Betrayal (British TV series)
A British spy drama about a marriage and a threat.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
Betrayal is a 2026 British espionage drama series from ITV, directed by Julian Jarrold and written by David Eldridge. Produced by Mammoth Screen, the four-part programme premiered on ITV1 and ITVX on 8 February 2026.
The story follows a British MI5 officer who uncovers a threat to national security. The cast includes Shaun Evans as John Hughes, an MI5 officer in the State Threats Division; Romola Garai as Dr. Claire Wardly, a GP and John’s wife; Gamba Cole as analyst Rudy Kember; Zahra Ahmadi as MI6 officer Mehreen Askari-Evans; Nikki Amuka-Bird as MI5 official Simone Grant; and Omid Djalili as Iranian Major General Qasem Asadi. Other roles include Emma Cunniffe as marriage counsellor Eve Hardy, Anthony Flanagan as heroin dealer Craig Beeston, Hayley Tamaddon as dissident Fatemah Feyzi, and Georgina Rylance as MI6 contact Penelope Thomas.
ITVX announced the series in September 2024. It was produced by Irma Inniss, with executive producers including Damien Timmer, Eldridge, Jarrold, Tom Leggett, and Shaun Evans. Filming took place in 2025 across Chester, Liverpool, Manchester, and Stockport.
Reviews were mixed. *The Guardian* gave it three stars, noting the drama’s attempt to balance a troubled marriage with gritty spy work, and praising Evans and Garai despite uneven material. *Radio Times* criticised tired tropes but highlighted Evans’s raw performance and Ahmadi’s engaging storyline as standout elements.
- type
- Television drama series
- country
- United Kingdom
- network
- ITV1 and ITVX
- episodes
- 4
- premiere_date
- 8 February 2026
- director
- Julian Jarrold
- writer
- David Eldridge
Lore & Background
Betrayal follows John Hughes, an MI5 officer in the State Threats Division, who detects a threat to national security. The series balances his professional duties with his personal struggles, as his wife Dr. Claire Wardly is a general practitioner and the couple attends marriage counselling with Eve Hardy. The cast includes Shaun Evans as Hughes, Romola Garai as Wardly, Gamba Cole as analyst Rudy Kember, Zahra Ahmadi as MI6 officer Mehreen Askari-Evans, Nikki Amuka-Bird as superior Simone Grant, and Omid Djalili as Iranian Major General Qasem Asadi.
Reader's Guide
Betrayal was announced by ITVX in September 2024 and filmed in 2025 across Chester, Liverpool, Manchester, and Stockport. Reception was mixed: The Guardian gave it 3 out of 5 stars, noting the series commits to both the spy plot and a portrait of a relationship in distress, but found the marriage of the two elements uneasy. The Radio Times criticized the series for tired tropes but praised Shaun Evans's performance as raw and emotional, and singled out Zahra Ahmadi's character storyline as the most engaging. The series is notable for its dour, gritty visual style and its attempt to ground espionage in mundane, bleak settings.
Did You Know?
- The series was produced by Mammoth Screen for ITV.
- Filming took place in 2025 in Chester, Liverpool, Manchester, and Stockport.
- The Guardian gave the series 3 out of 5 stars.
- The Radio Times called Zahra Ahmadi's character storyline the most engaging element of the series.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Betrayal (British TV series)?
It is a four-episode British espionage drama that debuted on ITV1 and ITVX on 8 February 2026. The story follows an MI5 officer in the State Threats Division who uncovers a threat to national security while his marriage is simultaneously put under pressure.
Who stars in Betrayal (British TV series)?
Shaun Evans leads the cast as John Hughes, an MI5 officer, with Romola Garai playing his wife, GP Dr. Claire Wardly. The ensemble also includes Gamba Cole as analyst Rudy Kember, Zahra Ahmadi as MI6 operative Mehreen Askari-Evans, Nikki Amuka-Bird as MI5 official Simone Grant, and Omid Djalili.
Where and when can I watch Betrayal (British TV series)?
The series premiered on 8 February 2026 and is available to stream on ITVX as well as broadcast on ITV1. The full run consists of just four episodes.
Who wrote and directed Betrayal (British TV series)?
David Eldridge wrote the series and Julian Jarrold directed it. The production was made by Mammoth Screen for ITV.
What is the central conflict in Betrayal (British TV series)?
The narrative intertwines a personal marital storyline with a high-stakes national security plot, as John Hughes must confront a dangerous discovery while his relationship with Claire is tested. At its core, the show is framed as a spy drama that is equally about a marriage under strain.
More in British spy television series 1-24
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