Tom Bradby opens up on 'slightly scary' part of turning spy novel into ITV drama Secret Service: 'Had to evolve!'

Olivia Gantzer
Wed, 15 Apr 2026 11:31:36 +0000

Tom Bradby has revealed insights into bringing his spy thriller Secret Service to ITV screens, transforming his novel into a gripping television drama, explaining why some of it was "scary."

The series follows a British intelligence operative working against the clock to expose potential connections between a UK politician and the Kremlin, with her career and personal life hanging in the balance as both a killing and an election approach.

Mr Bradby, who serves as both ITV broadcaster and creator of the source material, conceived the story amid growing concerns about Russian interference in Western democracies.

"I just thought, 'Well, imagine if you were actually what would that really be like? How would your bosses react? How would the politicians react?'" he explained while speaking to GB News and other media.

This central question sparked the creation of protagonist Kate, who is played in the drama by Gemma Arterton.

Mr Bradby acknowledged that adapting the novel for television required the story to develop alongside shifting global circumstances.

"Obviously it did have to evolve, because the world was evolving," he said. "But as I said, the slightly scary thing is, it never felt any less relevant."

Originally penned seven years ago, the tale has only grown more pertinent with time, something Mr Bradby views with mixed feelings.

"It just seems to get more and more relevant, which is great for the drama, but possibly not for democratic societies," he noted.

Mr Bradby's extensive journalism career proved invaluable in crafting an authentic portrayal of the intelligence world.

Having spent decades at ITN, he covered virtually every specialism, including a stint as UK editor with responsibility for security and intelligence services, followed by a decade as political editor.

"I've been in journalism for 1,000 years," he quipped.

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This background granted him regular access to the MI6 building and established relationships with those working in espionage.

When crafting scenes, Mr Bradby could consult genuine intelligence contacts about operational credibility.

"You're talking to people who are like, 'Okay, interesting challenge. And think about this,'" he explained, noting they would devise plausible alternatives rather than revealing actual tradecraft.

He added: "The truth about turning anything from a novel into a film, and obviously lots of novelists don't like to do that themselves, but I love doing it."

The writer reserved particular praise for the actress portraying protagonist Kate, stating that Ms Alterton delivered a genuinely brilliant performance bringing the character to life.

Secret Service will be available to watch on ITV from April 27.