Honey: Everything You Need to Know About the BBC’s New Cold War Spy Thriller
A dangerous romance is about to collide with Cold War espionage in Honey, the new BBC One thriller from the production company behind Killing Eve. Set in 1980s East Berlin, the six-part drama follows a young MI6 agent whose assignment becomes increasingly complicated when she falls for a CIA officer while trying to stay ahead of the Stasi.
With Ann Skelly, Nate Mann and Jannis Niewöhner leading the cast, Honey combines counterespionage, romance and the threat of exposure against the tense backdrop of divided Berlin.
What is Honey about?
The story centres on Martha Schmitt, played by Ann Skelly (House Of Guinness), a young undercover MI6 agent working in East Berlin during the Cold War.
Martha’s mission requires her to remain invisible while navigating the city’s dangerous counterespionage network. One of the biggest threats to her cover is Friedrich Bauman, the newly appointed Head of Counterespionage for the Stasi, played by Jannis Niewöhner.
Keeping her identity hidden becomes even more difficult when Martha develops feelings for Aaron Neeland, an arrogant CIA officer working under an alias. Nate Mann, known for Licorice Pizza, plays the American agent.
Their relationship creates a dangerous love triangle, putting Martha’s operation and carefully maintained cover in increasing jeopardy.
A stylish Cold War setting
The BBC’s first-look images suggest that Honey will bring plenty of visual flair to its espionage story.
Niewöhner’s Friedrich cuts a striking figure, while Skelly’s Martha is seen in a series of eye-catching outfits, including a heavy leopard-print coat and a cropped red fur jacket.
The images also feature Nate Mann as Kurt and Rory Kinnear alongside Ann Skelly, offering an early glimpse of the show’s ensemble cast and its distinctive 1980s aesthetic.
From the makers of Killing Eve
There is an obvious reason for the early interest in Honey: the series comes from Sid Gentle Films, the production company behind Killing Eve.
Writer Emma Moran, whose previous work includes Extraordinary, said when the BBC announced the project that she was excited to explore her interpretation of Cold War East Berlin, particularly the combination of romance and espionage.
That mix sits at the centre of Honey, which promises to move between the dangers of intelligence work and the complications of a romantic entanglement.
Executive producer Sally Woodward Gentle has described the series as smart, violent and highly sexually charged. She also praised Moran’s scripts for their wit, sophistication, pace and romantic qualities, while singling out Ann Skelly, Nate Mann and Jannis Niewöhner as an exceptional central trio.
Is Honey a Killing Eve prequel?
This is one of the most intriguing details surrounding the series.
The BBC has so far declined to comment, but Deadline has reported that Honey will serve as a prequel to Killing Eve. According to that report, Martha Schmitt is a younger version of Fiona Shaw’s character Carolyn Martens.
If confirmed, the connection would give Honey an additional link to the world of Killing Eve beyond its shared production company.
For now, however, the prequel connection remains something reported by the industry publication rather than officially confirmed by the BBC.
Who stars in Honey?
Ann Skelly leads the series as Martha Schmitt, the young MI6 agent at the centre of the story.
The main cast also includes:
- Jannis Niewöhner as Friedrich Bauman, the newly installed Head of Counterespionage for the Stasi
- Nate Mann as Aaron Neeland, the CIA officer operating under an alias
- Rory Kinnear, known for The Lord Of The Rings: Rings Of Power
- July Namir, known for Homeland
- Sofia Oxenham, known for Poldark
- Oliver Cudbill, known for My Lady Jane
The combination of established names and younger performers gives the drama a sizeable ensemble around its central love triangle.
When will Honey be released?
There is currently no confirmed release date for Honey.
The series will premiere on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, and it is planned as a six-part series.
Filming began earlier in the year, but the BBC has not yet announced when the drama will arrive on screen. For now, viewers will have to wait for an official premiere date.