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Forget ‘Slow Horses’, the Next Best British Spy Thriller Officially Arrives This Month
Secret Service, a British spy thriller starring Gemma Arterton, will make its US debut on MGM+ on 22 November. Based on Tom Bradby’s novel, the series may appeal to viewers waiting for the next seasons of Slow Horses.
The show first aired in the UK on ITV1 in April, where its opening episode attracted 3.9 million viewers, and premiered at the Italian Global Series Festival. Its cast also includes Rafe Spall, Aoife Hinds, Amaka Okafor, Alex Kingston and Roger Allam; the US release will also cover Canada, Latin America and Italy.
In short
- Secret Service arrives on MGM+ on 22 November.
- Gemma Arterton leads the British spy thriller.
- Its first UK episode drew 3.9 million viewers.
Explained simply
Secret Service is a British television drama about the work of intelligence officers, people who gather information to help protect national security. It is based on a novel by Tom Bradby, a journalist and author whose stories draw on political and international affairs.
The series stars Gemma Arterton, alongside Rafe Spall, Aoife Hinds, Amaka Okafor, Alex Kingston and Roger Allam. Its British broadcast and international festival premiere placed it among recent UK television dramas adapted for audiences beyond Britain.
Spy dramas often use fictional operations to explore the pressures and risks of intelligence work. The comparison with Slow Horses reflects interest in British spy stories, though the two series have different characters and source material.