Shaun Evans reacts to Betrayal’s big episode 2 twist: 'It’s a live question until the end'

*Warning - contains full spoilers for Betrayal episodes 1 and 2.*

The second episode of spy thriller Betrayal has now aired on ITV1, and it ended on a major cliffhanger which shakes things up for the rest of the season.

The final moments of the episode saw Shaun Evans's MI5 agent character John sat in a car waiting for Mehreen, the new agent brought in from MI5 to take over his duties, played by Zahra Ahmadi.

Mehreen was seen to be on the phone, and in a twist reveal, it appears as though she was speaking to a member of the Iranian regime, telling them that John got eyes on General Asadi, so "we're compromised". She then promised that he could "still be stopped", suggesting that her allegiances lie away from John and MI5.

RadioTimes.com caught up exclusively with Evans to talk about this twist and what it means to the rest of the season, with the actor teasing that "the hope is that we're never quite sure where Mehreen’s loyalties lie - whether she is loyal to MI6, whether she is loyal to MI5, or whether she is loyal to the Iranian General".

Evans continued: "And so that's something that we keep as a live question until the end. I think David [David Eldridge, writer]'s done a really terrific job of incorporating those twists and turns and delivering on the genre, while still making it believable and plausible."

As well as its central spy storyline, Betrayal has also seen Evans's John deal with the breakdown of his marriage to Claire, played by Romola Garai.

Other stars to feature across the season in major roles include Gamba Cole (The Outlaws), Omid Djalili (His Dark Materials), Matthew Tennyson (Grantchester), Hayley Tamaddon (Unforgotten), Anthony Flanagan (House of the Dragon), Paddy Rowan (G’wed) and Waj Ali (Out There).

Previously, Evans said that the show could potentially return for a second season "if there's an appetite for more", but made clear that it was not designed specifically as a returning series.

"It wasn't like, 'This is a brilliant setup for running and running and running'," he said. "I think you’re on a hiding to nothing if you do that. To me, it feels quite cynical."

Betrayal is available to stream in full on ITVX.

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