If I was a parent, relative or friend of the late Gareth Williams I might be rather upset by
the new BBC five part drama, London Spy,
which debuted on Monday night.
Why? Because Mr. Williams’ life
and unhappy death seem to mirror those of Alex,
one of the main characters in London
Spy. At the end of the credits we
read that this is a ‘work of
fiction. It is not intended to reflect
any real persons, events or set or
business.’ Really?
In 2010 Mr. Williams went missing and was found dead in his smart London
apartment in very suspicious circumstances.
His body was crammed in a sports
holdall. Williams was a code-breaking genius, working
for MI6. He had gone to University when
he was 13, and been recruited by GCHQ in his teens. Williams’ flat was full of women’s
clothing and wigs. It was alleged he
was a transvestite. There were suspicions that his flat had been either cleaned up, or 'dressed' by secret agents after his death. Both the British and Russian Secret Services were suspected of illegal
In London
Spy Alex, or rather ‘Alex’, has gone
missing, and a body has been found in his smart London apartment, in a trunk. He is/was a code breaking genius, who went to
University when he was 15 and then to GCHQ/MI6. Alex’s attic is full of bondage equipment
and clothing. Alex and Danny seem to have been under surveillance, but we do not know by whom. Are we being prepared for a fictive
account of his fate, or this simply ‘inspired’ by William’s mysterious death?
I do not know if the Williams family were
consulted, or warned. I hope the
first. I would be very unhappy if they
were not warned of the way this episode at least mirrors their boy’s fate.
From a TV drama point of view this drama
looks very promising. Edward
Holcroft’s Alex is convincing, a brilliant man who seems to have given up
all hope of having a loving relationship, dedicating himself to his secret
craft, until he happens upon Danny. Ben
Wishaw plays Alex’s lover Danny with subtly and conviction. Jim Broadbent reveals the steel under his
avuncular velvet. Tom Rob Smith's script is taut, and well realised by Jakob Verbruggen's direction. The photography by Laurie Rose follows the mood faithfully in tones of grey and blue, and the music by
David Holmes and Keefus Ciancia is appropriately understated.
I look forward to seeing further
episodes, but I am disturbed by the
fiction-based-on-fact implications.
