If you’re still reeling from that explosive Slow Horses finale, we have something to help with the Slough House withdrawals. And, by something, we mean hours of fantastic espionage dramas to keep you going while we await the return of Gary Oldman and his band of misfits.
From an Olivia Colman classic to Keira Knightley and Sarah Lancashire’s return to Black Doves and a cyber-attack thriller – we’ve covered all bases. So, get comfy – your next mission awaits. These are the 7 outstanding spy thrillers to watch now on ITV, Netflix, the BBC and more.
Secret Service
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MI6 officer Kate Henderson (Gemma Arterton) has a seemingly ordinary life on the surface. She’s a civil servant married to Stuart (Rafe Spall) and they have two children. But it's not actually the nuclear family normality it appears to be. She’s the head of the Russia Desk at the Secret Intelligence Service. And when her undercover operation finds alarming evidence that a UK politician could be a Russian asset, she finds herself in an increasingly tense race to uncover their identity. It’s the perfect Slow Horses replacement. Secret Service is available to watch now on ITVX.
The Night Manager
No list of spy thrillers would be complete without The Night Manager. Jonathan Pine (Tom Hiddleston) is a former soldier turned hotel manager in Cairo, who’s recruited by MI6 officer Angela Burr (Olivia Colman) to infiltrate an illegal arms operation led by the deadly but charming Richard Roper (Hugh Laurie). Fans eagerly waited 10 years for the second series, where Olivia and Tom reprised their roles. The second chapter sees Pine living under a false identity as a low-level MI6 officer running a quiet surveillance unit in London. But when he spots an old associate of Roper’s, he’s pulled back into the high-stakes world of espionage and a new infiltration mission. It’s thrilling and glamorous. The Night Manager is available to watch now on BBC iPlayer.
Black Doves
Keira Knightley and Sarah Lancashire are back for the second series of this brilliant spy hit, and they have a lot of unfinished business to attend to. Helen (played by Keira) is still betraying her country’s secrets to the covert organisation she works for, the Black Doves. But after the misadventures of last Christmas – and with her husband, Wallace (Andrew Buchan), preparing to become prime minister – will her risky double-life finally catch up with her? Meanwhile, her enigmatic handler Reed (Sarah Lancashire) is ensnared in a ruthless plot… Black Doves series 2 is coming to Netflix on Thursday 5 November. You can catch up with the first series now on Netflix.
The Assassin
Time for another explosive mission with a family twist. The feuding mother and son, Julie (Keeley Hawes) and her son Edward (Freddie Highmore), are returning for series 2. The first instalment saw the estranged relatives go on the run after Julie's hitwoman past came back to bite her. Now, they’re begrudgingly embarking on another adventure, but their rift is far from resolved. Edward is forced to call upon his mother when his fiancée Kayla is kidnapped from their dream honeymoon. Cue another pacy race against the clock to catch a killer and more family spats. The Assassin series 2 will arrive on Prime Video on Friday 6 November. You can catch up with the first series on Prime Video now.
The Agency
Produced by George Clooney and Grant Heslov, this series follows impressive CIA agent Martian (Michael Fassbender). He spent years undercover in Sudan before being called back to CIA headquarters in London. However, he finds himself caught up in a head-versus-heart conundrum when his former flame Samia Zahir (Jodie Turner-Smith) reappears. He breaks protocol to contact her, while another agent, Coyote (Alex Reznik), is captured by the KGB in Minsk, Belarus. It’s tense, slick and addictive. The Agency is available to watch now on Paramount+ via NOW
The Diplomat
Kate Wyler (Keri Russell) is a career US diplomat who’s appointed as the US ambassador to the UK. When she arrives in London, she’s unexpectedly pulled into an international crisis. A terrorist attack blows up a British aircraft carrier in the Persian Gulf, killing multiple sailors. Meanwhile, she has a complicated marriage to Hal Wyler (Rufus Sewell), a charming yet manipulative former ambassador with a reputation for going rogue. The Diplomat is available to watch now on Netflix.
The Undeclared War
In the current climate, this choice is scarily relatable. The first series follows Saara Parvin (Hannah Khalique-Brown), a student on a work placement at GCHQ who’s plunged into the centre of a cyber-attack. The unit is led by Danny Patrick (Simon Pegg), a calm and strategic intelligence chief. The second chapter picks straight back up as the British finally gain the upper hand, or so they think. It becomes apparent that the enemy is not who they thought they were and there’s a mole lurking within their ranks. The Undeclared War is available to watch now on Channel 4.