ITV Thrills Audiences with New Drama “Betrayal” Starring Shaun Evans

The highly anticipated ITV thriller, Betrayal, premieres this weekend, featuring a stellar cast led by Shaun Evans and Romola Garai. This new drama series takes over the Sunday and Monday evening slots previously held by After the Flood.

At the center of this gripping narrative is John Hughes, portrayed by Evans, an MI5 officer navigating the intricate and often perilous world of intelligence operations. The series, penned by acclaimed playwright David Eldridge and directed by BAFTA and Emmy nominee Julian Jarrold, explores themes of trust, truth, and the personal costs of secrecy in contemporary espionage.

Plot Overview and Character Dynamics

The story unfolds as Hughes encounters a British Iranian man connected to the Stockport gangland, who claims to possess information about a looming threat on UK soil. Tragically, before sharing crucial intelligence, the informant is killed, forcing Hughes into a confrontation where he ends up taking a life in self-defense. This incident triggers an internal investigation, placing him under scrutiny from his superiors, including Simone Grant, played by Nikki Amuka-Bird.

As Hughes grapples with the fallout from the incident, his personal life also hangs in the balance. His partner, Claire, portrayed by Romola Garai, struggles to cope with the secrecy that defines his work. The tension escalates when Hughes meets Mehreen Askari-Evans, played by Zahra Ahmadi, an intelligence operative assigned to take over his duties. Together, they navigate a web of suspicion, with Hughes increasingly convinced that a hardline faction of the Iranian regime is involved in a conspiracy that may hit close to home.

The first episode is set to air on February 8, 2024, at 21:00 GMT on ITV1 and ITVX. The synopsis reveals a harrowing situation: “When a meeting with an informant turns fatal, MI5 agent John believes there’s a deadly conspiracy. Faced with sceptical colleagues and troubles at home, can John get to the truth?”

Cast and Filming Locations

The cast of Betrayal includes a range of talent, featuring Gamba Cole, Omid Djalili, and Matthew Tennyson, among others. Each actor brings a unique perspective to this intense narrative, promising to deliver compelling performances.

Filming took place across various locations in Liverpool and Manchester. Evans expressed his excitement about filming in familiar territory, stating, “I spend a lot of time in Liverpool because my family are all there. To be up north was brilliant. They were a really funny, hard-working crew, and to be seeing parts of Liverpool in a way that I hadn’t seen them, having access to certain parts of the city, that was just amazing.”

Ahmadi, who has worked in Manchester previously, shared her admiration for Liverpool’s architecture and vibrant cultural scene, highlighting the city’s musical heritage and culinary offerings.

The series consists of four hour-long episodes, airing over two weeks on Sunday and Monday nights. The anticipation surrounding Betrayal marks a significant addition to ITV’s lineup, promising viewers a riveting exploration of espionage and the human condition within the shadows of secrecy.