With an all-star cast and BAFTA award-winning writer, The Undeclared War has all the makings of a successful drama. The series, with its story set in 2024, tracks a leading team of analysts buried in the heart of GCHQ, who are secretly working to ward off a series of cyber-attacks on the UK in the run up to a general election. Interestingly, some of The Undeclared War was filmed in Wales, which you can read about here.
Writer Peter Kosminsky, who was behind a television adaptation of Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall, describes cyber terrorism as "the most urgent battle of our time". He added of his decision to take on the series: "In my work, I’ve tried to shine a light on aspects of public policy which affect us all but where the details of what is taking place, often behind the scenes, are not well understood. I hope this drama will give audiences an insight into a world certain to impact our lives significantly in the years ahead.”
The Undeclared War has apparently been "years in the making," according to Peter, but just who is in the series? And when can you watch it?
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Who is in The Undeclared War
The Undeclared War is not short of popular actors. A cast led by Hannah Khalique-Brown, Simon Pegg and Adrian Lester, the series also features Maisie Richardson-Sellers, Alex Jennings, Mark Rylance and Kerry Godliman.
Actress Hannah Khalique-Brown, a newcomer to the entertainment industry, leads the cast of the Channel 4 series. Khalique-Brown will play Saara Parvan, a student who is doing work experience at GCHQ's Malware Department.
In the series, Pegg plays Daniel Patrick, the Head of Operations at GCHQ, who is leading the fight against the unknown enemy nation attacking the UK through cyber warfare. Lester, meanwhile, inhabits the role of the the UK's first black Conservative prime minister, Andrew Makinde.
Helping to try and take down the unknown online threat will be American cyber-analyst Kathy Freeman, who is played by Maisie Richardson-Sellers. She will be Daniel's right-hand woman as they try to stop their online enemy before it's too late.
When the team is unsure of what to do next, they turn to retired Cold War veteran John Yeabsley. Oscar-winner, Mark Rylance, stars in this role.
What is The Undeclared War all about?
In short: The impact of cyber terrorism on the government.
When a routine stress test of internet infrastructure goes awry 21-year-old GCHQ intern Saara Parvin (played by Hannah Khalique-Brown) suddenly finds herself operating on the invisible frontier of high-stakes cyber warfare.
In a thrilling cat and mouse game, Saara and the team at GCHQ must try to stay one step ahead and anticipate their opponents every hidden move. The clock is ticking as a battle with high stakes and unpredictable enemies takes place entirely online, with very real consequences. But how do you win a war most of the public don’t know you’re fighting?
When is The Undeclared War on?
The Undeclared War begins on Channel 4 on Thursday, June 30. Each instalment of the four-part-series will be airing on a weekly basis on Channel 4 in the same Thursday night time slot.
However, if you prefer to binge your TV, The Undeclared War is available in its entirety on All4 now.
So for those who can’t wait until this evening, the show can be viewed right now as a boxset.
The Undeclared War premieres on Channel 4 on Thursday, June 30 at 9pm
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