Series 5 Episode 1 (Spooks)

Infobox Spooks episode
episode_name = Series 5, Episode 1
writer = Ben Richards
director = Omar Madha
script_editor =
producer =
executive_producer = Jane Featherstone
series = Five
episode = One
length = approximately 58 mins
UK date = 11/9/06
US date =
preceding = Diana
following = Series 5, Episode 2
imdb_id = 0858323

The opening two-parter of series 5 of the series Spooks referenced recent events in the UK (including the Buncefield oil depot fire, the shooting of an unarmed man - as with Jean Charles de Menezes - and placing tanks around British airports). This episode saw the introduction of new team member Ros Myers, played by Hermione Norris, a head-strong, high-flying MI6 agent and the death of a major character, Colin Wells.

Plot

Adam is rushed to hospital as he is wounded by the shooting in the previous episode. Angela Wells doesn't shoot Harry but throws herself off the building and dies. Before she leaps to her death, she bellows out the following words: "DJAKARTA IS COMING!!!" Meanwhile a string of terrorist attacks is leaving the country in crisis with calls for the Prime Minister to resign. Adam has major flashbacks but returns to work early. The press are making a meal out of the situation so Harry goes to see the media topdog Paul Millington at a gentlemen's club in London. When Harry gives evidence of the terror attacks and falsity Millington will stop the press.

But a businessman named Terry Miles dies on a bus of a violent disease and the panic is increased. Gerry Houghton MP and the PM's Special Policy Advisor say that it is not biological warfare. But the press shunts the story aside and the panic doesn't stop. Millington has failed. Harry, Adam and Juliet go to see Michael Collingwood and Ros Myers from MI6, to discuss strategy for dealing with this new wave of attacks.

A meeting is held by senior intelligence personnel with the Home Secretary present. Collingwood storms out, accusing the Home Secretary of not doing enough to prevent terrorism. Meanwhile, Gerry Houghton is shot by two of Collingwood's cronies, Scott Jensen and Steve McKenzie. Collingwood is behind a conspiracy that has ignored intelligence and allowed the terror attacks to take place. Millington and Ros's father Sir Jocelyn Myers are also members of this conspiracy. Another meeting is held but before it Colin finds that there is interference with the air traffic control system and two planes will crash over London. Jo is assigned to protect Rowan the PM's son at University.

But Colin is found and hanged by Jensen and McKenzie. Malcolm is shocked and threatens to quit but Adam and Zaf reassure him. Collingwood has a lot of support in the intelligence services and he wants a meeting with Adam, Harry, Juliet and the Home Secretary present. Jo is attacked but it is foiled and MI5 men capture two men, McKenzie and another man who is not Jensen. As the meeting progresses the Home Secretary agrees to the statements. But they have planted a bomb in the Home Secretary's car.

Ros warns Adam and Harry as they abandon the Lexus but Juliet and the Home Secretary just escape as the Jaguar goes up in flames and the rear door hits Juliet in the back cutting her down.

Cast

* Harry Pearce - Peter Firth
* Adam Carter - Rupert Penry-Jones
* Ros Myers - Hermione Norris
* Ruth Evershed - Nicola Walker
* Zafar Younis - Raza Jaffrey
* Jo Portman - Miranda Raison
* Malcolm Wynn-Jones - Hugh Simon
* Juliet Shaw - Anna Chancellor
* Colin Wells - Rory MacGregor
* Jenny - Gugu Mbatha-Raw
* Wes Carter - James Dicker
* Nicholas Blake MP, Home Secretary - Robert Glenister
* Michael Collingwood - Nicholas Jones
* Paul Millington - Roger Allam
* Sir Jocelyn Myers - John Castle
* Rowan - Simon Woods
* Gerry Houghton MP - Roger Ringrose
* Steve Jensen - Steve Nicolson
* Lee Mackenzie - Alan McKenna

External links

* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/spooks/series5_ep1.shtml BBC Site episode guide]