BBC America Premieres New Original Co-Production LONDON SPY Tonight

BBC AMERICA's new original co-production, London Spy, begins with a chance romance between two people from two very different walks of life - one from the high-powered ranks of investment banking and the other from a world of clubbing and youthful excess.

But their love story quickly unravels when the reclusive banker disappears under suspicious circumstances, exposing his real identity as a spy and forcing his lover down a dark path to reveal the truth. The stirring five-part mystery, from acclaimed best-selling author Tom Rob Smith (Child 44), stars BAFTA-winner Ben Whishaw (Spectre) in a career-defining performance as Danny, an innocent, young romantic drawn into a dangerous world of espionage. He is joined by Academy Award winner Jim Broadbent (Iris), Emmy nominee Charlotte Rampling (Broadchurch) and newcomer Edward Holcroft (Wolf Hall). London Spy premieres tonight, January 21, 10:00pm ET.

London Spy opens with Danny (Whishaw) after a heavy night on the party scene. It's dawn and he's feeling lonely - standing on Lambeth Bridge, asking the London skyline if life gets any easier. London answers him with a chance encounter, an early morning runner who stops to ask if he's OK, introducing himself as Alex. An unusual connection forms between these men who are polar opposites in many ways. Danny - extroverted, self-indulgent and adrift, falls for the anti-social, enigmatic and brilliant Alex (Edward Holcroft). But just as they realize they're perfect for each other, Alex is found dead under circumstances that Danny is sure have been staged. And so begins Danny's descent into the dangerous world of global espionage - a world for which he's hopelessly ill equipped. Out of his depth, Danny seeks help from his friend and wise mentor, Scottie (Jim Broadbent). They embark on a journey where no one is who they seem, including the formidable Frances (Charlotte Rampling), a mysterious yet omnipresent figure from Alex's life.

If Danny can prove that the Alex he knew was the real Alex, then he can prove to himself that intimacy does not necessarily end in despair. But ultimately, Danny must decide whether he's prepared to fight for the truth, knowing he'll be risking his life in the process.

London Spy is written and created by Tom Rob Smith. The miniseries is directed by Jakob Verbruggen (The Fall). The producer is Guy Heeley, and executive producers are Tom Rob Smith, Juliette Howell, Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner for Working Title Television, Polly Hill, Controller of BBC Drama Commissioning, and Hilary Salmon, Head of Drama, England, for BBC Two. London Spy is a Working Title Television co-production with BBC America and BBC Two, and is distributed by NBCUniversal and BBC Worldwide.

Note to editors: Twitter: @BBCAMERICA Hashtag: #LondonSpy

CAST & PRODUCTION CREDITS

Danny Ben Whishaw (Spectre, The Hour)

Alex Edward Holcroft (Wolf Hall, Kingsman: The Secret Service)

Scottie Jim Broadbent (Iris, Longford)

Frances Charlotte Rampling (45 Years, Broadchurch)

Creator/Writer/ Tom Rob Smith (Child 44) Executive Producer

Director Jakob Verbruggen (The Fall, The Bridge)

Executive Producer Tim Bevan (Bridget Jones's Baby, The Theory of Everything)

Executive Producer Eric Fellner (LES MISERABLES, Frost/Nixon)

Executive Producer Juliette Howell (Yonderland, Moonshot)

Executive Producer Liza Chasin (Everest, LES MISERABLES)

Executive Producer Polly Hill (The Honourable Woman, The Missing)

Producer Guy Heeley (The Iron Lady, My Week with Marilyn)

BBC AMERICA delivers U.S. audiences high-quality, innovative and intelligent programming. Established in 1998, it has been the launch pad for talent embraced by American mainstream pop culture, including Ricky Gervais, Gordon Ramsay, Graham Norton, and successful programming formats including ground-breaking non-scripted television like Top Gear and top-rated science-fiction like Doctor Who. A joint venture between BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of the BBC, and AMC Networks, BBC America has attracted both critical acclaim and major awards including four Emmy(R) Awards, five Golden Globes(R) and 12 Peabody Awards. The channel attracts one of cable's most affluent and educated audiences and is available on cable and satellite TV in nearly 80 million homes. It broadcasts in both standard and high-definition, with content available On Demand across all major digital platforms. Online, www.BBCAmerica.com is the place to go to dig deeper into pop culture with a British twist.

Image courtesy of BBCAmerica

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