Rupert Penry-Jones is back as a feature-length special opens the new series of Spooks
Starts Monday 12 September at 9.00pm on 91Èȱ¬ ONE
Background
"As the team reassembles after Danny's death, Adam Carter naturally assumes the mantle of leader," comments Executive Producer, Simon Crawford Collins.
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"There aren't many heroes on British TV, and Adam is continuing the tradition of classic British spy heroes. He has very strong moral values and determination, but the complexities of the modern world are continually testing these strengths.
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"Adam - brilliantly portrayed by Rupert Penry-Jones - goes on a longer emotional journey this time round.
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"At the hugely emotional ending of series three, he was trying to prioritise his life - his loyalties to his family, and his duty to his country - which he managed to achieve.
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"He's more rounded than his predecessor (Tom Quinn); he's a family man but he's also a more explosive character.
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"His relationship with his wife, Fiona, is a powerful force in both their lives, but it also involves parenthood, which for both of them creates an extra burden of responsibility."
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Also back centre-stage is Harry, the ultimate professional, whose loyalty to his officers is never more obvious than now.
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"Last series we saw Harry go to a place he'd never been before," continues Crawford Collins.
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"His team was really in peril, and you felt the warmth and affection he had for them, and how he wanted to protect them.
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"I think people love Harry because he is fiercely loyal to his team, dripping with integrity, but with human flaws. He can be quite scary, but the warmth and humour that is in Peter Firth are always there. It makes him a great boss."
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Joining Adam and Harry in the front line is Zafar Younis (Raza Jaffrey), who subtly joined the group at the end of series three.
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"He almost joined the team by default, and they rapidly find him invaluable, and he's thrown into a maelstrom of activity. He's charming, and there's something innocent about him. He's a perfect foil to Adam," says series producer, Andrew Woodhead.
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"Adding to the team takes a lot of thought, and inevitably when a new character arrives in an established group there's always a period of adjustment and potentially a strong reaction.
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"Juliet Shaw (Anna Chancellor) is newly-appointed National Security Coordinator, someone who's very intelligent, politically adept, but at times you're not sure which agenda she's following - is she a good guy, or a bad guy?
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"She's not above a bit of friendly blackmail to forward her own career and she harbours a grudge about the
sexist world she's working in.
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"She and Harry have a history which we set up so that there's a twinkle in their relationship, despite all the conflict that goes on between them.
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"In some ways they look out for each other. But although she's fond of Harry, Juliet is a woman who would certainly abandon that association if his professional star started to wane.
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"You need someone very strong opposite Peter (Firth), and Anna brings such intelligence and strength to her portrayal of Juliet, you absolutely believe she could be running such a high office."
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Another, quieter, potential claimant of Harry's affections is long-time colleague Ruth (Nicola Walker).
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"She's becoming more central to every story," says Woodhead. "We get her out from behind her desk and involved in operations out in the field.
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"She's often in dangerous situations, but she's so unassuming that no-one will suspect she's part of the intelligence services.
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"She's a fantastic achiever, even if she doesn't think she's cut out for the role, and she still harbours feelings for Harry; although it will never go anywhere, it's a charming and unrequited flirtation."
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Joining the team mid-series is another new character, Jo Portman, played by newcomer Miranda Raison.
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"We really wanted to show a character who was completely new to the intelligence services," says Crawford Collins.
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"She goes into it thinking it will be a big adventure, but soon afterwards horrendous things are happening - people losing their lives, breaking down, falling apart - and she has to decide very quickly whether she can survive.
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"It's probably much like the people who applied to MI5 after the first series of Spooks."
Spooks has always attracted an eclectic array of star guest artists, and this series is no exception.
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"We enjoy that reputation because of the quality of the writing, the regular cast
and directors," says Andrew Woodhead.
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This season's guest stars include Jimi Mistry, David Threlfall, George Baker, Lindsay Duncan, Douglas Hodge, Rupert Graves and, in her first UK TV appearance since leaving EastEnders, Martine McCutcheon.
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"Tash (McCutcheon) is the kind of character that doesn't normally appear in Spooks," comments Crawford Collins.
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"Larger than life, happy-go-lucky, completely by chance she suddenly falls into the world of terrorism and Intelligence.
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"Martine brought a joy of life, a sense of fun to the role. You want to protect that, but you also know that Tash will always see the world in a different light after this.
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"She represents what MI5 should be protecting; the ability of people to continue with their lives, and not be fearful all the time."
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Key to the enduring appeal of Spooks is its writing talent.
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"Howard Brenton has returned, along with Ben Richards, Rupert Walters and Raymond Khoury," says Crawford Collins.
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"And an exciting addition to the team this year is David Farr, who is incredibly ambitious in the nature of writing, distilling down what's happening in the world today into one person's experience of being accused of terrorism, and the effect it has on them."
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Spooks is produced by Kudos Film & TV, led by joint Managing Directors Jane Featherstone and Stephen Garrett, which has a rich history of investment in new talent, producing distinctive and award-winning film and drama.
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Past productions include International Emmy award-winning The Magician's House, and - for Channel 4 - Psychos, Pleasureland and Comfortably Numb.
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A second series of critically-acclaimed drama Hustle, following the fortunes of a group of London con artists, aired on 91Èȱ¬ ONE in the spring and a third series is currently in production.
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A brand-new returning series, Life on Mars, is also currently in production for 91Èȱ¬ ONE, and a new commission for ITV1, Child of Mine - a tense, psychological thriller - is due for transmission this winter.
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Kudos' film credits include Among Giants and Pure.
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Spooks has been sold to numerous territories including Australia, Russia, Israel, Iran, Japan, Canada and Latin America.
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A fifth series of Spooks will go into production early in 2006.
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