Mark Strong stars as a retired MI6 agent whose past comes back to haunt him in Deep State, the forthcoming espionage series from Fox and Red Arrow’s Endor Productions.

The eight-episode brand new espionage thriller boasts an ensemble cast that, in addition to Strong (Kingsman: The Golden Circle, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy), includes Joe Dempsie (Game of Thrones) and Karima McAdams (Vikings).

With its gritty action sequences, global conspiracies and tortured spy protagonist, Deep State harkens back to Fox’s post-11 September hit 24, which, thanks in large part to Kiefer Sutherland’s legendary performance as antihero Jack Bauer, captivated US audiences for almost a decade. Now, though, the covert intelligence battles are being waged on the opposite side of the Atlantic, and it’s ex-MI6 operative Max Easton (Strong) at the centre of the fight.

The choice by Fox Network Group to base the next 24 outside of the US was not incidental; Deep State is FNG’s first regional scripted commission for Europe and Africa.

Executive producer Hilary Bevan Jones described Deep State as ‘an exhilarating and emotional thriller underscored by an intensely topical and relevant subject matter’.

The first episode premieres in the UK on Thursday 5 April 2018 at 9pm.