Meet the cast of ITV’s adrenaline-fuelled MI5 drama Betrayal

What happens when trust is shattered in the high-stakes world of espionage? That’s the question that award-winning playwright turns screenwriter David Eldridge is unearthing in his twisty spy tale Betrayal, with Shaun Evans at its centre.

Coming from the production company behind ITV’s hit police thriller Code Of Silence, the four-parter follows mid-career MI5 agent John (Evans) who is struggling to navigate the rapidly changing world of intelligence operations. He’s on more familiar ground when he meets a man who claims he has intel about a terrorist plot from a hardline faction of the Iranian regime. But before he can share the information, John’s informant is executed, and John himself falls under internal investigation after he kills the assassin in self-defence. Yikes.

To make matters worse, John’s wife Claire (Romola Garai) can no longer cope with the secrecy his job entails. As he fights to save his marriage, John remains convinced that an attack is imminent on UK soil and he forms an unlikely alliance with fellow intelligence agent Mehreen (Zahra Ahmadi). A race against time ensues as John searches for the truth behind this potentially deadly plot once and for all.

Rounding off the leading cast are Nikki Amuka-Bird, Omid Djalili and Gamba Cole, with the stars joined by Matthew Tennyson (Grantchester), Hayley Tamaddon (Unforgotten), Anthony Flanagan (House Of The Dragon), Paddy Rowan (Four Lives), Waj Ali (Out There) and more.

Don’t miss the first episode of this explosive espionage drama on Sunday 8 February at 9pm on ITV1 HD (CH 103) and in Apps > ITVX. Until then, read on to meet the cast who are bringing the action-packed world to life.

Who’s he playing? Evans stars as John Hughes, an MI5 officer from a working-class background who’s struggling to balance the secretive nature of his work with his personal life.

Where else do I know him from? Evans has been on the acting scene for decades, but more recently he’s taken centre stage as serial killer John Sweeney in Until I Kill You (Apps > ITVX) and as the titular detective in Endeavour (Apps > ITVX), while supporting Suranne Jones in series 1 of Vigil (Apps > BBC iPlayer).

What does Evans have to say? “I was in from the get-go, really. It’s about someone having a midlife crisis. Things are no longer working for John and he’s trying to find a way forward. If you set that against the world of international espionage, it becomes a very interesting dual story.”

Who’s she playing? Garai takes on the role of John’s long-suffering wife Claire Wardly, a hard-working GP who’s been raising their family against years of growing resentment.

Where else do I know her from? Garai is most well known for her period drama roles including the titular role in Emma (Apps > BBC iPlayer), Mary I in Becoming Elizabeth (Apps > Channel 4) and Briony Tallis in Atonement (Apps > Prime Video).

What does Garai have to say? “She [Claire] would have known what she was getting into by marrying him... But given he has been unfaithful, she can’t help wondering what he’s not telling her, not because he’s protecting our country but because he might be cheating on her.”

Who’s she playing? Ahmadi is Mehreen Askari-Evans, a successful British Iranian intelligence operative who becomes an unlikely ally to John.

Where else do I know her from? Ahmadi got her big break as Shabnam Masood in EastEnders (Apps > BBC iPlayer), before appearing in The Bay (Apps > ITVX) and currently as DS Esther Williams in Beyond Paradise (Apps > BBC iPlayer).

What does Ahmadi have to say? “As an actor, I’ve always wanted to explore the intricacies of being dual heritage and growing up in the UK, but I’d never really had the opportunity to until Betrayal.”

Who’s he playing? Djalili is Qasem Asadi, a high-ranking Iranian general and the suspected mastermind behind the possible attack on UK soil that John is investigating.

Where else do I know him from? The stand-up comedian made his acting debut in The Mummy (Sky Cinema on demand) and has since starred in The Change (Apps > Channel 4) and Deep Cover (Apps > Prime Video).

What does Djalili have to say? “For Qasem, the sheer stress of trying to keep all sides happy sends him slightly mad, which was very interesting to play. I’ve also met a lot of these people, these generals, because my father used to work at the consulate before the Islamic Revolution of 1979.”

Who’s she playing? Simone Grant, Head of State Threats (Iran) at MI5. She has a longstanding professional relationship with John but finds his actions increasingly testing.

Where else do I know her from? You can see Amuka-Bird in I, Jack Wright (U&Alibi on demand), Citadel (Apps > Prime Video) and Luther (Apps > BBC iPlayer).

What does Amuka-Bird have to say? “I did watch some of Judi Dench’s M in preparation. I wanted to find my version of that, because sometimes it can be hard to relate to these authoritarian figures when they’re barking orders at the maverick hero.”

Who’s he playing? Cole takes on the role of Rudy Kember, an MI5 tech whizz and John’s right-hand man when he’s out in the field.

Where else do I know him from? Cole’s best-known role is as Ben Eastfield in Stephen Merchant’s The Outlaws (Apps > BBC iPlayer), and he also starred in Lenny Henry’s Three Little Birds (Apps > ITVX).

What does Cole have to say? “I've grown up watching and loving police dramas and MI5 dramas – Britain does the best police dramas – so when I read the script for episode 1 and saw Rudy was a departure from other parts I’ve played, I was all in.”

The first episode of Betrayal will air at 9pm on Sunday 8 February on ITV1 HD (CH 103). The series continues with the second episode on Monday 9 February at 9pm. All episodes will be available in Apps > ITVX on Sunday 8 February.