The BBC has acquired the Cold War era thriller "Spy/Master" for BBC iPlayer and TV channels from Warner Bros. Discovery. Spy/Master (6 x 50’) is produced by Hungarian firm Proton Cinema and the Romanian company Mobra Films. It was created and written by Adina Sădeanu and Kirsten Peters, with all episodes directed by Christopher Smith and produced by Ioanina Pavel. The Executive Producers are Johnathan Young, Anke Greifeneder, and Antony Root, and co-producers include Viktória Petrányi and Tudor Reu.
The six-part series, filmed in Romania and Hungary, spans one perilous week in the life of fictional character Victor Godeanu (Alec Secăreanu – Happy Valley, God’s Own Country), the right-hand man and most trusted advisor to Romanian President Nicolae Ceaușescu (Claudiu Bleonț - Lasa-ma, imi place! Camera 609). With his government poised to uncover that he’s a secret agent for the Soviets, Godeanu uses a diplomatic trip to Germany as a springboard to defect to the United States. Helped by undercover Stasi agent Ingrid Von Weizendorff (Svenja Jung – The Empress, Deutschland 89) and up-and-coming CIA agent Frank Jackson (Parker Sawyers – Southside with You, The Mummy), Godeanu must elude the KGB and his own country’s spooks – all while his wife and daughter face the fallout back home.
The series also stars Aidan McArdle (Ridley, The Trial of Christine Keeler), Ana Ularu (Who Is Erin Carter?), Laurențiu Bănescu (Boss), Andreea Vasile (Umbre), Nico Mirallegro (Our Girl), lulian Postelnicu (Arest), and Elvira Deatcu (Clanul).
Sue Deeks, Head of BBC Programme Acquisition, referred to the mood and historical background of the series: “A classic spy drama set at the height of the Cold War, 'Spy/Master' is an atmospheric, complex thriller, dripping with style and suspense," noted.