Corporation says hit spy drama will go out with a 'thrilling finale' after producer decides to end it 'in its prime'

After a decade of bumping off cast members at regular intervals, BBC1's spy drama Spooks is itself being killed off.

However, in an unusual move for a successful TV show, it is Spooks producer Kudos rather than the broadcaster that is calling time on the drama, deciding to end the popular security services series "in its prime" with the last episodes airing this autumn.

The 10th and final series will focus on the only remaining original lead character, head of counter-terrorism Harry Pearce, played by Peter Firth.

Numerous stars have appeared in Spooks since it began in 2002 including Keeley Hawes, Matthew Macfadyen, Jenny Agutter, Robert Hardy, Hugh Laurie, Simon Russell Beale, Rupert Penry-Jones and Hermione Norris.

The MI5 drama hit the headlines during the first series after one of the main protagonists Helen Flynn, played by actress Lisa Faulkner, was killed when her head was plunged into a deep-fat fryer.

Spooks's fast pace and complex plots were ground-breaking at the time and it became a hit for the BBC.

Since then, its ability to reinvent itself and introduce new cast members has ensured it has regularly pulled in audiences of more than 6 million, while exploring the numerous security issues facing the world over the past decade.

Although the BBC is facing cuts due to a licence fee freeze, the corporation said it was producer Kudos's suggestion to end Spooks.

Kudos chief executive and Spooks executive producer Jane Featherstone told MediaGuardian.co.uk: "I feel very sad about it. It was a very difficult decision to make. But we didn't want to get to the point where the BBC said we don't really want another one, we wanted to kill it off in its prime."

Featherstone said it that it was during the writing of the episodes for the upcoming 10th series about Harry's past and his relationship with colleague Ruth Evershed that she realised she wanted Spooks to end.

"It's very tempting to keep going, and we have had ongoing conversations with our partners at the BBC about it, but the heart of the show has become those two characters and I feel they own it. We've followed the arc of their personal story and I think they've brought us to a natural end, which you will all see played out later this year," she added.

"The BBC got it completely. After we suggested it they did ask us to go away and think about it. But the time has come for it to end, the world is changing. I may regret it! But we've got lots of other things we're working on such as The Hour. Spooks is the hardest thing I've worked on because it's so demanding."

She promised a "surprise-packed" final series but would not reveal if some famous faces may return during flashback scenes to explain Harry's past.

The BBC drama commissioning controller, Ben Stephenson, said: "Kudos created a groundbreaking series in Spooks 10 years ago that challenged convention with its topical, fast-paced, contemporary style ... I hope fans will tune in this September to see what promises to be a fittingly high-octane thrilling finale."

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