Spooks: Code 9
Personnel files
Personnel File #1: Hannah (Joanne Froggatt)
Background: experienced spook and team leader Hannah moved to the north following the bomb.
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As a fan of Spooks, Yorkshire-born Joanne jumped at the chance to be
part of Spooks: Code 9.
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"Hannah is a great character
to play; quite ballsy, very intelligent and very
patriotic," explains Joanne. "She really cares
for her country. Plus I thought it would be fun to
get to be the boss for a change!"
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In the world of Spooks: Code 9 Britain is struggling to come to terms with the
aftermath of the London bomb. It was a life-changing event for the whole country and the
people of Britain have lost faith in the security services; those very people who
were supposed to protect them.
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But Hannah is different. "She
really believes in MI5," explains Joanne. "She's got strong beliefs in the system
and knows it can work again. She's really proud of the team she's put together and
wants them to make a real difference."
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Hannah's been conducting an investigation of her own into the London bomb and
surprisingly it's new team member Charlie who she trusts to help her: "Hannah
sees that Charlie has this amazing brain; he has the ability to look ahead and
predict risk and I think she sees the potential in him to be a future leader.
That's why she trusts him with her investigation."
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The life of a spy seems to be full of excitement, danger and intrigue but
portraying it on screen didn't tempt the Joanne into pursuing the
career for real:
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"Although I did really enjoy the running and physical side of
Spooks: Code 9, I'm not so sure I could do it in real life," laughs Joanne.
"Maybe I could stretch to being a desk officer and sourcing information!"
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Joanne's extensive TV career began with her role as scheming single mum Zoe
Tattersall in Coronation Street. Her television credits include Danielle Cable:
Eyewitness, Joanne Lees: Murder In The Outback, See No Evil: The Moors Murders,
Life On Mars, The Street and Missing.
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Personnel File #2: Charlie (Liam Boyle)
Background: recruited to MI5 for his
mathematical skills, Charlie is good at puzzle solving,
code breaking and probability, but not so good
with people.
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The bomb completely changed Charlie's life. He went
from being a young man whose aspirations were to
receive a Nobel Prize in mathematics, to becoming
an MI5 agent in one swift move.
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Living through such a life-changing experience altered Charlie's whole outlook. "MI5 recruitment gave Charlie an opportunity to help people and
he jumped at it," explains actor Liam Boyle.
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But his new-found view of life doesn't impress his colleagues. "No one really has
any respect for Charlie when he starts," says Liam. "But throughout the
series he shows great leadership skills and the other officers often look at him
with disbelief over what he's just come up with."
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However, Charlie's leader, Hannah, shows great faith in him and entrusts him with
some top secret information on her personal investigation into the London bomb and
a potential MI5 mole: "Hannah sees how focused Charlie is and how he handles
situations differently to the other team members; he sees things from every
possible angle, and fast, which is why she has faith he'll find the MI5 traitor."
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The actor isn't so sure he'd be the best man to jump into a pair of MI5 shoes though:
"I'd be a ridiculous spy. But then looking at it from a practical point of view
if I was living in the Britain of Spooks: Code 9 I don't think I'd be acting
either as there'd be no one in London and no work, so I may as well join MI5!"
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Charlie is Liam's first lead role on TV, though he has appeared in a string of hit dramas, including The Street, Instinct and
Drop Dead Gorgeous.
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Personnel File #3: Rachel (Ruta Gedmintas)
Background: a former police constable, Rachel is a leader in
the making.
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She has a lot more experience
than most of the team working on the complex cases that face Field Office 19.
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"Rachel saw joining MI5 as a step up to a position where
she could make more of a difference," explains Ruta.
"She's very determined, dedicated, hard-working and she has
an air of ruthlessness about her."
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Rachel's experience is invaluable to her fellow team members, especially Charlie who
turns to her for support when Hannah asks him to help with her London bomb
investigation.
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"I think Charlie sees that Rachel is very passionate about her job.
He trusts that she'll always make the right decision," says Ruta. "To Rachel it's
not just a job, she really cares about the effect her work is having."
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Charlie isn't the only man in Rachel's life though; her colleague, Rob, is always
on her radar. "There is definitely tension between Rachel and Rob, but I think
Rachel has always put work as her number one priority," grins Ruta.
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But would Ruta be as dedicated a spook in real life? "I think I could give being a
spy a good go, but I'd probably fail with the duplicitous side of the job!"
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Ruta starred as Henry VIII's mistress, Elizabeth Blount, in international hit drama
The Tudors alongside Jonathan Rhys Meyers. She played the lead role of Elle opposite
Ian Somerhalder (Lost) in the thriller The Lost Samaritan and will soon hit screens alongside Heather Graham and Tom Ellis in the
quirky romantic comedy Miss Conception, due for release this summer.
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Ruta recently completed the feature The Athlete, about the life of Ethiopian Marathon winner Abebe Bikila.
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Personnel File #4: Rob (Andrew Knott)
Background: a former junior doctor, Rob is an everyman with a strong moral
compass.
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Rob is the alpha male of the team but actor Andrew Knott doesn't
think that becoming the team leader is necessarily on
Rob's agenda.
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"He's very hands-on, very protective of
the rest of the team and because he has this background
in medicine, of being a doctor, he's very level headed as well," says Andrew. "He will always step
up, no matter what is asked, he'll be there and try to make a difference. Rob's a
leader in the sense that he wants everything to be right and if it means him being
overruled, that's fine, he's wide open to opinion."
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Although the main focus of Spooks: Code 9 is maintaining peace in Britain, the team
members do have time to think about themselves at times and with such a highly charged and
intense atmosphere it's no surprise that some get particularly close.
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"There is a bit of a love triangle with Rob, Rachel and Charlie, and for Rob it's
really a case of unrequited love," explains Andrew. "Rob's not desperate; he's just
very attracted to Rachel. They work together, it happens in offices all over the
world! But unfortunately her attention often falls more on Charlie."
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If faced with Rob's situation himself, Andrew's not so sure he would be able to step up to the challenge in quite the same way. He says: "I don't feel I'd
make a very good spook. You don't know how you'd think or act if something that
devastating happened in real life. I don't think I'd be the person to answer the
MI5 advert."
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Andrew is best known as one of the original History Boys, having starred in both the
stage and screen versions of Alan Bennett's hit comedy drama alongside Richard
Griffiths, Frances de la Tour and James Corden. He has since appeared in hit TV
series Life on Mars, Drop Dead Gorgeous and award-winning comedy Gavin And Stacey.
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Personnel File #5: Kylie (Georgia Moffett)
Background: a former psychology student who has just returned from her gap year, Kylie is suffering from radiation sickness.
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Kylie brings some attitude to the team and is a bit of a
loose cannon, but given what she's been through it's
hardly surprising, explains actor Georgia Moffett, who recently starred as Doctor Who's daughter. "When the bomb went
off Kylie was close enough to witness the devastation.
However, by being so close to the bomb she got radiation sickness, so she has a real
sense that any day could be her last; she likes the idea of going out in a blaze of
glory."
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It's the need to make every second count that motivated Kylie to join MI5 in the
first place. "Before the bomb she couldn't decide what she wanted to do in life,"
says Georgia. "In joining MI5 she finally found her calling and reason to live –
to protect her country."
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Playing such a reckless character meant Georgia had plenty of action scenes and got
to do many of her own stunts: "If the team have to go on a mission, Kylie is the
first one there, with gun in hand. I got to do loads of running on roofs, jumping
on cars and shooting; it was amazing."
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Georgia has carved a successful TV career, notching up lead roles in The Bill, in which
she played Abigail Nixon, Where The Heart Is and Bonkers. She also guest starred in My Family.
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Personnel File #6: Vik (Christopher Simpson)
Background: Vik had a privileged upbringing, but left the family
business to join MI5. He retains focus and humour
when others are falling apart.
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Like all his colleagues in Field Office 19, Vik's life
changed dramatically when the London bomb exploded.
With family expectations on his shoulders, Vik rebelled and
put the needs of his country above those closest to him when he joined MI5.
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"Vik
joined MI5 to get away from the expectations of his family," explains actor Christopher Simpson.
"He's from a rather affluent and cultured background and his family had expectations
that he would take over the family business.
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"But Vik was struck by what happened when
the bomb went off in London. He was motivated to do something; to help the dire
situation that the country was in and he feels he could be an agent for change."
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It's quite clear that actor who last year starred in the hit British film Brick Lane
sees Vik as the rock of the group. "Vik is the one that looks after everyone,"
says the star of Brick Lane and Second Generation.
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"He's quite self assured,
urbane, witty and I think at times he's a point of stability. He's also the one
that will try and lighten the mood if the situation gets a little too serious."
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However, Christopher himself is not so sure that if he survived the bomb in the world
of Spooks: Code 9, he'd follow Vik's lead: "I don't think joining MI5 would be the
way I'd choose to engage with such events, but I think I could survive in Spooks:
Code 9 Britain. I like to think I can play a good spy, but whether I'd make a good
spy in real life… it's never going to happen!"
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As well as starring in Brick Lane, Christopher played lead roles in Channel 4's White Teeth opposite
Naomi Harris and Second Generation alongside ER's Parminder Nagra. He also appeared
in the highly acclaimed drama series State Of Play.
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Christopher has recently written
a song cycle 'Very Present Tense' which premieres in Liverpool this August.
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Personnel File #7: Jez (Heshima Thompson)
Background: a new breed of spy - an ex-criminal - Jez
brings his 'street' knowledge to the team.
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Jez lost his whole family in the London bomb, so his reasons for joining MI5 are a lot more personal
than some of the other members of the team. "The fact
he's lost his whole family has a massive effect on
him," explains actor Heshima Thompson.
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"He loved his family and he feels
guilt over not being there for them when the bomb went
off. Jez really doesn't want to admit to himself they're dead; he still lives in the
hope that they're alive."
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Jez also differs from the other members of the team in that he used to be on the other
side of the law. "Jez's criminal past gives him a real advantage in the team,"
explains the actor and musician who is also one of Amy Winehouse's backing
vocalists.
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"He understands how the criminal mind works. Jez also understands how
to intimidate people when necessary; he understands when to stay quiet and when to
go into action."
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One of the highs of filming Spooks: Code 9 for Heshima was a chance to tackle the stunts. "I got all
the good stunts!" laughs Heshima. "I had some real 'Jason Bourne' moments. I
think I'd be a loud spy; I certainly wouldn't be sneaking up on anyone.
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"But my
aim is to be the best at anything I commit to, so I would plan not just to be a
good spy, but to be the best there's ever been!"
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Heshima's acting credits include Spooks, Prime Suspect: The Final Act and Judge
John Deed. As well as working with Amy Winehouse, Heshima is also releasing a solo
album later this year.
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