2 June 2003 (2003-06-02) (BBC Three) 9 June 2003 (2003-06-09) (BBC One)
Running time
59 minutes
Guest appearances
Jenny Agutter as Tessa Phillips
Qarie Marshall as Mohammed Rachid
Alexander Siddig as Muhammed Ibhn Khaldun
San Shella as Johnny Patel
Roshan Seth as Fazul Azzam
Taahir Husain as Abu Hassan
Praveen Sond as Aminah
Sam Bond as Vinny
Lucy O'Connell as Doctor
Simon Snashall as CID Officer
Kammy Darweish as Mr Hussain
Episode chronology
← Previous "Legitimate Targets"
Next → "Spiders"
Spooks (series 2)
List of episodes
"Nest of Angels"[1] 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.
^Secret Credits (Spooks Series 2 DVD). Contender Entertainment Group. 2003.
secret agent on the trail of Islamists in the controversial episode "NestofAngels" of the British television show Spooks (known as MI-5 in the US). Siddig...
Praveen Sond, actress in "NestofAngels", a 2003 episode of the TV series Spooks Sond., taxonomic author abbreviation of Otto Wilhelm Sonder (1812–1881)...
AngelNest (天使の巣, Tenshi no Su), is a Japanese manga written and illustrated by Erica Sakurazawa. The manga was serialized in Shodensha's josei manga magazine...
for viewing by those under the age of 15 years). "NestofAngels" was broadcast on 9 June 2003 on BBC One; the rest of the series (apart from the finale)...
ratings from the final series for BBC One. "NestofAngels" was broadcast on 9 June 2003 on BBC One; the rest of the series (apart from the finale) would...
programmes, with roles ranging from Chattar Lal in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Amit Rao in A Passage to India, Papa Hussein in My Beautiful Laundrette...
Empty Nest is an American television sitcom that aired for seven seasons on NBC from October 8, 1988, to June 17, 1995. The series, which was created as...
identified with such angels. Angels in art are often identified with bird wings, halos, and divine light. They are usually shaped like humans of extraordinary...
June of that year. It was described by Eric Shorter of The Daily Telegraph as "Actable, gripping, murky and moody: how often can you say that of the average...
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while The King of Fighters '99 introduces a new story arc, revolving around K′, a young man who seeks to destroy the mysterious NESTS organization because...
ranging from 0.78 to 0.88 mm (0.031 to 0.035 in). It is often sold in a nest-like shape. Capelli d'angelo has been popular in Italy since at least the...
sitcom Empty Nest. McNichol retired from acting in 2001. McNichol was born on September 11, 1962, in Los Angeles, California, the daughter of James and Carolyn...
18, Sniper's Nest, Part 1 BBC One – Silent Witness, Series 18, Sniper's Nest, Part 2 BBC One – Silent Witness, Series 18, Falling Angels, Part 1 BBC One...
The following characters are angelsof God appearing in the American television series Supernatural. Angels are portrayed as extremely powerful beings...
Times called the band's cover of "My Heart Will Go On" "delightfully absurd." Los Straitjackets Danny Amis – guitar Eddie Angel – guitar Pete Curry – bass...
NESTS agent Angel and Ramon on Team Mexico. During the tournament, several opponents, such as Tizoc's former teammate Terry, easily address King of Dinosaurs...
parks and gardens of Barcelona cover an area of 2,784 hectares. Its management depends on the Municipal Institute of Parks and Gardens of Barcelona (in Catalan:...
Young Sheldon is an American coming-of-age sitcom television series created by Chuck Lorre and Steven Molaro for CBS. The series is a spin-off prequel...
literature German literature Lacey, Josh (2003-11-01). "The viper's nest". The Guardian. Retrieved 2012-02-28. Eagles and Angels at the publisher's website...
This is a list of American films released in 2010. The highest-grossing American films released in 2010, by domestic box office gross revenue, are as follows:...
Oregon, graduating from the University of Oregon in 1957. He began writing One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest in 1960 after completing a graduate fellowship...
and nearby towns, including Taos, Questa, Red River, Eagle Nest, and Angel Fire. A portion of the 56-mile High Road to Taos, another state designated scenic...
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