About “Betrayal” in a few words:

Betrayal is a 2026 British espionage drama on ITV that throws you into the high-stakes life of MI5 agent John Hughes as he stumbles into a dangerous conspiracy that puts his career, family, and country at risk. Alongside his partner Claire and sharp operative Mehreen, he’s hunting enemies abroad and maybe even closer to home — all while wrestling with trust, deception, and the cost of truth.

Meet the characters from Betrayal

John Hughes

Oh man, John is that quietly dangerous type who smiles like everything is under control and then quietly remakes the rules — I love him. He’s a planner, obsessively so, but also has this irritating habit of losing his keys five times a week (you’d think a strategist would be better at pockets). He’s got the sort of patience that can be comforting or bone-chilling depending on which day you catch him; loyal to a fault but will cut a line if the plan needs it. He drinks tea like an old scholar but secretly reads comic books at 2 a.m. (don’t tell him I said that).

Claire Wardly

Claire bursts into a room with kind of urgent kindness — the kind that fixes things and then apologizes for being bossy about it. She’s practical, fierce, and somehow keeps a mental spreadsheet of everyone’s mood (and snacks) — honestly she cares too much and not enough, sometimes in the same breath. There’s this stubborn idealism underneath all the rubble of real-world cynicism; she’ll argue about ethics and then scarf down a doughnut mid-sermon. Often steadier than she thinks, but yes she does talk to her houseplants (and they apparently answer back).

Mehreen Askari-Evans

Mehreen is clever, eloquent, and layered like an onion that also sings when you peel it, which is to say complex and occasionally theatrical. She’s the one who reads three newspapers and two poetry collections before breakfast and then sprinkles sarcasm on everything like it’s table salt. She’s warm but guarded, generous but private — will bring you soup and also will not tell you where she keeps the spare key (on purpose). Loves tiny rituals: a single perfect mug, a particular pen, a playlist she refuses to share unless you’re worthy.

Chris Beeston

Chris is all elbows and heart, the kind of person who looks rough around the edges and then bakes you a pie because he thinks it’ll make things better (and sometimes it does). He’s fiercely protective, quick to laugh, quicker to anger, and slower to admit when he’s wrong (but he does eventually, maybe). There’s a weird softness under the work-boot exterior — horrible karaoke singer, excellent at patching up broken things and people. He hoards random cables and claims he’ll organize them someday, which is either adorable or terrifying.

The General

The General is thunder and velvet — commands a room without saying much and leaves people feeling simultaneously rallied and exhausted. He’s strategic to the bone, loves protocol, and also keeps an unpredictable streak (like adopting stray cats in his office, yes really). He imposes order but is fascinated by the messy human bits that refuse to be neat; thinks in chess moves but hums lullabies sometimes, which is disconcerting and oddly humanizing. Cold on the surface? Often. Terrifying in a suit? Frequently. Also collects old maps for reasons he won’t explain.