Author Thomas Rob Smith to pen new gay British espionage drama for BBC

Thomas Rob Smith, the writer behind “Child 44,” will be penning the story of a gay spy love drama for BBC. The acclaimed author, a gay man himself, confirmed that he would be writing the brand new “London Spy,” described as a “story of a chance romance between two people from opposite sides of that street.”

Smith told press that it was “very exciting to have one of the best production companies in the country, Working Title, produce my first contemporary spy thriller series for BBC Two, unarguably the most prestigious home for drama in the UK.”

The main character of the series will be a man named Danny, who is described as “gregarious, hedonistic, romantic and adrift,” who falls for the “anti-social enigmatic” Alex. Just as the two of them get closer, Alex disappears, leaving Danny to pick up the pieces and track him down.

Polly Hill, BBC’s head of independent drama commissioning, said: “This is a beautifully written love story, caught up in a spy thriller – a wonderfully complex and surprising story, of one man’s search for the truth.

“It promises to be a treat for the BBC2 audience, continuing the channel’s commitment to original authored drama.”

The drama will be going into production later this year; currently, it’s planned to air on BBC Two and BBC Two HD in 2015.

Rob Smith’s award-winning “Child 44” is currently being adapted into film by “Gladiator” director Ridley Scott.

429Magazine