London Spy starts on BBC Two - Monday 9 November - 9pm

[sadwidow28]

A new 5-part thriller is starting on BBC 2, 9th November at 9pm

A romance between an MI6 code genius and an ordinary man promises happiness. But tragedy strikes when the spy dies in suspicious circumstances, forcing his lover to pursue the truth behind his death.

Have a look at the trailers and write-ups and see if you fancy watching it and joining in this MN thread.

''You might be the most innocent person I know'' - This is a clip from episode 1: On a walk by the sea, Danny flirtatiously questions whether Alex did background checks on him before going on their date.

Yes, like that big box/drawer of very shiny plugs (I assume!) ?

So, has it been said that Jim Broadbent /Scottie is an ex - spy, or are we just lead to infer that?

I really enjoyed it. Slow to start but I quite like programmes that don't feel the need to be frantic from the off. Nice bit of scene and mood setting.

Was disappointed when it ended. Always a good sign!

Will Broadbent turn out to be a baddie?

BanningTheWordNaice my sources tell me that the sex scene was an accurate portrayal.

I don't think I can cope with him being a baddie, Squoosh. But I'd bet my frazzles that he has a mysterious and complicated past.

I really enjoyed it - it's the sort of show I'd be tempted to binge watch in one go if I could, so it's sort of bitter-sweet being forced to stretch the plot reveals out over five weeks!

I've seen several glowing reviews and then there's the Daily Fail TV reviewer who's literally just "oh God, did the Beeb really need another gay drama?". So has clearly missed the whole point. Yes it centres around a gay relationship but bloody hell James Bond isn't referred to as a "heterosexual spy drama" is it, so why should London Spy be labeled as a "gay spy drama"?

I think your frazzles are safe Zebra. He must definitely have a mysterious and complicated past, but sometimes when he peers through his specs.....well I see the eyes of a crazed killer rather than kindly Bridget Jones' pop.

What if Ben Whishaw is a baddie too?

Argh, I'm just going to try and enjoy it without trying to predict the twists and turns.

I'd have been utterly shocked if the DM didn't tsk and tut over the sex scene mushypeas.

I did think how far TV has come since Brookside's scandalous but rather chaste kiss.

That was one of the most romantic build ups for ages - gay or straight. Great work by the director - loved the non-linear feel to the scene.

Really looking forward to next week's ep but not as much as I would have been if Alex wasn't dead in a box

Just marking place as I haven't had time to watch this yet. Very excited: I love Ben Whishaw and Jim Broadbent, and can't wait to see Charlotte Rampling.

Another Ben W fan here. I have not seen the last 20 minutes of last nights episode yet, but based on the Guardian review I seem to have been right that the whole story reminded me of a real life case a few years back (that I found unimaginably sad - whatever the truth of it was).

Yes it was based in part on the death of Gareth Williams. I think his family were made aware of the programme being made.

Banning I can't really answer your question TBH, but it reminded me of an episode of The Office - an American Workplace, when Angela and Dwight asked HR manager Toby about the mechanics of gay sex. They must have not told the actor who played Toby what was coming, because he looked genuinely lost for words.

Poor Gareth. Well never know the truth there, will we? More importantly, nor will his family.

There were loads of Gareth parallels went there - the early genius, early uni, the exercise stuff, let alone the implied/alleged sexual preferences and practices.

I was watching it with my teenager (not deliberately, i hadn't read about it and it was on in the background) and while I was still wondering if those were Kenwood attachments , he said 'Oh, I didn't know it was going to be fifty shades of gay'!

I've just caught up with it. I thought it was excellent and can't wait for next week. I didn't know Charlotte Rampling was in it and had just been reflecting that Ben Whishaw rather resembles her.

I know nothing about what's coming next so this is pure speculation, but are we sure that the body was Alex's? We only saw an eye...

There was an 'All characters and situations were fictitious' type disclaimer on the very final page of the credits - the BBC doesn't normally bother with those, so I think they were very aware of the parallels with the Gareth Williams case.

Your teenager has a way with words, Cake!

is it suitable for a (fairly) innocent 16 year old? She loves Ben W but I'm not sure the gay scenes sound suitable for her?

I promise I'm not a complete prude but sometimes seeing something on TV is a lot more explicit than I'd really like...

There is gay sex, but you don't see any bits and bobs, you just see nakedness.
Then later, you see sex toys - not in use, in boxes/a cupboard.
Then you see a dead body, but not especially graphic, but the suggestion is chilling.

The sex scenes have no full frontal nudity - bit of bottom on show IIRC - and its all shot in a dimmed light, they tumble in bed in a passionate way but its done in a very loving moving way - it is in no way gratuitous sex - and there is a very tender build up to it as the couple gain each others trust.

I would happily let a sixteen year old watch it. It is sex between two people in love, I would guess she has come across sex between consenting hetero adults in other dramas and this is no different from anything you'd get in any post watershed drama. There are couple of uses of bad language (F word) at other places in the drama.

Ah, I tried to find a thread on this last night, must have missed it.

It was slow to hook me, I really only stuck with it because I couldn't be bothered to get off the sofa but I'm glad I did.

The end quarter was chilling.
Broadbent also well dodgy.

Who was Alex in Wolf Hall?

Edward Holcroft (Alex) was George Boleyn in Wolf Hall - Anne's brother, the one unhappily married to Jane Rochford. He looked very different with the beard!

Ah thanks!
You're right, I would never have placed him!

Scottie is still a spy I'm sure. And Danny did know that 'Alex' was a spy didn't he?

And were the keys in the parcel at Danny's work? So many questions!

Wow! I never realised he was George Boleyn in Wolf Hall. He has a bit of Prince William about him I thought.

Scottie may love Danny, but there was something wrong with the scene with all three of them. I do not assume everyone in Whitehall knows each other, but it just did not ring true.