MI6 double agent Kim Philby is back in ‘A Spy Among Friends'

Notorious spy Kim Philby and his MI6 colleague Nicholas Elliot are back, this time on television. ‘A Spy Among Friends’ is coming to television. The cold war drama is full of intrigue and suspense. It is based on the real story to a great extent, but its elements are changed.

Kim Philby was the most notorious Soviet double agent who despite being an MI6 agent, spied on Britain for years and sent secrets to Moscow for years. When his cover was blown up in 1963 and he was exposed, Philby fled to Moscow where he stayed till his death 25 years later. Nicholas Elliot was another MI6 agent who was a close friend of Philby. He was asked to secure the confession of the double agent after his cover was blown.

Based on the bestseller by Ben McIntyre, the six-episode series depicts romance, thrills, treachery, and betrayal. It shows the delicate relationship between the two spies. It is still debated in the inner circle of MI6.


Alex Carey has adapted ‘A Spy Among Friends’. Guy Pearce has portrayed Kim Philby whereas Damian Lewis has played Nicholas Elliot. Maxwell Martin plays the invented character Lily Thomas.

‘A Spy Among Friends’ can be watched on ITVX. It was shown on July 9 on ITV1.

FAQs:

Q1:On which literary work is based ‘A Spy Among Friends’?
The television series is based on the bestseller book ‘A Spy Among Friends’, by Ben McIntyre.

Q2:Who was Kim Philby?
Kim Philby was a British agent working for MI6, but he acted as a double agent and spied on Britain for the erstwhile Soviet Union for years. After he was exposed, he fled to Moscow, where he stayed till his death 25 years later.