'Spooks' Big Names: From Breakout Roles to Surprise Cameos — The Guest List Is Seriously Impressive

When people think of Spooks — the BBC’s slick, high-stakes spy drama that ran from 2002 to 2011 — they remember the moral tension, the cold silences, and the sudden character exits that left no time for goodbyes. But rewatch it now, and you’ll notice something else: an extraordinary number of familiar faces in early roles (or unexpected cameos) before they became household names.

Over its ten-season run, Spooks hosted a who’s who of British acting talent. Matthew Macfadyen, who starred in the first two series, went on to play Tom Wambsgans in Succession. David Oyelowo popped up in Season 1, years before Selma. Benedict Cumberbatch appears briefly in Season 3 — pre-Sherlock, pre-Marvel, and almost unrecognisably fresh-faced.

And it wasn’t just up-and-comers. The series also attracted heavy hitters like Hugh Laurie, Andy Serkis, Iain Glen and Gemma Jones in guest roles — all lending unexpected weight to episodes that were, in theory, 'just another case.' Clearly, Spooks was never just a stepping stone. It was the place to do sharp, serious work — and be seen doing it.

So was Spooks secretly the best casting agency in early-2000s television? It certainly seems that way in hindsight. Whether they were just getting started or stopping by between bigger roles, many of these actors brought unexpected weight to even the briefest appearances. Rewatching the show now feels a bit like spotting future stars hiding in plain sight — and suddenly, every episode turns into a game of 'wait, is that…?'

Which guest appearance caught you most off guard?