❚ We may earn commission from links on this page. Our editorial is always independent (learn more).
The Undeclared War stars reveal how devastating mole twist "shatters everything"
Did you see it coming?
Channel 4 / Simon Ridgway
- James Hibbs
Published: Wednesday, 5 August 2026 at 9:00 pm
Subscribe to Radio Times: 10 weeks for £10, including the Christmas double issue
*Warning – contains full spoilers for The Undeclared War season 2 episodes 1-6.*
Ad
The second season of The Undeclared War kicked off with the discovery that a mole within GCHQ had allowed the Russian's access to execute their devastating cyber attack from season 1.
Later, it became clear that China had actually orchestrated the whole thing, but the mole hunt continued. Then, at the end of episode 2, it horrifyingly became clear to the viewers that the mole was in fact Siân Brooke's Barbara Napier, the wife of Simon Pegg's Danny Patrick.
Throughout the subsequent episodes, we learnt about how she was compromised into betraying her country in order to try and save Danny's career.
Danny himself finally uncovered the truth in episode 5, before trying to save her and expose the powerful people who left the UK open to threats from China.
Reacting to the mole reveal and how Danny responds to it, Pegg told Radio Times exclusively: "It’s devastating. He’s utterly poleaxed by it. In a weird way, there’s a strange relief because he assumed that she was having an affair – and it’s worse than that.
"Once he realises that she had been compromised, and that it wasn’t because she just woke up in the morning and decided to betray her country, then it becomes about saving her and the country."
Siân Brooke as Barbara Napier in The Undeclared War. Channel 4 / Simon Ridgway
Meanwhile, Pegg's co-star Hannah Khalique-Brown, who plays Saara, said: "Saara gets sucked into helping Danny without realising it. She's on her own journey, helping to save Vadim. But then Danny gets wrapped up in all this mess, and her loyalty is with him.
"It’s like, 'You’re my guy in the building.' He has essentially become my teammate and my mentor. So then Saara has to find a way to try and help save Danny. It shatters everything. The whole team is thrown into fractures."
Want to see this content?
This page contains content provided by Google reCAPTCHA. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as Google reCAPTCHA may use cookies and other technologies. To view this content, choose 'Accept and continue' to allow Google reCAPTCHA and its required purposes.
Accept and continue
Brooke joined the cast of The Undeclared War for season 2, which has arrived four years after the first season aired. That first run also starred the likes of Adrian Lester and Mark Rylance, while this season also added Chloe Pirrie and Danny Sapani to the cast.
The Undeclared War season 2 is available to stream in full on Channel 4 now.
Add The Undeclared War to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more.
Ad
Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Authors
James HibbsDrama Writer
James Hibbs is a Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering programmes across both streaming platforms and linear channels. He previously worked in PR, first for a B2B agency and subsequently for international TV production company Fremantle. He possesses a BA in English and Theatre Studies and an NCTJ Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.
Ad
Ad
Get the Christmas double issue
Too much to watch at Christmas? Let Radio Times do the choosing to find something the whole family will enjoy.
Loading...
Ad
Loading...