series seventh series bbc espionage television series known united_states began broadcasting october bbc ending december channel consists episodes fewer previous series follows actions counter terrorism division primary storyline involves secret operation set final years cold war mole working intends leak operation russians credited main cast announced intention leave series december later announced join asked return characters left open return end series developing series producers wanted repeat style series settled resurgence russia primary storyline felt time resurgence subtle ways threatening security west producers participated meetings writers discuss purpose filming started london march later finished august year moscow time series history filmed outside united_kingdom seventh series received healthy ratings bbc bbc ratings achieving million viewers episode series attracted critical acclaim reviewers considering best series factors allowed bbc commission eighth series programme seventh series released dvd october united_kingdom march australia january united_states episodes cast series consists main cast members returns episode announced intention leave series appearing years december felt character ran course getting point needed adding like explore venues career order series fresh producers wanted adam exit shock audience actor found days generally final day later march bbc announced join series character designed producers new heroic figure distant adam chosen early casting process producers believed carry mystery character approached producers finished work second series portrayed regular sir guy accepted role initially hesitant join tall order replacing lost stone weight preparation description lucas episode kept physically fit returns character initially written eighth episode sixth series actress pregnancy seventh series entered pre production asked return accepted returns cliffhanger sixth series finale apparently killed leave audience wonder survived stated realised producers wanted return wanted return returns upgraded series regular series believed seventh series kind ben adding episode coming age dealing undercover operation getting close involved group sent stop returns superior respectively production writing writers producers got discuss direction seventh series wanted repeat style series add serial element carried duration series got think believe big political story affect politics united_kingdom eighteen months initial meetings early settled russia facing resurgence power cold war producers felt subtle ways threaten security west writing process producers set story arc threat series resolved finale writers enjoyed making storyline instances brings harry edge causing doubt achieved writing team took meetings discuss work storyline noted kind figure series work parts episodes producers wanted use scene relating finale scene episode featured producers believed provide right hook audience adding new storyline allow series return world truth characters trust writing process cast members suggestion notes writers improve scenes writers frequently annoyed gave notes cast members writers liked ideas included scripts producers believed seventh series brutal citing violent death ben filming filming started march later finished august year principal photography commenced director participated helicopter shots london block episodes cast crew film scenes held certain locations instance scenes set grid taking place different parts episodes filmed moving set cast trouble following storylines method different director photography hired episode filming style inside grid set changed episode film public shots small filming crew attract attention small crew actors generally film scenes unnoticed public producers felt gave characters filming finished august moscow russia time series history filming took place outside united_kingdom producer stated usually london including comes filming scenes set countries usually place outside confines motorway capital producers able afford shoot country small crew save costs main actors participated shoot main problem filming moscow plus degree heat actors wear winter coats episodes set colder months stunts producers allow cast perform stunts filming fight sequences carefully choreographed actors participate guns featured series real scenes guns included hand entirety sequence actors handling properly gives guns actors possible second filming sequence shot guns returned locked case prevent anybody playing guns loaded stunt work asked subjected actual scene ensure authenticity sequence actor agreed convinced cia film television production company follow health safety provisions advisor ensure sequence strictly advice advisor present filming short time filmed slow motion appear longer ambient temperature room raised comfortable possible following sequence stated lasted seconds sound voice crying stop isn acting broadcast reception broadcast ratings series broadcast monday october december bbc exception second episode aired tuesday day episode second seventh episodes pre bbc bbc broadcasts previous episode episode new seen million given strong audience share cent ratings high premiere million seen premiere previous sixth series later episode faced heavy competition celebrity despite ratings remained steady finale nuclear strike gave seventh series strongest ratings million viewers compiling bbc bbc viewing figures seventh series averaged million episode series ninth watched series internet television service critical reception seventh series attracted critical acclaim reviewers considering best series guardian feared death adam cast long shadow barely noticed absence given pace episodes believed lucas introduction replacing adam felt return promotion genius stage thought stunning episodes particular hitting new heights tension storytelling series adding good better couple seasons wright believed series performed reduced series length opposed episodes series said allowed storytelling felt cast changes felt naturally organic praised adam exit lucas introduction fantastic strong female role model portrayal wright ended saying favourite months named series seven best television programmes felt seventh series performed better previous lost way slightly concentration islamic seventh series praised bringing traditional enemy russians introduction stated possibilities double audience legion single exploited max cited plots shorter series factor series success said problem having series good bag match year said series storylines grain truth reflecting today climate deeply rooted gritty realism real dangers terrorists countries pose posed storylines keeps characters human reacted lucas introduction stating like better dark conflicted persona adds story makes interesting character adam tom summed series great seasons maintains high standard quality following end eighth series broadcast held poll shocking death scenes deaths seventh series death voted fourth shocking death voted death listed featuring actual scene drew criticism guardian columnist wrote unpleasant concurred lasted seconds sound voice crying stop isn acting pal nice showing wrong like locking friends commuter train like train stop like learning kicking people face award nomination renewal seventh series nominated bafta best drama series lost strong ratings positive feedback fans critics bbc announced eighth series december days finale set air home video release series released dvd united_kingdom region october released united_states region january australia region march set consists discs contain episodes special features including scenes documentary contain cast crew interviews covering characters storylines series russia scenes filming russia action sequence covers filming chase sequence episode audio commentaries episodes box set contains original trailer series region release contains trailers british television programmes including doctor
Spooks (series 7)