Spy drama Page Eight is set in London and Cambridge and sees Johnny Worricker ((Bill Nighy), a long-serving MI5 officer investigating when his boss dies suddenly. When Benedict Baron (Michael Gambon) dies he leaves behind him an inexplicable file which threatens the stability of the entire MI5 organisation. Meanwhile, a seemingly chance encounter with Johnny’s striking next-door neighbour and political activist Nancy Pierpan (Rachel Weiz) seems too good to be true. Johnny is forced to walk out of his job, and then out of his identity to find out the truth.
Bill Nighy in a David Hare production is surely the definition of the perfect match, besides Nighy the rest of the cast is fantastic too, wonderfully high profile with the likes of Rafe Fiennes, Judy Davis, Michael Gambon and Rachel Weisz.
Cast: Bill Nighy as Johnny Worricker; Rachel Weisz as Nancy Pierpan; Michael Gambon as Benedict Baron; Tom Hughes as Ralph Wilson; Judy Davis as Jill Tankard; Saskia Reeves as Anthea Catcheside; Ewen Bremner as Rollo Maverley; Rakhee Thakrar as Muna Hammami; Felicity Jones as Julianne Worricker; Richard Lintern as Max Vallance; Ralph Fiennes as Alec Beasley; Kate Burdette as Allegra Betts; Holly Aird as Anna Herve; Andrew Cleaver as Brian Lord; Alice Krige as Emma Baron; Bruce Myers as Joseph Pierpan; Marthe Keller as Leona Chew; Aisling Loftus as Melissa Legge; James McArdle as Ted Finch; Jay Benedict as Master of the college; Surendra Kochar as Mrs Ashanti; Bijan Daneshmand as Cambridge Don; Kriss Dosanjh as Minicab Owner; Hywel Morgan as Priest; Larry David as Laurence; Rory Morrison, Charlotte Gree as Radio announcers
Writer and Director: David Hare
UK / BBC Two / 1×100 minute episode / Broadcast 28 August 2011