{citation needed|date=February 2017}}

The primary storyline of Series 6 follows [[Iran]] seeking the ability to manufacture its own nuclear weapons and searching for sellers of nuclear armaments components. The governments of several nations (principally the United States and its CIA, Russia's [[Federal Security Service (Russia)|FSB]], and a shadowy third organisation composed of disenfranchised members of other agencies, including MI5) are woven throughout the plot. [[Simon Abkarian]] plays the Iranian Special Consul liaising with the various governments. Agni Scott as his wife, [[Matthew Marsh (actor)|Matthew Marsh]] as the CIA station chief, and [[Robert Glenister]] as the British Home Secretary, all have recurring roles throughout the series.

A new website called "Spooks Interactive" was created to coincide with the launch of the series.<ref name=Home/> In April 2008, the ''Spooks'' [[Hoodlum (production company)|production team]] won the BAFTA Award for Interactivity for their work on Spooks Interactive.<ref name="bafta1">{{cite web |url= http://awards.bafta.org/award/2008/television/interactivity |title= 2008 Television in Interactivity |publisher=[[BAFTA]] |access-date= 20 July 2017}}</ref>

===Series 7===
{{Main|Spooks (series 7)}}
Series seven of ''Spooks'' began airing on 27 October 2008 for an eight-episode run.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/proginfo/tv/wk44/unplaced.shtml#unplaced_spooks | title=Programme Information – Network TV Week 44 – Unplaced |work=BBC Press Office | access-date=8 October 2008}}</ref> [[Peter Firth]] returns as [[Harry Pearce]], along with [[Alex Lanipekun]] as [[Ben Kaplan (character)|Ben Kaplan]], [[Hugh Simon]] as [[Malcolm Wynn-Jones]], [[Miranda Raison]] as [[Jo Portman]] and [[Gemma Jones]] as [[Connie James]].

In the first episode, central character [[Adam Carter]] (portrayed by [[Rupert Penry-Jones]]) dies in a car explosion set by terrorists, and the character [[Ros Myers]] (played by [[Hermione Norris]]) returns to the show as a deep-cover agent in Moscow. [[Richard Armitage (actor)|Richard Armitage]] joins the cast as [[Lucas North]], an agent who has been held in a Russian prison for the past eight years and released as part of a spy exchange. Following Adam's death, Ros is made the section leader and Lucas assumes Ros's previous position as senior case officer.

The series eight recommission press release announced that there would be a twist in the final episode of series 7.<ref name="bbc-series8"/> In that episode, a nuclear bomb is set to explode, triggered by a Russian sleeper agent who is part of Operation Tiresias. As Parliament and the Royal Family are evacuated, the nuclear threat to London is eliminated when Ros and Lucas are able to turn [[Connie James]] and elude an FSB kill squad. While defusing the bomb, Connie is killed by its conventional explosives. Seconds before the bomb explodes, Connie reveals it had not been Harry who sold Lucas North out to the Russians as Lucas had always believed but, rather, herself. The episode concludes with Harry, conscious but with his mouth taped shut, in the boot of a car being zipped up in a body bag by Viktor Sarkisian, head of the [[Federal Security Service (Russia)|FSB's]] London station.

===Series 8===
{{Main|Spooks (series 8)}}
In December 2008, the BBC announced that series 8 would start filming in March 2009 and air in late 2009,<ref name="bbc-series8">{{cite press release | title=BBC One announces return of hit drama Spooks as current series continues to garner critical acclaim | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2008/12_december/04/spooks.shtml |work=BBC Press Office | date=4 December 2008| access-date=4 December 2008}}</ref> and that both [[Hermione Norris]] ([[Ros Myers|Ros]]) and [[Richard Armitage (actor)|Richard Armitage]] ([[Lucas North|Lucas]]) would be returning. Series 8 started on Wednesday 4 November 2009, at 9&nbsp;pm on BBC One,<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/proginfo/tv/2009/wk44/wed.shtml Network TV BBC Week 44: Wednesday 4 November 2009] BBC Press Office, November 2009</ref> with episode 2 broadcast on Friday 6 November at 9&nbsp;pm on BBC Three.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00ntlnm Spooks – Series 8, Episode 2] BBC One</ref> The opening episode of series 8 drew 6&nbsp;million viewers, a 25% share of audience numbers between 9&nbsp;pm and 10&nbsp;pm.{{citation needed|date=October 2010}}

The first episode of the series picks up the story from where it left off in a cliffhanger at the end of series 7, with [[Harry Pearce]] being held captive by the Russians. During this episode, [[Ruth Evershed]] is reintroduced, having spent her time since series 5 in Cyprus. The only character other than Harry who has been in the programme since its inception, [[Malcolm Wynn-Jones]], departs, stating simply that he is "too old". His replacement comes in the form of much a younger technician, [[List of Spooks characters|Tariq Masood]] ([[Shazad Latif]]).

The series again revolves around one major plot arc, focused on a mysterious organisation known only as "Nightingale". Over the course of the series, [[Lucas North]]'s loyalty is continually called into question, for the most part because of his ongoing relationship with CIA agent Sarah Caulfield, who is connected to Nightingale.

[[Jo Portman]] also briefly returns, but is killed by Ros in a dramatic act of martyrdom after being captured by a terrorist. Ros is haunted by the memory of this event for the remainder of this series.

At the end of the series, Section D does not appear to have made much progress in tackling Nightingale, and [[Ros Myers]] is killed in an explosion, along with the new Home Secretary, Andrew Lawrence.

===Series 9===
{{Main|Spooks (series 9)}}
''Spooks'' returned for a ninth series on Monday 20 September 2010 for an eight-episode run.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/proginfo/tv/2010/wk38/ | title=Network TV Programme Information BBC Week 38 |work=BBC Press Office | access-date=2 August 2010}}</ref>

New cast members in this series include [[Sophia Myles]] and [[Max Brown (English actor)|Max Brown]] as MI5 officers and [[Simon Russell Beale]] as the Home Secretary. [[Iain Glen]] and [[Laila Rouass]] also joined the series, playing [[List of Spooks characters|Vaughn Edwards]] and [[Maya Lahan]] – figures from Lucas's mysterious past.<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1670824/fullcredits#cast Full cast and crew for "Spooks" (2010)] IMDb</ref>

The series ends with the death of Lucas's lover Maya Lahan, following the death of Lucas's blackmailer, Vaughn, at the climactic end of the penultimate episode. Lucas had kidnapped Ruth, binding and gagging her, and was attempting to get a top-secret computer file for the Chinese. The climactic scene is a showdown between Harry and Lucas on top of a tower block in London. After Harry reveals that the file never actually worked, and that Lucas had apparently betrayed his MI5 colleagues and stolen another man's identity, "Lucas" (whose "real" name is apparently John Bateman) orders Harry to turn around. Harry anticipates execution, but no shots come. Hearing a car alarm and screams from the ground many seconds later, Harry turns around to find Lucas no longer on the roof. Forty-eight hours later, the Home Secretary calls Harry to inform him that a full investigation will be made into his actions at MI5 and to "prepare for life after MI5". The series ends with Harry looking out over the London skyline at night. A caption reveals that a 10th series is planned for 2011.

===Series 10===
{{Main|Spooks (series 10)}}

Production on the six-episode<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lifeofwylie.com/2011/04/01/spooks-is-this-the-end-for-harry/|title=Spooks: Is This The End For Harry?|work=Life of Wylie|date=April 2011}}</ref> series reportedly began during March 2011,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/s120/spooks/news/a312319/spooks-tenth-series-begins-production.html|title='Spooks' tenth series begins production|work=Digital Spy|date=April 2011}}</ref> with [[Lara Pulver]] joining the series as an "ambitious, hungry" new spook "determined to make her mark". Also joining the series were [[Geoffrey Streatfeild]], [[Alice Krige]] and [[Jonathan Hyde]], while Peter Firth, Nicola Walker, Max Brown, Shazad Latif and Simon Russell Beale reprised their roles, as did [[Matthew Macfadyen]] in a cameo appearance in the final episode. [[Sophia Myles]] did not return as Beth Bailey.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110404100057/http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5gEXdxT6c5pH3RLdhac1vfxOJWshA?docId=N0330221301577404759A "Pulver lands boss role on Spooks" – Press Association]</ref>

This series concludes with the revelation of a plot to force Britain and Russia into war. Harry manages to thwart the plot and decides to leave the service to live a normal life with Ruth Evershed. But when a vengeful Sasha Gavrik attempts to take revenge on him, Ruth takes the blow for Harry and dies in his arms. Harry then decides to return to MI5, since the prospect of a normal life, whatever that would mean without Ruth, no longer appeals to him.

[[Kudos (production company)|Kudos]] and the BBC announced in a joint statement in August 2011 that Series 10 would be the last series.<ref name="Spooks Axed">{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2011/aug/11/bbc-spooks-axed|title=BBC's Spooks to end after a decade|work=The Guardian|date=10 August 2011}}</ref> It began airing on BBC One on Sunday 18 September 2011 at 9:00&nbsp;pm, moving from its former weekday evening slot,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2011/sep/07/bbc-spooks-downton-abbey|title=BBC sets up Spooks v Downton Abbey battle|author=Tara Conlan|work=The Guardian|date=7 September 2011}}</ref> with the final episode airing on 23 October 2011.

=== ''Spooks: The Greater Good'' ===
{{Main|Spooks: The Greater Good}}

A feature-length film, ''Spooks: The Greater Good'', known in the US as ''MI-5'', was released in May 2015.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/movies/s120/spooks/news/a610949/spooks-the-greater-good-release-date-confirmed-for-2015.html#~oVZQP1TnRlg05J | title=Spooks: The Greater Good release date confirmed for 2015 | work=Digital Spy | date=18 November 2014 | access-date=5 July 2016}}</ref> [[Peter Firth]] reprises his role as [[Harry Pearce]]. Also returning from the TV series are [[Tim McInnerny]] as Oliver Mace, [[Lara Pulver]] as [[List of Spooks characters|Erin Watts]], [[Hugh Simon]] as [[Malcolm Wynn-Jones]], and [[Geoffrey Streatfeild]] as Calum Reed.  [[Kit Harington]] and [[Jennifer Ehle]] star as new characters in leading roles.

==Characters==
{{Main|List of Spooks characters}}

===Main===

====The Grid (surviving)====
<!--Arranged in approx. order of seniority (and, among equals, most recent last.)-->
*[[Harry Pearce|Sir Harry Pearce]] [[Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire|KBE]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/spooks/aps/harry.shtml|title=BBC – BBC One Programmes – Spooks – Sir Harry Pearce KBE character page – actor Peter Firth|publisher=BBC}}</ref> ([[Peter Firth]]; 2002–2011) Head of Counter-Terrorism Department ("Section D") MI5.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20081029064943/http://www.bbc.co.uk/spooks/characters/harrypearce.shtml Spooks Personnel – Harry Pearce] BBC One</ref>
*[[Tom Quinn (Spooks)|Tom Quinn]] ([[Matthew Macfadyen]]; 2002–2004; 2011) Chief of Section and Senior Case Officer, Section D. Decommissioned after jeopardising a key mission and took early retirement. Became a private contractor after leaving MI5. In the final episode of the series, Quinn is hired by Harry as an 'outside source' to kill a double agent for both MI5 and the FSB.
*Tessa Phillips ([[Jenny Agutter]]; 2002–2003) Senior Case Officer, Section K. Left the Grid after being discovered by Harry running "ghost" agents. Fled the country after sabotaging an operation.
*Dimitri Levendis ([[Max Brown (English actor)|Max Brown]]; 2010–2011) Piracy and Terrorism Case Officer, Section D. Also ex-[[Special Boat Service]].<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/spooks/aps/dimitri.shtml Spooks Personnel – Dimitri Levendis] BBC One</ref>
*[[Zoe Reynolds]] ([[Keeley Hawes]]; 2002–2004) Junior Case Officer, Section D. Hidden "off-the-books" in Chile after she was caught making a mistake on an undercover mission in Series 3, Episode 6.
*[[Beth Bailey]] ([[Sophia Myles]]; 2010) Junior Case Officer, Section D.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/spooks/aps/beth.shtml Spooks Personnel – Beth Bailey] BBC One</ref> Decommissioned by Erin Watts in the time between series 9 and 10.
* Sam Buxton ([[Shauna Macdonald (Scottish actress)|Shauna Macdonald]]; 2003–2004) Administrative Officer, Section D. Reassigned to [[Government Communications Headquarters|GCHQ]] following Danny's demise.
*[[Malcolm Wynn-Jones]] ([[Hugh Simon]]; 2002–2009; 2010) Technician and Data Analyst, Section D. Retired.

====The Grid (status unknown)====
*Jed Kelley (Graeme Mearns; 2002) Administrative Officer, Section D. Status unknown.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/spooks/spooksexpert_questions_5.shtml#1 Spooks Expert – Week 5] BBC Drama, September 2004 (on Jed's departure)</ref>

====The Grid (deceased)====
Arranged in approximate order of seniority and, among equals, most recent last.

*[[Adam Carter]] ([[Rupert Penry-Jones]]; 2004–2008) Chief of Section and Senior Case Officer, Section D. Killed by a car bomb in Series 7, Episode 1.
*[[Ros Myers]] ([[Hermione Norris]]; 2006–2009) Chief of Section<ref>Series 7, Episode 2</ref> and Senior Case Officer, Section D.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/spooks/characters/rosmyers.shtml Spooks Personnel – Ros Myers] BBC One</ref> Killed in an explosion while attempting to rescue the Home Secretary in Series 8, Episode 8.
*[[Lucas North]]/John Bateman ([[Richard Armitage (actor)|Richard Armitage]]; 2008–2010) Chief of Section and Senior Case Officer, Section D. Jumped from a rooftop to his death after a showdown with Harry Pearce in Series 9, Episode 8.
*Erin Watts ([[Lara Pulver]]; 2011) Section Chief, Section D; former acting Head of Counter-Terrorism Department, MI5. Killed herself after being captured by a terrorist cell in ''[[Spooks: The Greater Good]]''.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110926064306/http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006mf4b/characters/erin Spooks Personnel – Erin Watts] BBC One</ref>
*Fiona Carter ([[Olga Sosnovska]]; 2004–2005) MI6 Officer, Section D. Shot by Syrian ex-husband during an operation in Series 4, Episode 7.
*[[Danny Hunter]] ([[David Oyelowo]]; 2002–2004) Junior Case Officer, Section D. Executed during a terrorist hostage situation in Series 3, Episode 10.
*Zafar Younis ([[Raza Jaffrey]]; 2004–2007) Junior Case Officer, Section D. Tortured and killed by a rogue cell called The Redbacks sometime after being abducted in Series 6, Episode 1.
*Ben Kaplan [[Distinguished Service Order|DSO]] ([[Alex Lanipekun]]; 2007–2008) Junior Case Officer,<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/spooks/characters/benkaplan.shtml Spooks Personnel – Ben Kaplan] BBC One</ref> Section D. Throat cut by [[Federal Security Service (Russia)|FSB]] mole Connie James in Series 7, Episode 7.
*[[Jo Portman]] ([[Miranda Raison]]; 2005–2009) Junior Case Officer<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/spooks/characters/joportman.shtml Spooks Personnel – Jo Portman] BBC One</ref> Section D. Shot by Ros Myers while restraining a terrorist during a hostage situation in Series 8, Episode 3.
* Calum Reed ([[Geoffrey Streatfeild]]; 2011) Junior Case Officer, Section D. Killed by the terrorist Qasim during the takeover of the Grid in ''[[Spooks: The Greater Good]]''.
*Ruth Evershed ([[Nicola Walker]]; 2003–2006 and 2009–2011) Former Senior Intelligence Analyst, Section D, later Security Advisor to Home Secretary William Towers.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20091108122853/http://www.bbc.co.uk/spooks/characters/ruthevershed.shtml Spooks Personnel – Ruth Evershed] BBC One</ref> Stabbed by Sasha Gavrik, Series 10, Episode 6.
* Connie James ([[Gemma Jones]]; 2007–2008) Former Senior Analyst<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/spooks/characters/conniejames.shtml Spooks Personnel – Connie James] BBC One</ref> Section D. Arrested as an [[Federal Security Service (Russia)|FSB]] mole. Killed while defusing a nuclear bomb in Series 7, Episode 8.
*Helen Flynn ([[Lisa Faulkner]]; 2002) Administrative Officer, Section D. Tortured and shot by a right-wing terrorist in Series 1, Episode 2.
*Colin Wells ([[Rory MacGregor]]; 2002–2006) Technician and Data Analyst, Section D. Hanged by corrupt MI6 officers during their attempted ''coup d'état'' in Series 5, Episode 1.
*Tariq Masood ([[Shazad Latif]]; 2009–2011) Technician and Data Analyst, Section D<ref>[https://archive.today/20120630150556/http://www.bbc.co.uk/spooks/characters/tariqmasood.shtml Spooks Personnel – Tariq Masood] BBC One</ref> Assassinated with a [[hydrogen cyanide]]-related compound after discovering vital intel at his bugged home in Series 10, Episode 2.

====Other (Surviving)====
<!--Arranged in approx. order of seniority (and, among equals, most recent last.)-->
* The Rt Hon William Towers MP ([[Simon Russell Beale]]; 2010–2011) British [[Home Secretary]], serving as part of a coalition government.
* Ilya Gavrik ([[Jonathan Hyde]]; 2011) Russian Minister for International Development former KGB Operative and old adversary of Harry during the cold war.
*Oliver Mace ([[Tim McInnerny]]; 2004–2006) Chairman of the [[UK Joint Intelligence Committee|Joint Intelligence Committee]]. Forced to resign after being exposed as the mastermind behind illegal torture of terror suspects.
* Sir Richard Dolby (Robert East; 2008) [[Director General of MI5]].
*Bob Hogan ([[Matthew Marsh (actor)|Matthew Marsh]]; 2007) Former CIA London station chief. Dismissed from CIA for working with mercenaries against MI5.
* Dariush Bakhshi ([[Simon Abkarian]]; 2007) Iranian Special Consul.
* Jools Siviter ([[Hugh Laurie]]; 2002) MI6 Section Chief. Reassigned out of the country.
* Christine Dale ([[Megan Dodds]]; 2002–2004) CIA agent and MI5 liaison officer. Resigned following her involvement in Tom's investigation and apprehension.
* Sasha Gavrik ([[Tom Weston-Jones]], 2011) FSB officer and son of Elena Gavrik and Ilya Gavrik.
* Elisavieta Starkova ([[Paloma Baeza]]; 2009) Lucas North's ex-wife and a double agent. Dropped as an asset on Lucas's request.
* Wes Carter (James Dicker; 2004–2008) Son of Adam and Fiona. Sent to live with his grandmother after being orphaned following his father's death.

====Other (Status unknown)====
<!--Arranged in approx. order of seniority (and, among equals, most recent last.)-->
*Juliet Shaw ([[Anna Chancellor]]; 2005–2007) Former National Security Coordinator, exposed as Head of Yalta.
* Alton Beecher ([[Colin Salmon]]; 2010) The head CIA liaison officer stationed in London.
*[[Bernard Qualtrough]] ([[Richard Johnson (actor)|Richard Johnson]]; 2008) Harry's former mentor and retired SIS officer. Exposed as an [[Federal Security Service (Russia)|FSB]] mole after the ''Sugarhorse'' incident.

====Other (Deceased)====
<!--Arranged in approx. order of seniority (and, among equals, most recent last.)-->
* The Rt Hon [[Nicholas Blake (Spooks)|Nicholas Blake]] MP ([[Robert Glenister]]; 2006–2010) – Former British [[Home Secretary]]. Forced to resign after allegations of corruption. Later exposed by Ruth as a senior member of Nightingale who ordered the hotel bombing that killed Home Secretary Andrew Lawrence and Ros Myers. Poisoned by Harry, who had learned from Ruth that Blake was a traitor.
* The Rt Hon Andrew Lawrence MP ([[Tobias Menzies]]; 2009) – Former British [[Home Secretary]]. Killed in an explosion alongside Ros Myers, though his body was never seen.
* Sam Walker ([[Brian Protheroe]]; 2009) – CIA's London station chief. Murdered by Nightingale operative Sarah Caulfield for investigating Nightingale.
* Viktor Sarkisian ([[Peter Sullivan (actor)|Peter Sullivan]]; (2008–2009) – Former head of the FSB's London station. Murdered early in series 8 episode 1 by the man to whom he had intended to sell a kidnapped Harry Pearce. Viktor's killer was himself killed at the end of the 1st episode by Lucas when he and Ros rescued Harry and Ruth, who had returned from Cyprus.
* James 'Jim' Coaver ([[William Hope (actor)|William Hope]], 2011) CIA Deputy Director and an old friend of Harry Pearce; helped turn Elena Gavrik in the 1980s. Suspected of being behind the attacks on MI5 and Gavrik as well as the death of Tariq Masood, but apparently set-up for Harry to believe this. Beaten and fatally injured by mercenaries posing as CIA agents, died minutes later.
* Sarah Caulfield ([[Genevieve O'Reilly]]; 2009) – CIA agent and MI5 liaison officer. Lucas North's lover. Assassinated by a hitman for Nightingale after being captured by MI5 and exposed as a traitor.
*Vaughn Edwards ([[Iain Glen]]; 2010) – Lucas North/John Bateman's blackmailer and his apparent employer in relation to the Dakar Bombings. Died from blood loss received from a knife wound after a confrontation with Lucas/John.
* Elena Gavrik ([[Alice Krige]], 2011) Wife of Ilya Gavrik and former asset and lover of Harry Pearce during the cold war. Killed by Ilya Gavrik after being revealed to be a Russian ultra-nationalist double-agent.
*[[Maya Lahan]] ([[Laila Rouass]]; 2010) – Lucas North/John Bateman's ex-girlfriend. Died from gunshot wounds during a shoot out with Alec, Beth and Dimitri while attempting to flee the country with Lucas/John.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00v2xpc Spooks – Series 9 – Episode 2] BBC One</ref>

==Production==
{{More citations needed section|date=December 2008}}
The programme was created by writer [[David Wolstencroft]], and produced by [[Kudos (production company)|Kudos]] for the BBC. A trademark style, coupled with the series' popularity, attracted a large number of high-profile guest stars. These included [[Martine McCutcheon]], [[Hugh Laurie]], [[Haluk Bilginer]], [[Robert Hardy]], [[Tim McInnerny]], [[Bruce Payne]], [[Reece Dinsdale]], [[Ian McDiarmid]], [[Ewen Bremner]], [[Jimi Mistry]], [[Andy Serkis]], [[Benedict Cumberbatch]], [[Kevin McNally]], [[Rupert Graves]], [[Andrew Tiernan]], [[Anton Lesser]], [[Anupam Kher]], [[Alexander Siddig]], and [[Anthony Head]].

===Locations===
The availability and iconic status of certain London landmarks made them popular locations throughout production. Exterior shots of Thames House,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mi5.gov.uk/output/thames-house.html |title=Thames House |publisher=MI5 |access-date=2 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110106162525/https://www.mi5.gov.uk/output/thames-house.html |archive-date=6 January 2011  }}</ref> the headquarters of MI5 were used in many episodes to establish the location. However, due to the security risks involved with filming such a location, London's [[Freemasons' Hall, London|Freemasons' Hall]] was used for scenes where actors were entering or leaving the building, and for some internal locations. This same location was later used as Thames House in ''[[Torchwood: Children of Earth]]''. Establishing shots of the [[SIS Building]] were also used for scenes involving members of the [[Secret Intelligence Service]] or [[MI6]]. Other landmarks commonly used included the London Underground, and the [[Millennium Bridge (London)|Millennium Bridge]]. Many scenes are filmed in and around the Docklands, especially [[Canary Wharf]], [[Rotherhithe]], [[London Bridge]] and Greenwich (including The Old Royal Naval College), as well as the [[More London]] development. Some of the army barracks were filmed at [[Merchant Taylors' School, Northwood]].

==Broadcast and release==
The series was filmed on [[16 mm film#Super 16 mm|Super 16]],<ref>episode 1 series 8 DVD director/producer commentary</ref> rather than the more commonly used digital alternatives. Episodes were originally aired with no credits on [[BBC One]], a choice made to maintain an atmosphere of the anonymity of real-life spies and the drama of each episode. Prior to series nine, each subsequent episode was aired on [[BBC Three]] one week ahead of its BBC One showing (the first and last episode were shown only on [[BBC One]]). BBC Three airings included a brief credit sequence following the trailer and before the Kudos and BBC logos.  The entire 86 episodes were made available free-to-view on the BBC iPlayer in April 2020.

===International broadcast===
The series is a popular export, syndicated to more than 26 countries. However, it has struggled for popularity in some, notably the United States: two of the three channels to have broadcast ''Spooks'' in the US pulled the show during the fourth series due to low viewing figures. Because of the potentially racist connotations of the term ''Spooks'' in some countries, international broadcasts are often renamed.

===Home media===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!colspan="2"|Series!!Region 1!!Region 2!!Region 4!!Extras
|-
| style="background:#fff;"|
|Series One
|13 January 2004
|16 June 2003
|18 August 2003
2006 (Slimline)
|Deleted scenes, a guide to ''Spooks'' terminology, character biographies, image galleries, interviews and commentaries with the cast and crew, PDF scripts.
|-
| style="background:#90f6ee;"|
|Series Two||11 January 2005||20 September 2004||21 March 2004
21 March 2005 (Collector's Edition)

2006 (Slimline)
||Outtakes, cast interviews and commentaries, featurettes, including PDF scripts.
|-
| style="background:#33885a;"|
|Series Three||31 January 2006||5 September 2005||23 May 2005||Audio commentaries, "behind the scenes" featurettes, deleted scenes and DVD ROM content, including PDF scripts, wallpapers and image gallery.
|-
| style="background:#1e1e82;"|
|Series Four||9 January 2007||4 September 2006||19 May 2007||Audio commentaries, a "behind the scenes" documentary and interviews with the series producer and the director of episodes 9 and 10.
|-
| style="background:#9a111a;"|
|Series Five||8 January 2008||10 September 2007||19 May 2008||Two audio commentaries, cast interviews and Miranda Raison's video diary for series 6.
|-
| style="background:#c7c7c7;"|
|Series Six||20 January 2009<ref>[https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001EHF3RS MI-5, Vol. 6 (2009)] Amazon.com</ref>||6 October 2008||2 August 2008|| Two audio commentaries from the location managers, two audio commentaries with the producer and writer, a "behind the scenes" documentary on episode 6.8, series 6 trailers, four cast interviews and Miranda's video diary.
|-
| style="background:#000;"|
|Series Seven||26 January 2010<ref>[https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002HWRZTI MI-5, Vol. 7] Amazon.com</ref>||12 October 2009<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B001HN6PPI | title=Spooks: Complete Series 7 | website=Amazon UK | access-date=3 February 2009}}</ref>||18 March 2009|| Two audio commentaries, a "behind the scenes" in Russia with Richard Armitage and Hermione Norris, cast interviews.
|-
| style="background:#100001;"|
|Series Eight||{{nowrap|25 January 2011<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004AUCDLU |title=Mi-5: Volume 8: Peter Firth, Richard Armitage, Hermione Norris, Nicola Walker, Robert Glenister: Movies & TV |website=Amazon |access-date=2 March 2011}}</ref>}} ||{{nowrap|20 September 2010<ref>[https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00365KI2Q Amazon.co.uk] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100613150150/http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00365KI2Q |date=13 June 2010 }}</ref>}}||3 November 2010 ||Two audio commentaries with the producer and director, two brief featurettes of the Colleville explosion and Walker's murder. This DVD set does not include a Dolby Digital 5.1 which all other sets have. Only a 2.0 soundtrack was included.
|-
| style="background:#100001;"|
|Series Nine||12 July 2011 ||28 February 2011<ref>[https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B003DTMPTO=8-2 Amazon.co.uk] {{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>|| 1 June 2011 ||Two audio commentaries, and two mini-featurettes, "The Cost of Being a Spy" and "The Downfall of Lucas North".
|-
| style="background:#100001;"|
|Series Ten||6 March 2012 ||{{nowrap|28 November 2011}}||4 April 2012<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ezydvd.com.au/DVD/spooks-series-10/dp/6110923|title=Buy Spooks: Series 10 on DVD-Video from EzyDVD.com.au|publisher=ezydvd.com.au|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120409061852/http://www.ezydvd.com.au/DVD/spooks-series-10/dp/6110923|archive-date=9 April 2012}}</ref>||Harry's Game – Feature, Top Ten Spooks Moments
|-
|
|The Complete Collection
|N/A
|N/A
|31 October 2012<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sanity.com.au/products/2217549/Spooks-S1-10|title=Spooks; S1-10|website=Sanity |access-date=9 December 2019}}</ref>
|Same as individual seasons.
|}

All series of Spooks (most episodes cut down to 50 minutes) are available on [[iTunes Store|iTunes]], with series 7, 8, 9 and 10 becoming available to download one week after original broadcast. Series 1–8 have been released on DVD by Contender Home Entertainment with its successor Entertainment One then taking over; series 9 was released by Universal Playback.

==Awards and nominations==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Award
! Category
! Nominee(s)
! Result
|-
| 2002
| [[Royal Television Society Craft & Design Awards]]
| Sound - Drama<ref>{{cite web|url=https://rts.org.uk/award/rts-craft-and-design-winners-2002|title=CRAFT & DESIGN AWARDS 2002|website=[[Royal Television Society]]|date=24 January 2011 |accessdate=5 February 2023}}</ref>
| Julian Slater, Nigel Heath, Michael Fentum, Dan Morgan
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="8" | 2003
| rowspan="3" | [[British Academy Television Awards]]
| [[British Academy Television Award for Best Drama Series|Best Drama Series]]<ref name="bafta.win">[http://www.bafta.org/site/webdav/site/myjahiasite/shared/import/TV_and_Craft_Winners_2000-2005.pdf BAFTA award list 2000 to 2005] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070217065942/http://www.bafta.org/site/webdav/site/myjahiasite/shared/import/TV_and_Craft_Winners_2000-2005.pdf |date=17 February 2007 }} BAFTA</ref> || || {{won}}
|-
| Original Television Music<ref name="IMDB-Bafta-2003">[https://www.imdb.com/Sections/Awards/BAFTA_Awards/2003#BAFTA_TV_Award BAFTA Awards 2003] IMDb. Retrieved 29 June 2008</ref> || [[Jennie Muskett]] || {{sho|Nominated}}
|-
| Editing in Entertainment<ref name="IMDB-Bafta-2003" /> || Colin Green || {{sho|Nominated}}
|-
|| [[Broadcast (magazine)|Broadcast]] Awards
| Best Drama Series<ref>[http://www.kudosproductions.co.uk/tv_spooks.html Spooks information page] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061214183443/http://www.kudosproductions.co.uk/tv_spooks.html |date=14 December 2006 }} Kudos Productions</ref> || || {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="2"| [[Royal Television Society Programme Awards|Royal Television Society Awards]]
| Best Drama Series<ref>{{Cite web |last= |last2= |first2= |last3= |date=2003-02-27 |title=Live autopsy tabled for TV honour |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/arid-30089889.html |access-date=2022-03-09 |website=Irish Examiner}}</ref>
| 
| {{nom}}
|-
| Best Writing
| David Wolstencroft and Howard Brenton
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="2" | BBC Drama Awards
| Best Drama<ref name="BBC2003DramaAwards">[https://archive.today/20130113230659/http://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/bestof2003/ Best of 2003] BBC Drama</ref> || || {{won}}
|-
| Best Drama Website<ref name="BBC2003DramaAwards"/> || || {{won}}
|-
| 2004
|| [[Royal Television Society Programme Awards|Royal Television Society Awards]]
| Best Drama Series<ref>[http://www.rts.org.uk/awards_det.asp?id=3102&sec_id=622 Award page] Royal Television Society {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060925011011/http://www.rts.org.uk/awards_det.asp?id=3102&sec_id=622 |date=25 September 2006 }}</ref> || || {{won}}
|-
|| 2005
|| [[British Academy Television Awards]]
| [[British Academy Television Award for Best Drama Series|Best Drama Series]]<ref name="bafta.2005">{{cite web |url=http://www.bafta.org/awards/television/nominations/?year=2005|title=BAFTA 2005 Nominees |access-date=3 April 2009|publisher=BAFTA}}</ref> || || {{sho|Nominated}}
|-
|| 2006
|| [[British Academy Television Awards]]
| [[British Academy Television Award for Best Drama Series|Best Drama Series]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.metro.co.uk/fame/article.html?in_article_id=47779&in_page_id=7&in_a_source=|title=BAFTA 2006 Nominees |access-date=3 April 2009|publisher=Metro|date=3 May 2007}}</ref> || || {{sho|Nominated}}
|-
| rowspan="2"| 2007
| rowspan="2"| [[Royal Television Society Craft & Design Awards]]
| Photography - Drama<ref>{{cite web|url=https://rts.org.uk/award/rts-craft-and-design-winners-2007|title=CRAFT & DESIGN AWARDS 2007|website=[[Royal Television Society]]|date=24 January 2011 |accessdate=15 February 2023}}</ref>
| Damian Bromley
| {{nom}}
|-
| Sound - Drama
| Rudi Buckle, James Feltham, Darren Banks
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="6" | 2008
|| [[British Academy Television Awards]]
| Interactivity<ref name="bafta1" /> || || {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="3" | [[Crime Thriller Awards]]
| Best Actor{{Citation needed|date=November 2009}} || [[Rupert Penry Jones]] || {{won}}
|-
| Best Actress{{Citation needed|date=November 2009}} || [[Hermione Norris]] || {{won}}
|-
| Crime Drama<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.itv.com/Drama/copsandcrime/ITV3CrimeThrillerSeason/Abouttheawards/default.html |title=ITV3 Crime Thriller Awards – About the awards |access-date=3 April 2009 |publisher=ITV |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080925230855/http://www.itv.com/Drama/copsandcrime/ITV3CrimeThrillerSeason/Abouttheawards/default.html |archive-date=25 September 2008 }}</ref> || || {{sho|Nominated}}
|-
| rowspan="2"| [[Royal Television Society Craft & Design Awards]]
| Lighting, Photography & Camera - Photography - Drama<ref>{{cite web|url=https://rts.org.uk/award/rts-craft-and-design-winners-2008|title=CRAFT & DESIGN AWARDS 2008|website=[[Royal Television Society]]|date=24 January 2011 |accessdate=18 February 2023}}</ref>
| Damian Bromley
| {{won}}
|-
| Tape & Film Editing - Drama
| Jamie Pearson
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="4" | 2009
| rowspan="2" | [[British Academy Television Awards]]
| [[British Academy Television Award for Best Drama Series|Best Drama Series]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bafta.org/awards/television/tv-noms-2009,709,BA.html|date=24 March 2009|access-date=3 April 2009|title=Television Awards Nominations in 2009|publisher=[[British Academy of Film and Television Arts|BAFTA]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101121045935/http://www.bafta.org/awards/television/tv-noms-2009,709,BA.html|archive-date=21 November 2010}}</ref> || || {{sho|Nominated}}
|-
| Original Television Music<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bafta.org/awards/television-craft/original-television-music,736,BA.html|date=24 March 2009|access-date=3 April 2009|title=Television Craft Awards Nominations in 2009|publisher=[[British Academy of Film and Television Arts|BAFTA]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090410081115/http://www.bafta.org/awards/television-craft/original-television-music,736,BA.html|archive-date=10 April 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> || [[Paul Leonard-Morgan]] || {{sho|Nominated}}
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[Crime Thriller Awards]]
| The TV Dagger<ref name="2009 Crime Thrill">{{cite news|author=Allen, Kate |date=7 September 2009 |url=http://www.thebookseller.com/news/96297-coben-cole-atkinson-vie-for-crime-awards.html |title=Coben, Cole, Atkinson vie for crime awards |work=The Bookseller |access-date=7 September 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090910005647/http://www.thebookseller.com/news/96297-coben-cole-atkinson-vie-for-crime-awards.html |archive-date=10 September 2009  }}</ref> || || {{sho|Nominated}}
|-
| Best Actress<ref name="2009 Crime Thrill"/> || Hermione Norris || {{sho|Nominated}}
|-
|| 2010
|| [[British Academy Television Awards]]
| [[British Academy Television Award for Best Drama Series|Best Drama Series]]<ref name="bafta.2010">{{cite web|url=http://www.bafta.org/television/awards/nominees-winner-2010,3256,BA.html|title=BAFTA 2010 Nominees|access-date=24 May 2010|publisher=BAFTA}}{{Dead link|date=August 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> || || {{sho|Nominated}}
|-
| 2011
| [[Royal Television Society Craft & Design Awards]]
| Judges' Award<ref>{{cite web|url=https://rts.org.uk/award/rts-announces-winners-craft-design-awards-2011|title=CRAFT & DESIGN AWARDS 2011|website=[[Royal Television Society]]|date=6 September 2012 |accessdate=26 February 2023}}</ref>
|
| {{won}} 
|-
|| 2012
|| [[British Academy Television Awards]]
| [[British Academy Television Award for Best Drama Series|Best Drama Series]]<ref name="bafta.2012">{{cite web |url=http://www.bafta.org/television/awards/nominees-winner-2012,3256,BA.html|title=BAFTA 2012 Nominees |date=24 April 2012 |access-date=24 May 2012|publisher=BAFTA}}</ref> || || {{sho|Nominated}}
|}

==Music==

The music for series one to four and theme tune was composed by Jennie Muskett. Music for series five to ten was composed by Paul Leonard-Morgan. Four soundtracks have been released for the show, the first includes music from series one and two, the second (currently and perhaps only ever available on iTunes) featuring music from series five and six (Two additional tracks are available on the composer's website). The third and fourth soundtracks (containing tracks from series seven & eight, and nine & ten respectively) were released on iTunes in November 2011.<ref name="spooks7itunes">{{cite web |url=https://music.apple.com/gb/album/spooks-series-7-8/482925275 |title=Spooks: Series 7 & 8 |last=Leonard-Morgan|first=Paul|author-link=Paul Leonard-Morgan |date=24 November 2011 |publisher=Kudos Film and Television Ltd|access-date=26 November 2011}}</ref><ref name="spooks9itunes">{{cite web |url=https://music.apple.com/gb/album/spooks-series-9-10/482937181 |title=Spooks: Series 9 & 10|last=Leonard-Morgan|first=Paul|author-link=Paul Leonard-Morgan|date=24 November 2011 |publisher=Kudos Film and Television Ltd|access-date=26 November 2011}}</ref> The track listings contain spoilers to the episode content.

Broadcast editions of the episodes have been known to feature alternate music to that found on the commercially available DVD releases{{citation needed|date=October 2015}}. In the final episode of Series two, music from the film score ''[[Spy Game]]'' was used—composed by [[Harry Gregson-Williams]]. The tracks used are "Beirut, a War Zone" and "Operation Dinner Out". Both are available on the official soundtrack release for the film.

==Wider universe==

===''Spooks: Code 9''===
{{Main|Spooks: Code 9}}
Following the success of ''[[Torchwood]]'' (the [[BBC Three]] ''[[Doctor Who]]'' spin-off series) the controller of BBC Three, Julian Bellamy, announced in December 2006 a ''Spooks'' spin-off entitled ''Spooks: Code 9'' (working titles: ''Rogue Spooks'' and ''Spooks: Liberty'').<ref>{{cite news | url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6179781.stm | title=Spooks spin-off set for BBC Three | work=[[BBC News]] | date=14 December 2006 | access-date=4 January 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2006/dec/14/broadcasting.bbc | title=BBC3 creates Spooks spin-off |work=The Guardian |location=UK | date=14 December 2006| access-date=25 March 2008| first=Chris | last=Tryhorn}}</ref> The show started filming in [[Bradford]] in 2008 and the first<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/proginfo/tv/wk33/sun.shtml#sun_spooks |title = Airdate announced |access-date =25 July 2008|year = 2008 |publisher=BBC Press Office}}</ref> and second episodes were broadcast on 10 August 2008. It was not well received by critics, who said "the script is poor and the acting little better" (''[[The Sunday Times]]'')<ref>{{cite news|url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/tv_and_radio/article4524852.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616050419/http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/tv_and_radio/article4524852.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 June 2011|title=Unlikely maestros face the music|first=Roland|last=White|work=The Sunday Times |location=UK – Culture|date=17 August 2008|access-date=17 August 2008}}</ref> and the production "utterly uninspired and stale" (''[[Digital Spy]]''),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/cult/a121258/spooks-code-9-episode-one.html|title='Spooks: Code 9': Episode One|first=Ben|last=Rawson-Jones|work=[[Digital Spy]]|date=10 August 2008|access-date=12 August 2008}}</ref> "daft and unconvincing" (''[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]''),<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2008/08/09/nosplit/bvtv09.xml#2|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080919045411/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2008/08/09/nosplit/bvtv09.xml#2|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 September 2008|title=The weekend's television choices|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|date=11 August 2008|access-date=15 August 2008| first1=Mary | last1=Evans}}</ref> "an utterly cynical venture" that "given its patronising awfulness ... actually damages the Spooks brand" (''[[The Guardian]]'').<ref>{{cite news|url=http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/tv/2008/08/as_spinoffs_go_spooks_code.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080811220740/http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/tv/2008/08/as_spinoffs_go_spooks_code.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 August 2008|title=Spooks: Code 9 is a spin-off too far|first=Gareth |last=McLean|work=The Guardian |location=UK|date=8 August 2008|access-date=15 August 2008}}</ref>

===Books===
* Sangster, Jim: ''Spooks Confidential: The Official Handbook'' (2003), [[Contender Books]] (London) {{ISBN|1-84357-069-6}}
** Episode guide to the first two series, and background information on MI5 and the making of the series
* ''Spooks: The Personnel Files'' (2007), Headline Publishing Group (London) {{ISBN|978-0-7553-3397-4}}
** Detailed MI5 personnel files of eight of the show's main characters: Adam Carter, Danny Hunter, Zoe Reynolds, Tom Quinn, Ruth Evershed, Harry Pearce, Zafar Younis and Malcolm Wynn-Jones, presented through a compilation of transcripts, reports and forms.
* ''Spooks: Behind the Scenes'' (2006), Orion Books (London) {{ISBN|0-7528-7610-4}}
** Background information on British intelligence and episode guides for the first four series
* ''Spooks: Harry's Diary: Top Secret'' (2007), Headline Publishing Group (London) {{ISBN|978-0-7553-3398-1}}
** The untold stories of Spooks, and MI5, as seen from the perspective of Harry Pearce, the Spooks team leader
* ''Adam Carter: Revealed'' (2008), Headline Publishing Group (London) {{ISBN|978-0-7553-3401-8}}
** Revealing the truth about Adam Carter after his death, explaining the true details of his childhood, the extraordinary responsibilities he took on as a teenager, and how he nearly betrayed his country but never betrayed the people he loved.

===Video games===
Video games based on the show were created by Preloaded for promotional purposes. In 2005, the video game ''The Grid'' (a promotion for [[Spooks (series 3)|''Spooks'' series 3]]) was nominated for a [[Webby Award]] under the category of Best Game.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.webbyawards.com/webbys/current.php?season=9 |title=The Webby Awards |publisher=webbyawards.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100124153336/http://www.webbyawards.com/webbys/current.php?season=9 |archive-date=24 January 2010  }}</ref>

On 19 February 2004, [[BBC Worldwide]] announced that a video game based on the show would be released for the [[PlayStation 2]], [[Xbox (console)|Xbox]] and [[Microsoft Windows]] for a fall 2004 release, developed by their in-house video game development studio [[BBC Multimedia|Gamezlab]].<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.eurogamer.net/news190204spooks | title=BBC planning Spooks game | newspaper=Eurogamer.net | date=19 February 2004 }}</ref> and would have run on a new game engine. It was not released, after BBC Worldwide closed Gamezlab and exited the video game publishing market.

==See also==
* ''[[The Sandbaggers]]''

==Notes==
{{Reflist|group=n}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wikiquote|Spooks}}
* {{BBC programme}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20061214183443/http://www.kudosproductions.co.uk/tv_spooks.html ''Spooks''] [[Kudos (production company)|Kudos Productions]]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080930103631/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/37186 ''Spooks''] [[British Film Institute]]
* {{Screenonline TV title|id=1009075|title=Spooks}}
* {{IMDb title|id=0160904|title=Spooks}}
* {{epguides|Spooks|title=Spooks}}

{{Spooks}}
{{BAFTA TV Award for Best Drama Series 1998–2009}}

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