Dramatizing the Kim Philby story, the show stars Damian Lewis, Guy Pearce and Anna Maxwell Martin. 

ITVs new-look streamer, ITVX lands on December 8th and A Spy Among Friends is front and centre as the service’s high-profile drama show for its launch.

Based on Ben Macintyre’s book, the real-life story looks at Kim Philby and his defection to the USSR.

Here’s the premise for A Spy Among Friends:

Based on the New York Times best-selling book written by Ben Macintyre, the six-episode series dramatises the true story of Nicholas Elliott and Kim Philby, two British spies and lifelong friends. Philby was the most notorious British defector and Soviet double agent in history.

This is a story of intimate duplicity; of loyalty, trust and treachery. Philby’s deeply personal betrayal, uncovered at the height of the Cold War, resulted in the gutting of British and American Intelligence.

“Do you think Philby was playing you from the very first moment you met?”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uorIJtb6yCM

Brief though the trailer is, Anna Maxwell Martin leads the intense questioning, pushing Damian Lewis’ Nicholas Elliott on Philby’s betrayal. Meanwhile, Guy Pearce’s Philby remains a remote, rather inscrutable figure.

Joining the headline cast, there are also roles for Stephen Kunken (Billions, The Handmaids Tale) and Adrian Edmondson (Back to Life, The Pact).

Interestingly, Anna Maxwell Martin appeared on the November 11th edition of The Graham Norton Show, revealing a very amusing inspiration for her character’s accent.

The show comes from Sony Pictures Television, ITV Studios and Veritas Entertainment Group. Alexander Cary is creator and executive producer alongside ITV Studios’ Patrick Spence and Nick Murphy. Damian Lewis also serves as executive producer through his production company, Ginger Biscuit Entertainment.

As we said, A Spy Among Friends comes to ITVX at its launch on December 8th.