ITV’s latest foray into the world of espionage, Betrayal, hit television screens on Sunday, February 8, 2026, promising viewers a suspenseful blend of spycraft and domestic drama. With a star-studded cast led by Shaun Evans and Romola Garai, the four-part series unfolds in the shadowy corridors of MI5, exploring not just the high-stakes dangers of intelligence work, but also the personal costs that come with living a double life.
Set against the backdrop of a rapidly evolving intelligence landscape, Betrayal follows John Hughes (Shaun Evans), a mid-career MI5 officer whose professional and personal lives collide in dramatic fashion. According to ITV, John is introduced as a man "navigating a rapidly evolving intelligence landscape while struggling to keep his personal life intact." The story kicks off when John, acting on a hunch, meets a British-Iranian informant with connections to Stockport’s criminal underworld. The informant claims to possess critical intelligence about a plot targeting the UK, but before he can share any details, he is executed. In the chaos that follows, John kills the assassin in self-defence, an act that immediately places him under intense internal investigation by his own agency.
Romola Garai’s character, Claire Wardly, is John’s wife—a high-pressure GP juggling the demands of her own career with the needs of their family. As Radio Times notes, the show does not shy away from portraying the couple’s marital struggles. After a decade of marriage and raising two children, Claire is increasingly frustrated by John’s secrecy and the sacrifices demanded by his job. She wants John to be more present at home, allowing her to pursue her own career ambitions, but the ever-present shadow of MI5 looms large over their relationship. The secrecy, and John’s past affair with a colleague, have left deep wounds. "She has been wounded and betrayed – but most painfully, she has been kept from the truth," ITV summarizes.
While the premise promises a fresh take on the spy genre by grounding it in the realities of domestic life, some critics argue that the execution leaves much to be desired. Radio Times observes, "For as much as it's purporting to be a fresh take on a beloved yet highly exposed genre, so many aspects of this series feel incredibly dated – with the worst offender being its portrayal of John's marital woes." The review points out that Claire’s character often falls into the trope of the "nagging wife," with little exploration of her life outside her roles as mother and spouse. The imbalance, the review says, makes it hard for viewers to empathize with her side of the story, even though her frustrations are entirely reasonable given the circumstances.
Despite these criticisms, the performances of the lead actors have garnered praise. Shaun Evans, already well-known for his role as Endeavour Morse in Endeavour, brings depth and nuance to John Hughes, capturing the emotional toll of a life lived in perpetual secrecy. "Raw, emotional, funny, it hits all the beats, and you can tell how much dedication he has brought to this project," writes Radio Times. Romola Garai, too, is lauded as "far better than the material she's been given," while Zahra Ahmadi, who plays Mehreen Askari-Evans, is highlighted as a standout, with her character’s storyline described as "by far the most engaging element of the series."
Ahmadi’s Mehreen is an accomplished British-Iranian intelligence operative, whose confidence and ambition have put her in the line of danger more than once. As she explains in an ITV interview, "Professionally, she's supremely confident, very comfortable in herself and her abilities. She knows what she's capable of and what her limitations are. She's a real grafter, passionate about what she believes in and things that are dear to her." Her character becomes an unlikely ally to John as he grows increasingly convinced that a hardline faction of the Iranian regime is involved in the plot, but also begins to suspect that there may be enemies lurking closer to home.
The supporting cast is equally impressive, featuring Nikki Amuka-Bird as Simone Grant, the head of MI5’s State Threats division. Discussing her character, Amuka-Bird told ITV, "It's a huge responsibility. She's in charge of security for the state, for the royal family, she's covering terrorist threats to assassination plots to cybersecurity threats. She has to stay clear headed, have excellent judgment and be able to analyse complex situations at the drop of a hat, every day." Other notable appearances include Gamba Cole as Rudy Kember, Omid Djalili as Iranian General Qasem Asadi, and Hayley Tamaddon as Iranian dissident Fatemah Feyzi.
The show’s release schedule is designed for maximum suspense. The first episode aired on Sunday, February 8, at 9pm, with the second following quickly on Monday, February 9, in the same primetime slot. Episodes three and four are set to air on Sunday, February 15, and Monday, February 16, respectively. For those who prefer to binge, the entire boxset is already available on ITV’s streaming service, ITVX.
At its core, Betrayal is about the intersection of public duty and private life, exploring the cost of secrecy, the meaning of loyalty, and the difficulty of discerning truth in a world built on deception. The plot’s focus on a potential Iranian-backed attack on UK soil, and the suggestion of internal threats within MI5, brings a contemporary edge to the story. Yet, as Radio Times points out, the show sometimes stumbles in its attempt to balance realism with the expectations of the genre. "If the characters didn't keep talking about MI5, you wouldn't know it wasn't just another crime show," the review notes, lamenting the lack of high-stakes action that typically defines spy thrillers.
Despite its flaws, Betrayal offers an intriguing look at the personal sacrifices demanded by a life in intelligence. The series highlights not only the dangers faced by those on the front lines of national security, but also the ripple effects on families and relationships. The cast’s strong performances, particularly from Evans and Ahmadi, ensure that the story remains compelling, even when the writing falters.
For viewers drawn to the world of spies and secrets, Betrayal delivers a grounded, if sometimes uneven, exploration of the human cost of keeping a nation safe. As the series continues, audiences will no doubt be eager to see whether John Hughes can untangle the web of threats facing the UK—and whether he can salvage what remains of his personal life in the process.