Intro
The world of espionage is expanding once again.
The BBC has officially revealed the main cast of Honey, a new spy drama widely believed to be a prequel to the Emmy-winning thriller Killing Eve. While the broadcaster has stopped short of directly calling it a predecessor, industry reports have long linked the project to the origin story of one of Killing Eve’s most enigmatic characters.
And now, the pieces are starting to fall into place.
Ann Skelly Leads the Espionage Saga
Irish actor Ann Skelly will headline the series as Martha Schmitt — a deep-cover MI6 agent operating in hostile territory. According to the official character description, Martha is constantly walking a tightrope, surrounded by enemies and living under the threat of exposure.
Her primary adversary? Friedrich Bauman, the newly appointed Stasi Head of Counterespionage against British targets, played by German star Jannis Niewöhner.
Joining Skelly are:
- Nate Mann as Kurt Fischer
- Jannis Niewöhner as Friedrich Bauman
- Rory Kinnear as Graham Anderson
The ensemble also includes Oliver Cudbill, Sonita Henry, Victoria Mayer, Valentino Dalle Mura, July Namir, Julian Niedermeier, Sofia Oxenham, and Daniel Zielinski.
The Carolyn Martens Connection
Here’s where things get interesting.
Reports previously revealed that Martha Schmitt is, in fact, a younger version of Carolyn Martens — the icy, razor-sharp MI6 boss played memorably by Fiona Shaw in Killing Eve.
In the original series, a younger Carolyn briefly appeared in flashbacks, portrayed by Imogen Daines. However, for this full-fledged origin story, the BBC has chosen Ann Skelly to carry the role forward.
If Honey indeed chronicles Carolyn’s early years, fans can expect political maneuvering, emotional complexity, and morally grey decisions that shaped the character we came to know.
Creative Team & Production Details
Honey is the first project to emerge from the BBC and German broadcaster ZDF’s co-production partnership. The series is produced by Sid Gentle Films — the same company behind Killing Eve — and penned by Emma Moran, who serves as lead writer and executive producer.
It has been commissioned by Lindsay Salt for BBC iPlayer and BBC One, alongside Frank Seyberth for ZDF. Fifth Season will handle global distribution.
Direction duties are split between Toby MacDonald (Episodes 1–3) and Michelle Savill (Episodes 4–6), suggesting a tightly structured six-episode arc.
The series is shaping up to be one of the BBC’s major drama launches for 2026.
What to Expect
If Honey follows the tone of Killing Eve, viewers can anticipate sharp writing, psychological tension, and layered performances. However, unlike the cat-and-mouse dynamic between Eve and Villanelle, this series seems poised to explore Cold War-era espionage and the personal cost of living undercover.
With MI6 and the Stasi at the centre, the political backdrop alone promises high-stakes storytelling.
Final Words
The BBC may not have officially confirmed Honey as a Killing Eve prequel — but the clues are hard to ignore.
With Ann Skelly stepping into the shoes of a young Carolyn Martens and a powerhouse ensemble backing her, Honey already looks like a must-watch for spy thriller fans.
If Killing Eve was about obsession and assassination, Honey could be about how the game began.
2026 just got a lot more intriguing.
