Set in the heart of Barcelona, The Diplomat on Alibi sees Gentleman Jack and Peaky Blinders star Sophie Rundle playing consular worker Laura Simmonds helping Brits who get into trouble abroad. Part lawyer, part counselor and part cop, Laura will fight to protect those who come through the doors of the British Consul in Barcelona but sometimes her diplomatic skills are stretched to the limit. The crime series also stars Killing Eve’s Danny Sapani and Serena Manteghi (Mrs Wilson).
You can expect murky crimes set against the stunning architecture of Barcelona, so here’s all you need to know about The Diplomat...
The Diplomat release date
The Diplomat is six-part series for 2023 that will debut on Alibi on Tuesday February 28 at 9pm. It will be available on streaming service UKTV Play, (plus Sky Box Sets and NOW). Alibi is available on Sky on channel 109.
We'll confirm a US and international channel and release date when we hear more.
The Diplomat plot
In The Diplomat, Laura Simmonds (Sophie Rundle) works at the Barcelona consul and alongside her colleague and friend Alba Ortiz (Serena Manteghi) works hard to help the multitude of British nationals who end up in trouble in the Spanish city.
As the series opens we see her supporting the father of a young British barman who died unexpectedly while working on a yacht in the city’s notorious marina. The local cops are convinced his death was an unfortunate accident but the boy’s grieving father Colin (Danny Sapani) is convinced something sinister has taken place. Soon Laura and Alba’s quest for justice uncovers links to organized crime and the British security services, placing them all in danger from those who will go to any lengths to keep the truth hidden.
The Diplomat cast — Sophie Rundle on playing Laura Simmonds
Sophie Rundle plays lead character Laura Simmonds in The Diplomat. Sophie told us: "She basically looks after any distressed British national, or ‘DBN’. So anyone from the UK who comes over to Barcelona and finds themselves in a pickle, from a lost passport to something more serious. She's the person who oversees things, dealing with the police and the public. The job leads her and her team into all sorts of different scenarios, so it’s a really good idea for a TV show!
"Often, to warrant having a young female protagonist in a TV series, there has to be something quirky about her – for instance, she’s got to be unhinged or quite masculine. Laura’s not like that – she's a very competent, efficient young woman who’s good at her job, a safe pair of hands, and fun!"
* Sophie Rundle is best known as Ann Walker in the hit series Gentleman Jack, alongside Suranne Jones. She also starred in The Nest and Bodyguard, as well as playing Ada in the smash hit Peaky Blinders. Sophie has an impressive CV having also been in shows such as The Bletchley Circle, Episodes, Happy Valley, Brief Encounters and Jamestown. She’s also had roles in movies such as The Midnight Sky, Elizabeth is Missing and Great Expectations.
Who else is starring in The Diplomat?
In The Diplomat, Laura’s friend and colleague, Alba is played by Mrs Wilson and The Hound of the Baskervilles actor Serena Manteghi, while Dylan Brady plays her assistant Carl.
Sophie Rundle explains: "Laura, her deputy Alba and assistant Carl are quite cheeky and naughty with each other, and have a really nice working relationship. That brings a lot of warmth, humour and levity to the show."
Killing Eve and MotherFatherSon star Danny Sapani plays grief-stricken father Colin Sutherland.
"Laura has a lot of compassion and empathy for Colin, which is why she's good at her job," says Sophie. "Colin’s tenacity and determination make her start to think: ‘Actually, maybe something isn't quite right’. So she keeps pulling at that thread, and that gets her into hot water!"
Steven Cree (A Discovery of Witches, Outlander) is the consulate's new boss Sam Henderson, while Isak Férriz and Laia Costa also star.
Is there a trailer for The Diplomat?
No trailer for The Diplomat has been released by Alibi but we will post here if one does arrive.
