Product Description

Spooks is a stylish, gripping spy thriller series, shown on BBC1 where it regularly draws audiences of over seven million viewers, making it one of the most popular drama series in British TV. Its enormous appeal is brought about because the subject matter is so close to events on the news, the superb performances of the cast, and because the outcome is always in doubt (rarely have the leads in s show had such a high mortality rate!). Now in this fascinating book, we get right behind the scenes to understand how the shows are made, how the plots are devised, and the enormous amount of work that goes into making it seem as authentic as possible. Featuring interviews with the cast and writers, and packed with exclusive stills of the making of the programmes, this book provides all the information about how the series is made and the truth that lies beyond the fiction.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #205643 in Books
• Published on: 2006-10-12
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 192 pages

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Customer Reviews

A Bit Disappointing Really........
I think this could have been a lot better; and it's a shame to say that because it's a nice looking, well designed and presented book overall. The Contender book 'Spooks Confidential'(c2003) by Jim Sangster could have been a bit better so I was hoping that this new book would have been a big improvement.

Why do I personally find it a let-down? Because considering it's billed as a 'behind the scenes' book, its fairly sketchy really in its behind the scenes coverage, and it isn't really that comprehensive. There is quite a lot of space given over to the development of the 'real life' intelligence services, and while that puts the tv dramas into some sort of context I'd have like to have seen far more detailed info on *how* this series was produced, rather than 'filler' which has been seen elsewhere. As I say, there IS information on the writing and production...but not a hell of a lot of it.

Out of 187 pages,nearly half the book is devoted to (yawn) episode guides. At one time,several years ago, episode guides were very rare but these days they are *everywhere*, and while the series is brought up to date in terms of episode synopses, fans will have the details already, or can access them fairly easily via the Internet etc. And of course, they have the DVDs. That said, there is some interesting comment on the episodes sprinkled through the book as well which is of course a redeeming feature. The blow by blow accounts of each story are rather boring and a little pointless in my own view. Others of course may find it all a handy reminder.

I do think it's worth a purchase and if you're a fan like me you'll buy it anyway. My main gripe is the relatively little space given over to what the book is supposed to be about (ie BEHIND THE SCENES), and the far from comprehensive treatment.

Not bad, but could have been ever better in my opinion.

A book for the real fans!
Spooks is serious television, the best thing about spies and spying for years. This book is great for a serious fan because it takes you right into the heart of the series. Which one is inspired by The Third Man, for instance? The detailed interviews with the authors make you understand how complex the whole process can be. Howard Brenton writing television? Can't be. But yes, he did: this should be on the film and tv school's syllabuses. Blokes, though, might also like the the bits on guns and how to shoot.