The Ipcress File
Created by John Hodge, Len Deighton
On ITV1
A tense Cold War espionage thriller built on paranoia and moral compromise, where a reluctant operative navigates dangerous undercover work in a shadowy geopolitical landscape.
As the Cold War rages, ex-smuggler turned reluctant spy Harry Palmer finds himself at the centre of a dangerous undercover mission, on which he must use his links to find a missing British nuclear scientist.
Keywords
Where to watch
- StreamSpectrum On Demand, Philo, AMC+, Acorn TV
Questions people ask
Is The Ipcress File scary? Yes. More frightening than 87% of series.
Does The Ipcress File leave you hopeful? Not especially. Less hopeful than 73% of series.
Is The Ipcress File violent? Somewhat. More violent than 71% of series.
Is The Ipcress File easy watching? Not especially. Less comforting than 70% of series.
Is The Ipcress File sad? About average. Almost exactly mid-range.
These describe how the series comes across across its whole run, compared with other well-known series. They are not a content list — nothing here was counted or checked episode by episode, so for age-suitability or specific content use a classification board or a dedicated content-warning service.
Cinnamon Score
How much this series gives you that nothing else will, and whether it delivers.
Familiar shape, done well.
How unlike any other series this one feels
How much more it delivers than it promises
How much audiences actually like it
Ensemble
Like The Ipcress File
Nearest across the full emotional profile.
Same Mood as The Ipcress File
Nearest on what's most distinctive about this one.
Like The Ipcress File, But Darker
Similar, pushed toward heavier and more intense.
Like The Ipcress File, But Lighter
Similar, pushed toward warmer and easier.
Like The Ipcress File, But Less Popular
Same territory, far fewer people have seen it.
