A Spy Among Friends: ITV1 release date, trailer, cast with Damian Lewis and Guy Pearce - is it a true story?

A Spy Among Friends adapts Ben Macintyre’s book about the friendship between British spies Kim Philby and Nicholas Elliot at the height of the Cold War
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

A Spy Among Friends, a new true-story spy drama about the friendship between Kim Philby and Nicholas Elliot, was one of ITVX's initial launch slate in December 2022. Now, almost exactly seven months later, A Spy Among Friends is set to make its television debut on ITV1.

The series, which stars Damian Lewis and Guy Pearce amongst others, is an adaptation of Ben Macintyre’s non-fiction book of the same name. It tells the story of the friendship between Nicholas Elliot and Kim Philby (best known as one of the Cambridge 5).

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Here’s everything you need to know about A Spy Among Friends.

What’s it about?

A Spy Among Friends is a true-story espionage drama about the friendship between Kim Philby and Nicholas Elliot – two MI6 covert intelligence officers during the early Cold War, one of whom had been lying to the other for over 20 years.

The official ITVX synopsis for A Spy Among Friends explains that “in England in 1963, Nicholas Elliott works for MI6 as an intelligence officer but is left in turmoil when he learns his close friend and colleague Kim Philby had been secretly working as a double agent for the KGB and has defected to the Soviet Union.”

Who stars in A Spy Among Friends?

Damian Lewis as Nicholas Elliott and Guy Pearce as Kim Philby in A Spy Among Friends (Credit: Sam Taylor/Sony Pictures Television/Spectrum Originals/ITV)Damian Lewis as Nicholas Elliott and Guy Pearce as Kim Philby in A Spy Among Friends (Credit: Sam Taylor/Sony Pictures Television/Spectrum Originals/ITV)
Damian Lewis as Nicholas Elliott and Guy Pearce as Kim Philby in A Spy Among Friends (Credit: Sam Taylor/Sony Pictures Television/Spectrum Originals/ITV)
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Damian Lewis plays Nicholas Elliot, a member of MI6 covert intelligence. Lewis is best known for playing Nicholas Brody in Homeland, as well as for starring in Band of Brothers, Wolf Hall, and Billions.

Guy Pearce plays Kim Philby, a former member of MI6 covert intelligence believed to have been a Soviet double agent. Pearce is perhaps still best known for his stint on Neighbours, but since then he’s appeared in films like Iron Man 3, The Hurt Locker, and Memento. On television, he’s appeared in Jack Irish, A Christmas Carol, and Mare of Easttown.

Anna Maxwell Martin plays Lily Thomas, a member of MI5 investigating just what Elliot did and didn’t know about his best friend the spy. You’ll recognise Anna Maxwell Martin from her roles in parenting comedy Motherland and crime drama Line of Duty, but you might also know her from The Bletchley Circle, Code 404, or Hollington Drive.

They’re joined by Stephen Kunken (Billions, The Handmaid’s Tale) and Adrian Edmondson (Back to Life, The Pact) amongst others.

Who writes and directs?

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A Spy Among Friends was developed by Alexander Cary, who writes each episode. Cary is best known for writing episodes of Homeland, Lie to Me, and The Riches; he’s currently next in line to be Viscount of Falkland, which is the senior viscountcy of Scotland.

The series was directed by BAFTA award-winner Nick Murphy (Save Me, Blood, The Awakening), who previously directed Guy Pearce in A Christmas Carol.

Is there a trailer?

Yes, there is! You can watch the trailer for A Spy Among Friends right here.

When and how can I watch it?

A Spy Among Friends is set to begin on ITV1 on Sunday 9 July at 9pm, with new episodes airing weekly thereafter. All six episodes of A Spy Among Friends are also still currently available to watch as part of a boxset on ITVX.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Internationally, you’re able to watch A Spy Among Friends on Britbox.

How many episodes are there?

There are six episodes of A Spy Among Friends, each of which are around an hour long.

Is A Spy Among Friends based on a true story?

Yes, it is! More specifically, the series is based on the non-fiction book of the same name by Ben Macintyre – it uncovers what happened in the years after Kim Philby was exposed as a Soviet spy, and how the UK security services responded.

Some of the story is fictionalised and dramatised, of course – one major change made for this television adaptation is the introduction of Anna Maxwell Martin’s character Lily, who didn’t exist in real life.

Why should I watch A Spy Among Friends?

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

It’s one to check out if you like glossy, big-budget espionage drama – set at the height of the Cold War, covering one of the most famous true stories about spies, it’s absolutely one to watch if you’re a fan of that genre.

Related topics:

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.