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BBC One announces return of hit drama Spooks as current series continues to garner critical acclaim
Consistently hailed as a benchmark for modern drama, compelling spy series Spooks is to return next year, the BBC announced today.
The hit drama from Kudos Film and Television has been recommissioned for an eighth series while it currently enjoys its most critically-acclaimed series ever.
This series witnessed the arrival of Robin Hood star Richard Armitage as Lucas North, the return of Hermione Norris as Ros Myers, the shattering discovery of Connie James as the MI5 mole and the shocking murder of Ben Kaplan by one of his own.
The highly topical series continues to secure strong ratings, regularly attracting over 5.7 million viewers on BBC One and BBC Three, and has received a deluge of positive feedback from both fans and the press.
Details of the new series are being kept under wraps until the current series has finished airing but Simon Crawford Collins, Executive Producer and Joint Managing Director at Kudos, promises there will be even more compelling storylines and high drama in series eight:
"Spooks is currently enjoying an exceptional run on BBC One and BBC Three and viewers will be shocked when this series ends with a sting in its tale.
"As for next year...we're currently working with our fantastic team of writers to predict the big stories for 2009 to keep Spooks' prescience in these dramatically changing times."
Ben Stephenson, Controller, BBC Drama Commissioning, who commissioned the eighth series, continues: "I'm delighted Spooks is returning to BBC One and BBC Three next year. Spooks continues to be a channel defining show, consistently pushing the boundaries of television drama while maintaining strong viewer loyalty and attracting critical acclaim.
"I can't wait for series eight to burst onto our screens in 2009."
Richard Armitage, who joined at the beginning of the current series, says: "I'm thrilled with the response we've had to this series and I can't wait to find out what the next series has in store.
"If the climatic episodes at the end of series seven are anything to go by, I think series eight will be spectacular. I am excited about taking Lucas into deeper and more dangerous territory, and seeing if he can survive!"
Hermione Norris, who is approaching her fourth series of Spooks as Ros Myers, adds: "Spooks is a fantastic show to be a part of and I'm delighted to be joining the team again next year."
Spooks is produced by Kudos Film and Television for BBC One and BBC Three.
Executive producers are Simon Crawford Collins, Jane Featherstone, Andrew Woodhead and Karen Wilson for Kudos Film and Television and Lucy Richer and Sarah Brandist for the BBC.
Filming on series eight begins in March 2009 (tbc) and Spooks will return to BBC One in late 2009.
Press quotes:
"So topical it could have been filmed this morning..." Daily Mail Weekend
"Viewers and TV writers have spent a lot of time complaining British TV doesn't make series like CSI, Law And Order and The Wire. You have to wonder if they've ever watched Spooks, because this has all the qualities of the US hits: slick, fast, plot-driven and ever-so-slightly fantastical."
thelondonpaper
"Spooks combines slick action and spy suspense second to none on British TV."
Metro
"Who needs James Bond when you've got Spooks?!"
Closer
"Twisting, shocking, breathlessly gripping – was typical of the smart writing, affecting performances and atmospheric direction maintained over seven seasons." The Guardian
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