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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
National
Xander Elliards

Top BBC executive 'tried to hire me for secret service', Oscar-winning star claims

Riz Ahmed Mehdi Hasan Amazon
Riz Ahmed pictured at the Baftas in February 2026 (Image: James Manning/PA)

AN Oscar-winning actor has claimed that a top BBC executive tried to get him to work for the secret service.

Riz Ahmed, the star of the new Amazon series Bait, made the claim during a conversation with journalist Mehdi Hasan on his media platform Zeteo.

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