Advanced Television

BBC, ZDF commission Honey spy series

March 25, 2025

The BBC and ZDF have commissioned Honey – described as “a tender and flirty, slick and dangerous darkly comedic Cold War thriller” from Sid Gentle Films (Killing Eve, Extraordinary). Written by Emma Moran, creator of Disney+/Hulu series Extraordinary, the series goes deep undercover in 1980s East Berlin to explore a shadowy world of counter espionage and risky but irresistible relations.

The six-part series, for BBC iPlayer, BBC One and ZDF, is made in association with Fifth Season which is handling global distribution.

The series follows Marta, 24, a deep cover agent for MI6. Surrounded by enemies and constantly under threat of her cover being blown, she tries her hardest to avoid detection by Friedrich Bauman, the new Head of Counter Espionage for the Stasi.

Moran (pictured) commented: “I’m excited to dig into the sexy madness of our version of Cold War East Berlin. Romantic comedy plus espionage is a dream combination for me.”

Sally Woodward of Gentle Films, said: “Set against the stark brutalism of East Germany, the characters and storylines in Honey are smart, violent and highly sexually charged. Emma’s scripts are characteristically take-no-prisoners witty, sophisticated and pacy while quietly and desperately romantic. We are delighted to be working with the partnership of the BBC and ZDF and thrilled to once more join forces with Fifth Season.”

Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama, added: “Honey is a smart, playful and irresistible tale of an MI6 agent drawn into a deadly and dysfunctional love triangle. Set against the backdrop of Berlin in the early 80s, this brilliant new series from Emma and the team at Sid Gentle Films Ltd subverts genre conventions in the best possible way and we’re very proud to have it on the BBC.”

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