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Smoke And Mirrors (Spooks)
"Smoke and Mirrors", known as "Pit of Secrets" in the United States, is the tenth and final episode of the second series, and the 16th episode overall of the British television series '' Spooks''. It first aired on BBC One on 11 August 2003. The episode was written by Howard Brenton, and directed by Sam Miller. In the episode, Tom Quinn ( Matthew Macfadyen) is being framed by thought-to-be-dead CIA agent Herman Joyce (Tomas Arana), as revenge for what happened to his daughter. After its original broadcast, the finale was seen by seven million people, a third of the television audience during its time slot. The episode, particularly due to its cliffhanger, received critical acclaim. Plot The episode begins in Miami, Florida, where three masked men break into the apartment of hitman Michael Karharias (Bruce Payne), who is under house arrest. The head of the group employs Karharias to kill an Englishman, but on the condition that he "do it dead". The leader then shoots Karharias to ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Spooks (TV Series)
''Spooks'' (known as ''MI-5'' in some countries) is a British television spy drama series that originally aired on BBC One from 13 May 2002 to 23 October 2011, consisting of 10 series. The title is a popular colloquialism for spies, and the series follows the work of a group of MI5 officers based at the service's Thames House headquarters, in a highly secure suite of offices known as The Grid. It is notable for various stylistic touches, and its use of popular guest actors. In the United States, the show is broadcast under the title ''MI-5''. In Canada, the programme originally aired as ''MI-5'' but later aired on BBC Canada as ''Spooks''. The series continued with a film, '' Spooks: The Greater Good'', which was released on 8 May 2015. Series synopses The show consists of 86 episodes, beginning in May 2002 and ending in October 2011. Most episodes end with the final scene freezing and changing to a black-and-white negative image that then compresses with a distinctive sound ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Megan Dodds
Megan Lynne Dodds is an American actress. She played Kate in the 2006 series ''Not Going Out'', alongside Lee Mack and Tim Vine, and has appeared in the series '' Spooks'', ''House'', ''Detroit 1-8-7'', and ''CSI: NY'', and the films ''Ever After'', ''The Contract'', and ''Chatroom''. Her stage work includes having played the title role in the stage production ''My Name Is Rachel Corrie'' (2006), which won the London Theatregoers' Choice Award for Best Actress in that year. Early life Megan Lynne Dodds was born in Sacramento, California. After high school, she enrolled in a community college, where she was cast as Bananas in John Guare's ''The House of Blue Leaves''. She next went to Juilliard School, where she studied for four years as a member of the Drama Division's Group 24 (1991–1995). Career After graduation, Dodds spent two years in Broadway and Off Broadway productions. She left the U.S. for London in 1997 to star in British comedian Ben Elton's play ''Popcorn''. As a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Chief Of The Defence Staff (United Kingdom)
The Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) is the professional head of the British Armed Forces and the most senior uniformed military adviser to the secretary of state for defence and the prime minister of the United Kingdom. The chief of the defence staff is based at the Ministry of Defence and works alongside the Permanent Under-Secretary of State for Defence, the ministry's senior civil servant. The Chief of Defence is the highest ranking officer to currently serve in the armed forces. Constitutionally, the sovereign is the ''de jure'' commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces. However, in practice, the Government of the United Kingdom ''de facto'' exercises the royal prerogative and provides direction of the Armed Forces through the Ministry of Defence's Defence Council, of which the chief of the defence staff is a member. The current chief of the defence staff is Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, who succeeded General Sir Nick Carter in November 2021. Chiefs of the defence staff are ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sniper Rifle
A sniper rifle is a high-precision, long-range rifle. Requirements include accuracy, reliability, mobility, concealment and optics for anti-personnel, anti-materiel and surveillance uses of the military sniper. The modern sniper rifle is a portable shoulder-fired weapon system with a choice between bolt-action or semi-automatic action, fitted with a telescopic sight for extreme accuracy and chambered for a high-ballistic performance centerfire cartridge. History The Whitworth rifle was arguably the first long-range sniper rifle in the world. Designed by Sir Joseph Whitworth, a prominent British engineer, it used barrels with hexagonal polygonal rifling, which meant that the projectile did not have to bite into the rifling grooves as was done with conventional rifling. His rifle was far more accurate than the Pattern 1853 Enfield, which had shown some weaknesses during the recent Crimean War. At trials in 1857, which tested the accuracy and range of both weapons, Whitworth' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gepard Anti-materiel Rifle
Gepard, meaning " cheetah" in a number of languages, may refer to: * Flakpanzer Gepard, a German self-propelled anti-aircraft gun * Flakpanzer 38(t), German self-propelled anti-aircraft gun used in World War II * Gepárd anti-materiel rifle, a family of Hungarian heavy sniper rifles * ''Gepard''-class frigate, a class of frigates built in Russia * ''Gepard''-class fast attack craft, a class of patrol vessels built for the German Navy * ''Gepard'' (K-335), a Russian Navy Akula III-class submarine The ''Akula'' class, Soviet designation Project 971 ''Shchuka-B'' (russian: Щука-Б, , Pike-B, NATO reporting name NATO reporting names are code names for military equipment from Russia, China, and historically, the Eastern Bloc (Soviet ... * Gepard (game engine), a real-time strategy video game engine {{disambiguation ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dead Drop
A dead drop or dead letter box is a method of espionage tradecraft used to pass items or information between two individuals (e.g., a case officer and an agent, or two agents) using a secret location. By avoiding direct meetings, individuals can maintain operational security. This method stands in contrast to the live drop, so-called because two persons meet to exchange items or information. Spies and their handlers have been known to perform dead drops using various techniques to hide items (such as money, secrets or instructions) and to signal that the drop has been made. Although the signal and location by necessity must be agreed upon in advance, the signal may or may not be located close to the dead drop itself. The operatives may not necessarily know one another or ever meet. Considerations The location and nature of the dead drop must enable retrieval of the hidden item without the operatives being spotted by a member of the public, the police, or other security forcesâ ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Passport
A passport is an official travel document issued by a government that contains a person's identity. A person with a passport can travel to and from foreign countries more easily and access consular assistance. A passport certifies the personal identity and nationality of its holder. It is typical for passports to contain the full name, photograph, place and date of birth, signature, and the expiration date of the passport. While passports are typically issued by national governments, certain subnational governments are authorised to issue passports to citizens residing within their borders. Many nations issue (or plan to issue) biometric passports that contain an embedded microchip, making them machine-readable and difficult to counterfeit. , there were over 150 jurisdictions issuing e-passports. Previously issued non-biometric machine-readable passports usually remain valid until their respective expiration dates. A passport holder is normally entitled to enter the country ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Peter Firth
Peter Macintosh Firth (born 27 October 1953) is an English actor. He is best known for his role as Sir Harry Pearce in the BBC One programme '' Spooks''; he is the only actor to have appeared in every episode of the programme's ten-series lifespan. He has given many other television and film performances, most notably as Alan Strang in '' Equus'' (1977), earning both a Golden Globe Award and an Academy Award nomination for the role. Early life, family and education Firth was born in Bradford, West Riding of Yorkshire, England, the son of publicans Mavis (née Hudson) and Eric Macintosh Firth. He attended Hanson School in Bradford. Early career Child actor Firth was a leading child actor by the middle of 1969, having starred in the first series of ''The Flaxton Boys'' as Archie Weekes and then the following year in the series ''Here Come the Double Deckers'', both of which featured child actors in the leading roles. Firth played Scooper, the leader of the gang. In 1972 he al ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Harry Pearce
Sir Henry James "Harry" Pearce, KBE (born 1 November 1953) is a fictional character, head of the counter-terrorism department ("Section D") of MI5 as featured in the British television series '' Spooks''. He was played by Peter Firth during the whole run of the series from 2002 to 2011, and reprised for the 2015 film, '' Spooks: The Greater Good''. Career Prior career After attending the University of Oxford,''Harry's Diary'', p. 5 Pearce went to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst''Harry's Diary'', p. 3 before joining the Light Blue Dragoons.''Harry's Diary'', p. 8 Upon leaving the army, he joined MI5, where he completed his training in June 1977.''Harry's Diary'', p. 1 His first assignment at the service was to A Section, in Northern Ireland, where he was an agent handler during the Provisional IRA's campaign against the British state,''Harry's Diary'', p. 7 until his close colleague Bill Crombie was kidnapped and killed in August 1978.''Harry's Diary'', p. 25 Pearce was ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Keeley Hawes
Claire Julia Hawes (born 10 February 1976), known professionally as Keeley Hawes, is an English actress. After beginning her career in a number of literary adaptations, including ''Our Mutual Friend'' (1998) and ''Tipping the Velvet'' (2002), Hawes rose to fame for her portrayal of Zoe Reynolds in the BBC series '' Spooks'' (2002–2004), followed by her co-lead performance as DI Alex Drake in '' Ashes to Ashes'' (2008–2010). She is also known for her roles in Jed Mercurio's ''Line of Duty'' as DI Lindsay Denton (2014–2016) and in BBC One drama ''Bodyguard'' (2018) in which she played Home Secretary Julia Montague. Hawes is a three-time BAFTA TV Award nominee, having been nominated for the British Academy Television Award for Best Actress for her roles as Lindsay Denton and Julia Montague, and a British Academy Television Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Dorothy Wick in the drama ''Mrs Wilson''. Hawes has had leading roles in the 2010 revival of '' Upstairs ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Zoe Reynolds
Zoe Reynolds is a fictional case officer in the counterterrorism department of MI5, featured in the British television series '' Spooks'', also known as ''MI5'' in the United States. The character is played by Keeley Hawes. Prior to starting her job, Zoe studies for her degree at Oxford University; this is revealed to Danny Hunter when she is preparing to go undercover in the third episode of series two. One of her main talents is in linguistics, and she is shown translating Serbian dialogue in the first episode of series two. Zoe is a junior case officer in Section D, which she joined shortly before September 1997, and is part of the original leading trio (along with Tom Quinn and Danny Hunter). At the end of the second episode of the show, she moves in with Danny and the two young spooks form a very strong bond. She also forms strong relationships with Harry Pearce (her boss and someone whom she respected a lot), and Ruth Evershed. Zoe is brilliant at her job and has excellent ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
David Oyelowo
David Oyetokunbo Oyelowo ( ; born 1 April 1976) is a British actor, director and producer. His accolades include a Critics' Choice Award and two NAACP Image Awards as well as nominations for two Golden Globe Awards, two Primetime Emmy Awards, a Screen Actors Guild Award and a BAFTA Award. In 2016, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his services to drama. Oyelowo rose to prominence for portraying Martin Luther King Jr. in the biographical drama film ''Selma'' (2014) and Peter Snowdin in the HBO film ''Nightingale'' (2014), both of which garnered him critical acclaim. He also achieved praise for his roles as Louis Gaines in ''The Butler'' (2013), Seretse Khama in ''A United Kingdom'' (2016) and Robert Katende in ''Queen of Katwe'' (2016). He has also played supporting roles in the films ''Rise of the Planet of the Apes'' (2011), ''The Help'' (2011), ''Lincoln'' (2012), ''Red Tails'' (2012) and ''Jack Reacher'' (2012). On television, Oyelow ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
