BBC picks up CEE drama Spy/Master from Warner Bros Discovery

Spy/Master debuted on Max last year

The BBC has acquired Cold War thriller Spy/Master for on-demand platform iPlayer and its TV channels in a deal with Warner Bros Discovery (WBD).

Spy/Master (6×50’) was produced by Mobra Films (Romania) and Proton Cinema (Hungary) and made its global debut on WBD-owned streamer HBO Max in May last year.

The show was created and written by Adina Sădeanu and Kirsten Peters, with all episodes directed by Christopher Smith and produced by Ioanina Pavel. The exec producers are Johnathan Young, Anke Greifeneder and Antony Root, and coproducers include Viktória Petrányi and Tudor Reu.

The series, filmed in Romania and Hungary, spans one perilous week in the life of a fictional advisor to Romanian president Nicolae Ceaușescu. The advisor is played by Alec Secăreanu (Happy Valley), while Ceaușescu is played by Claudiu Bleonț.

The series also stars Svenja Jung (Deutschland 89), Parker Sawyers (The Mummy), Aidan McArdle (Ridley), 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, said: “A classic spy drama set at the height of the Cold War, Spy/Master is an atmospheric, complex thriller, dripping with style and suspense.”