Marriage breakdowns and undercover intrigue: two themes that have long been staples of British television. Now, ITV’s new four-part drama Betrayal brings these threads together in a high-stakes story of espionage, infidelity, and the personal costs of secrecy. Premiering this February on ITV1 and ITVX, Betrayal stars Shaun Evans as John Hughes, a British Intelligence operative whose world is upended after he witnesses a brutal murder and finds his career—and marriage—on the line.
According to The Independent, the series opens with John, a mid-ranking MI5 officer known for his unorthodox methods, being nudged toward voluntary redundancy after a botched operation. "We all know your gut is good," his handler Simone (Nikki Amuka-Bird) tells him, "but we have to prioritize using our resources carefully." It’s a line that sets the tone for the series, which explores the tension between personal instinct and bureaucratic caution in the world of modern intelligence.
But John isn’t ready to go quietly. Instead, he stumbles upon evidence of a credible terror threat—possibly orchestrated by the Iranian military. This discovery gives him one last shot at redeeming his career, but it’s not a solo mission. Enter Mehreen Askari-Evans, a British-Iranian agent played by Zahra Ahmadi, who is assigned to take over John’s responsibilities and quickly becomes an unexpected confidante.
The partnership between John and Mehreen is central to the show’s narrative, as they work together to investigate a criminal gang in Stockport, reportedly hired by an Iranian general (portrayed by Omid Djalili), who are surveilling, threatening, and even attempting to assassinate a dissident. The stakes are high, and the line between professional duty and personal loyalty becomes increasingly blurred.
Yet, as John and Mehreen grow closer, the strain on John’s marriage to Claire (Romola Garai) intensifies. Claire is still reeling from John’s previous affair with a colleague, and the demands of his job continue to drive a wedge between them. "Sorry I’m not middle class like you!" John rails, highlighting the class tensions and emotional fractures that simmer beneath the surface. The show deftly intertwines the themes of marital and national betrayal, drawing a parallel between John’s personal crises and the broader geopolitical intrigue swirling around him.
David Eldridge, an acclaimed playwright making his TV serial debut, is the creative force behind Betrayal. His ambition is evident in the show’s attempt to blend the emotional intensity of a marriage drama with the adrenaline-fueled suspense of a spy thriller. However, as The Independent points out, the series sometimes succumbs to the familiar rhythms of ITV primetime drama, where plot momentum can overshadow emotional depth. "Betrayal starts with an interesting idea—a marriage drama masquerading as a spy thriller—but quickly reverts to something more familiar," the review observes. Still, the show’s formulaic elements don’t prevent it from delivering plenty of twists and suspenseful moments.
Shaun Evans, best known for his role as young Morse in Endeavour, brings a pleasingly abrasive edge to John, making him both charismatic and deeply flawed. Romola Garai, a two-time Olivier nominee, lends gravitas to the role of Claire, even if, as The Independent notes, her performance occasionally feels restrained. Some supporting performances land less convincingly, and certain lines—like Mehreen’s first introduction to John, "Your reputation goes before you"—come across as a touch heavy-handed.
The show’s plot, while rooted in contemporary fears about terrorism and foreign interference, is ultimately more interested in the personal costs of secrecy and betrayal. The threat of a mass casualty attack looms large, but it’s the emotional fallout—missed connections, broken trust, and moral ambiguity—that gives Betrayal its resonance. As John implores his superiors, "I don’t want to be responsible for missing a terrorist attack. Do you?" it’s clear that the stakes are as much about personal responsibility as national security.
For Zahra Ahmadi, the role of Mehreen marks another milestone in a diverse and accomplished career. Born in 1982 in Plymouth and of Persian heritage, Ahmadi first gained national attention as Shabnam Masood in EastEnders from 2007 to 2008. According to The Mirror, she left the soap to pursue other opportunities, reflecting, "I've made the tough decision to leave as I'm still young and I want to try other roles. But I'm really happy the door has been left open for me to return as it has been a great experience."
Since then, Ahmadi has appeared in a variety of British television hits, including Count Arthur Strong, Innocent, The Bay, and Beyond Paradise. She even had a memorable guest appearance in Death in Paradise in 2018, where she played Daisy Anderson in an episode titled "Murder on the Day of the Dead." Filming in Guadeloupe proved challenging for Ahmadi, who recounted a harrowing encounter with a venomous centipede: "All of a sudden, someone said, 'Get up, get up, get up!' So I kind of stood up and I had this dress on, and 10 people descended on me, shaking it out, brushing down my legs. And nobody would tell me what was going on, and then eventually, I got it out of my makeup artist. And it was a scolopendra—quite a poisonous centipede and it was on me and they have quite nasty bites and can give you quite a bad allergic reaction."
Despite these behind-the-scenes challenges, Ahmadi’s performance in Betrayal stands out, offering a nuanced portrayal of an intelligence operative caught between cultures and allegiances. Her chemistry with Evans provides much of the show’s emotional heft, even as the plot races toward its inevitable shootouts and betrayals.
Betrayal may not reinvent the spy thriller genre, but it delivers a well-executed blend of suspense and domestic drama that will keep audiences tuning in. As The Independent wryly concludes, "It is the dramatic equivalent of a microwave dinner. Sustaining, but not nourishing." Still, for viewers hungry for intrigue and emotional complexity, it’s a dish that goes down easy—if not especially memorable once the credits roll.
With strong performances from Evans and Ahmadi, and a plot that weaves together the personal and the political, Betrayal offers a compelling, if familiar, look at the high price of secrets—on the job and at home.