An all-star cast head up a thrilling story where nobody can be trusted. We have the lowdown on the real inspiration behind A Spy Among Friends, and how to watch it.
There has been a buzz building around a mystery thriller landing on new streaming service ITVX on December 8. A Spy Among Friends covers espionage in Britain during the Cold War, and anyone could be a double agent - the characters can trust nobody. Damien Lewis and Guy Pearce head up the cast as intelligence officers Nicholas Elliott and Kim Philby, and early reviews report their performances to be off the scale. Lewis's Nicholas Elliott works for MI6 and his world is turned upside down when his colleague and great friend Kim Philby, defects to Russia after secretly working as a double agent for the KGB. Read on as we delve into the source material for the show, and whether it's a true story. We also clear up any confusion on how to watch the series, as it launches on a brand new streamer.
ITVX have plenty of content lined up, and first look images of David Tennant's Litvinenko instantly make the show one for the must-see list. Tennant portrays Alexander Litvinenko, the former Russian Federal Security Services and KGB officer, who died from Polonium-210 poisoning in November 2006. For a lighter crime drama, Karen Pirie based on some famous source material, is excellent viewing. The show is available to catch up with on ITVX, and for any questions about its conclusion, the Karen Pirie ending explained ties up lose ends and answers burning questions.
Is A Spy Among Friends based on a true story or a book?
A Spy Among Friends is based on both a true story and a book. Kim Philby was a real spy who worked as a double agent for MI6 and the KGB. Author Ben Macintyre documented his story in his book A Spy Among Friends: Kim Philby and the Great Betrayal, which is the source material for the series.
Born in British India, Philby was born Harold Adrian Russell "Kim" Philby in 1912. Educated at Westminster School and Trinity College, Cambridge, he was recruited by Soviet intelligence in 1934. In 1940, he began working for MI6, becoming a high ranking member by the end of the Second World War. In 1963 it was revealed he was a member of the "Cambridge Five" - an infamous spy ring who divulged British secrets to Russia during World War II and the Cold War.
Nicholas Elliot and Kim Philby really were spies and lifelong friends, but Philby was double crossing Elliott for the duration of their friendship and working relationship. Of the Cambridge Five, Philby is thought to have been most successful in passing secret information to the Soviets. When his actions were uncovered in 1963, Philby defected to Moscow where he lived out the rest of his days. He died in Russia in 1988, and is buried in Kuntsevo Cemetery, Moscow. He is considered the most notorious British defector and Soviet double agent in history.
First published in 2014, Ben Macintyre's book about Philby's life uses memoirs Philby wrote later in his life and secret British intelligence files, to uncover the real story behind his betrayal. The critically acclaimed book became a bestseller, and one Good Reads reviewer wrote about it, saying "I could write pages about this enthralling book but instead, I would recommend that you read it. You will shake your head in amazement at the devious and clever inner workings of such a trusted man who was a traitor to his country. I have the highest praise for this book."
How to watch A Spy Among Friends
A Spy Among Friends is available to watch on ITVX for free - ITVX has replaced the original ITV catch up service, ITV hub. All episodes will land at the same time, as part of a boxset to watch altogether.
Anyone who already has ITV Hub downloaded doesn't need to do anything to switch to ITVX, this will happen automatically. For those who don't have ITVX, the basic platform can be accessed for free by signing up for an account, in the same way the basic ITV Hub previously worked. Functioning as an entry-level tier, viewers can find an extensive back catalogue of ITV shows, and anything they might've missed on ITV that they'd like to catch up with.
There will be the ability to watch live TV available with the free option, with the only downside being that all shows will include adverts to make up for the service being free. To view the catalogue without ads, ITVX will have a premium subscription service for £5.99 per month or £59.99 per year. International viewers will be able to to watch A Spy Among Friends on Britbox, and it will be shown on ITV at a later date.
A Spy Among Friends: Cast
- Damian Lewis (Homeland, Billions) as Nicholas Elliott
- Guy Pearce (The Hurt Locker, The King's Speech) as Kim Philby
- Anna Maxwell Martin (Motherland, Line of Duty) as Lily Thomas
- Stephen Kunken (Billions, The Handmaids Tale) as James Jesus Angleton
- Adrian Edmondson (The Pact, Back To Life) as Sir Roger Hollis
- Anastasia Hille (Baptiste, The Ipcress File) as Flora Solomon
- Lucy Akhurst (The Land Girls, Shaun of The Dead) as Elizabeth Elliott
- Gershwyn Eustache Jnr (Britannia, Fortitude) as Robert Thomas
Damian Lewis also acts as a producer on the show, and spoke about the script coming together. He said "These fabulous scripts by Alex Cary take an up-close look at friendship - a friendship that was blinded by love, class, and membership to the right clubs, and ended in betrayal and the deaths of thousands. It’s been a fantastic creative process."
Guy Pearce also spoke about his role as Kim Philby, saying "It’s an honour to be a part of this thrilling project. I’ve always been fascinated by the intriguing MI6 history and getting to go on this journey with Damian makes it all the more brilliant. I’m also very happy to be working again with the wonderful and talented Nick Murphy."
A Spy Among Friends: Reviews
Early reviews from critics are largely positive, indicating A Spy Among Friends is worthy of the buzz its been generating.
Dan Einav from the Financial Times offered the show 4 out of 5. He said "For all the intricate plotting and fertile ambiguity, the show doesn’t lose sight of the more basic, universal tale it tells about the pain of betrayal. Lewis lowers his character’s patrician façade to show glimpses of a spy’s wounded pride and a friend’s hurt. Pearce meanwhile balances Philby’s haughtiness at having duped his 'sentimental, arrogant' colleagues, with snatches of affection and nostalgia."
Jasper Rees from the Daily Telegraph also offered 4 out of 5. He said "The densely webbed structure is much suited to a story where truth eludes capture."
Victoria Segal from the Sunday Times was also enthusiastic, adding "Based on Ben Macintyre’s 2014 book, this drama isn’t just about the brainy mechanics of espionage, it also interrogates the multifaceted human beings tangled in its webs."
Related ITV Features:
- Jeremy Paxman: How to watch his documentary Paxman: Putting Up With Parkinson's, and how he got diagnosed
- What is The Walk-In based on? The true story behind the Stephen Graham drama
- Where is Ridley filmed and who is in the cast? All you need to know about Adrian Dunbar's latest ITV drama
- What is Fastest Finger First? Where to watch it and how to play explained
- Where is Loose Women filmed? All you need to know about the ITV daytime show
Video of the Week
-
Balamory is back after two decades - why we can’t wait for the reboot of the iconic BBC seriesWhat's the story in Balamory? Now you can find out, as the BBC announces the return of the beloved children's series nearly 20 years after the final episode aired.
-
Is Francesca in Bridgerton gay? With more great representation in the show, this expert shares how to start the conversation around sexuality with your teen if they’re watchingIs Francesca in Bridgerton gay? It's a question many have asked, and you might need to have conversations around sexuality with your teen if they’re watching.
-
Is Eric a true story? Benedict Cumberbatch lives every parent’s worst nightmare in new Netflix showIs Eric a true story? Every parent’s worst nightmare plays out in Netflix's latest show, against a backdrop of 80s New York grappling with AIDS and racism.
-
Normal People season 2 rumours are circulating, and we have our own Marianne and Connell 'first love' stories to shareNormal People season 2 rumours are flying around, and we have our own Marianne and Connell moments to share - because everyone remembers their first heartbreak.
-
Channel 4 drama The Gathering explores 'toxic teenagers and their even more toxic parents' in an online world dominated by social mediaNew Channel 4 drama explores the challenges of impossible standards set by social media, and how parents themselves become toxic in their need to protect their kids.
-
Is Brandy pregnant? Bluey fans think the Heelers could be about to welcome a new cousin following the season 3 finaleEagle-eyed Bluey viewers are wondering if Aunt Brandy is pregnant, following a touching moment in the season three finale.
-
Is Bluey ending? What we know about the rumours around the kids' cartoon, as the Heelers put their house up for saleBluey's producer has shared an update on the show's future
-
CoComelon has been accused of being 'overstimulating' - the experts explain why it's ok to let your kid watch the popular cartoonCoComelon is adored by kids around the world, but some experts have shared reasons they don't think children should be watching - we look at both sides of the argument.
