"Nest of Angels" is the second episode of the second series of the British espionage television series Spooks, and the eighth episode overall. It was originally broadcast on BBC Three on 2 June 2003, and repeated on frontline channel BBC One on 9 June. The episode was written by Howard Brenton, and directed by Bharat Nalluri. The episode centres on MI5's actions in stopping Muhammed Rachid (Qarie Marshall), a radicalised mullah in a mosque and community centre in Birmingham, who they believe is recruiting young suicide bombers. After their previous asset is discovered and brutally expelled, the team turn to Muhammed Ibhn Khaldun (Alexander Siddig), an Algerian agent who left his country to work with the British.
Brenton came up with the idea to show an episode dealing with a Muslim hero set out to stop a group of Islamic terrorists. Brenton and the producers researched elements of Islam in order to provide a balanced view towards the religion, as well as the nature of the plot and to show Muslims in the episode who oppose the extremists among their religion. Although much of the episode was set in Birmingham, it was filmed entirely in London. The episode sees the introduction of regular character Ruth Evershed (Nicola Walker), and the return of Christine Dale (Megan Dodds), who first appeared in the first episode and returned so that the character's role can be expanded.
The episode was seen by 7.87 million following its broadcast on BBC One, however, despite the measures used to provide the balanced view, it was met with considerable controversy from Muslims, among them the Muslim Council of Britain, for fear that the episode would incite Islamophobia. Nearly a thousand complaints were made, although cast and crew members argued that the Muslims who opposed the episode did not understand the context.
Plot MI5 plant an asset Johnny Patel (San Shella) at the Parkmount mosque and community centre in Birmingham to follow Muhammed Rachid, an Afghan-born mullah who is acting more hostile to the West. Johnny however, is discovered to be a spy, and is thrown to the surveillance van outside as a result. Tom Quinn (Matthew Macfadyen) questions him in hospital, learning that the mullah is recruiting suicide bombers, however the stress of the questioning results in a cerebral hemorrhage. Superior Harry Pearce (Peter Firth) pressures Tom to find another agent. He turns to Tessa Phillips (Jenny Agutter), now a manager at a security firm since she was fired in the first series finale for running phantom agents for monetary gain. However, she refuses to help.
Later, new officer Ruth Evershed, transferred from Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), informs the team that Metropolitan Police have arrested Muhammed Ibhn Khaldun, an Algerian secret service agent. After his release Khaldun reveals that since the death of his family, he desired to leave Algeria to work for British intelligence, so he fooled his agency into believing he was killed while stopping a jihadist group in France, before smuggling himself into England via a Channel Tunnel freight train. The team allow him to work undercover in Parkmount, posing as a labourer at the local university, where he quickly gains Rachid's trust. Beforehand however, Khaldun removes all the surveillance equipment on him. Furthermore, news of Khaldun's arrival also gains the interest of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), who also wish to use him.
In the meantime, Danny Hunter (David Oyelowo) persuades Tom to go on a date with Vicky Westbrook (Natasha Little), a nurse introduced in the previous episode, in order to get over Ellie Simm, Tom's previous girlfriend who broke up with him. Although Tom asks her out for dinner, the two end up having sex. Zoe Reynolds (Keeley Hawes) continues seeing Carlo Franceschini (Enzo Cilenti), also introduced in the previous episode, at a bar.
When Khaldun fails to meet with Tom, the team worry that he had deceived them. However, that night, Khaldun sneaks into Tom's bedroom at the university campus, and warns him that Rachid is keeping explosives, and a suicide attack will take place the next day, but will not disclose where. Tom turns to Parkmount's imam Fazul Azzam Roshan Seth, who opposes Rachid's radicalised views. After learning Fazzul's daughter Aminah (Praveen Sond) is involved, he forces her into revealing the location of the planned attack. Rachid is placed under arrest when explosives are found in his prayer room. Khaldun meanwhile, kills Rachid's men in an empty building, and attempts to disarm the bomber, young Abu Hassan (Taahir Husein), but he runs away into a playground. As Tom's team and local police surround the playground, Khaldun attempts to talk Abu out of the attack. However, when he fails, Khaldun throws himself as Abu detonates the bomb, in order to avoid further casualties. Later, CIA liaison Christine Dale voices disappointment towards Khaldun's death, but appears grateful that Tom is unharmed.
Production
Writing
The story idea came from writer Howard Brenton, who wanted to delve into the world of suicide bombings, a significant issue in national security. It became the first episode in Spooks that explicitly portrays Islamic extremism, which Oyelowo described as a "hot potato" because of this sensitive issue. The actor was also worried that the plot may "put ideas into people's heads" after the audience would watch the episode. Brenton heavily researched the episode to provide a balanced view. He included characters, such as innocent Muslims who opposed the Islamic extremists, as well as a "Muslim hero" who would thwart the terrorists. The writer still wrote "Nest of Angels" as a classic spy story, where an operative goes undercover to subvert a villainous operation. Director Bharat Nalluri felt that making the hero a Muslim exemplified the balanced view. Series creator David Wolstencroft meanwhile, emphasised that the episode not only showed Islamic extremism, but a more peaceful side of the religion as well, and that the producers should not shy away from those issues.
To further provide the fair and balanced view of the topic, script editor Karen Wilson furthered her research by consulting with a Muslim advisor throughout the scripting and filming stages, as well as consulting the Muslims who played extras in the episode. Although Wilson does not usually talk to cast members beforehand, it was the first time she became aware of the research and advice behind a storyline, and felt that the advice she was given was useful in staging the scenes. It was also based on real life instances, something that Brenton considered a hallmark of the series, as many episodes are based on such events. News stories detailing similar instances to the plot came out sometime after the episode's broadcast, and the producers believed it justified the episode. The ending was written to be melancholic, in which there were no winners.
In writing the pre-title sequence of the episode, Brenton wanted to include a "frightening thriller set up" where spies would listen in as an agent is undercover, and be absolutely helpless to aid the agent when he is in trouble, yet be nearby as this happens. He also wanted the audience to admire the villains, especially from the conversation between Tom and Rachid. Furthermore, the episode exemplifies Tom's brutality in his professional life; in one scene Tom questions Johnny who is recovering in hospital, but came to want the information more than care for his wellbeing.
The episode also further explores the Grid characters' private lives, however some of the ideas had to be dropped due to the amount of plot towards the main storyline. "Nest of Angels" continues the relationship between Tom and Vicky Westbrook which began in the previous episode. Vicky was included more in the episode, and it further delved into her personality, namely she differs vastly from Ellie Simm, Tom's previous girlfriend, who was depicted as more of a normal human being; Vicky was portrayed as more "flakey" and "insane" who would often wrongfoot Tom. The producers also decided to introduce a potential relationship between Danny and Sam Buxton (Shauna Macdonald). However, the idea was dropped later in the series as it "never seemed to click."
Casting
The episode included a guest appearance from Alexander Siddig, who played the "Muslim hero" Muhammed Ibhn Khaldun. Siddig was already well known as playing regular character Julian Bashir in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. The producers viewed Siddig as a "noble" actor when he was playing the character. Siddig described the role as a "godsend" to him, because it enabled him to "portray various aspects of an Arab man who was readily credible. He came out of a new identity I was looking for, trying to take a snapshot of this guy before he disappears. He was my father. He was your father. He was the father of all the generations that had a liberal upbringing and didn't make a lot of money." Roshan Seth played imam Fazul Azzam; he was cast because Brenton wanted him to appear in the episode. Meanwhile, Taahir Husain played the bomber Abu Hassan. The producers felt that the child actor was "a find" for them; it was his first television appearance, but they believed his performance "carried it off."
The episode also marks the return of American actress Megan Dodds, who first appeared in a handful of scenes in the first episode of the first series. The producers enjoyed the actress' company, and wanted her to return where the character would appear more often and developed throughout the second series. Jenny Agutter returns as Tessa Philips; it allows the audience to see what happens to her since her sacking in the first series finale. The episode introduces new regular character Ruth Evershed, played by Nicola Walker. The producers needed another "interesting, strong" member of the team following Tessa's departure. The character also came from GCHQ in the series; the producers were aware that the organisation employs 70,000 people, and the producers did not want to ignore this aspect of British intelligence gathering. Describing Walker's casting, producer Jane Featherstone recalled "Nicola is extraordinary in it. I think she's completely brilliant. And she's developed that and I think once Nicola became that role that writers had just loved writing for that part, and she's really made it her own." The character was created by Brenton. Her introduction depicted her as clumsy, mirroring the writer.
Filming and soundtrack
The episode was directed Bharat Nalluri; he continued to portray a balanced approach towards Muslims during filming. Although much of the episode was set in Birmingham, it was all filmed in London. The mosque interior was shot at the basement of a building in Portland Place, while another street of terraced houses was used to double a typical residential street in the city. One of its most best looking houses doubled the home of Fazul and Aminah. Other scenes were shot in Kensington Gardens, with one of them being filmed in front of the park's Peter Pan statue. The scenes leading up to Abu's suicide attack was filmed at a playground. The scenes were originally set to be shot at a shopping centre, but it was deemed "unfilmable." Producers later considered using a bus, but they thought that too was impractical. The final scenes of the episode were shot at the shore of the River Thames near the National Film Theatre, which houses a beach during low tide. The shootout scene between Khaldun and Rachid's men was among the last to be shot. In addition, the producers made use of actual news footage following a suicide attack in Israel, in order to show the audience the consequences of such attacks.