BBC Beyond Paradise actress Zahra Ahmadi is set for a dramatic career shift, having landed a major role in a new ITV espionage series that sees her undergo a complete physical transformation.
From Coast to Covert Ops
Fans of the popular Death in Paradise spin-off will see Ahmadi in a starkly different light. She is swapping the sunny, natural aesthetic of her character, estate agent Esther Williams, for the high-stakes world of British intelligence. In the upcoming four-part ITV drama, titled Betrayal, Ahmadi will play Mehreen Askari-Evans, an intelligence operative.
The series plunges into the complex world of MI5, where personal loyalties and professional deceptions violently collide. First-look images reveal a striking change for the actress, who now sports blonde highlights and intense, dark eye makeup—a far cry from Esther's understated style in Shipton Abbott.
The Plot of Betrayal
The drama centres on John Hughes, portrayed by Shaun Evans of Endeavour fame. Hughes is a mid-career MI5 officer trying to balance a rapidly changing security landscape with a crumbling personal life. His story begins when he acts on a hunch to meet a British-Iranian man with alleged links to Stockport gangland, who claims to have intelligence about an imminent attack on UK soil.
The encounter goes awry, landing John under internal investigation. He faces scrutiny from his superior, Simone Grant, played by Nikki Amuka-Bird, while his partner Claire, portrayed by Romola Garai, struggles with the secrecy inherent to his job.
"John's efforts to save his marriage are complicated by his inability to let the case go," the synopsis explains. "And when he meets Mehreen Askari-Evans (Zahra Ahmadi), an intelligence operative tasked with taking over John's duties, he finds an unlikely ally."
As John becomes convinced of the involvement of a hardline Iranian regime faction, he also starts to suspect enemies are operating closer to home. The race is on to identify the target and avert disaster.
Paradise Awaits a Festive Return
Ahmadi's new venture follows the confirmation that Beyond Paradise will return with a festive special later this month. Viewers can expect to see Esther and lead detective Humphrey Goodman, played by Kris Marshall, tackling another puzzling case in their Devon hometown.
They will be joined by the show's regular cast, including Sally Bretton as Martha Lloyd and Barbara Flynn as her mother, Anne. This ensures fans of the cosy crime series have plenty to enjoy while waiting for Ahmadi's gritty new performance.
The ITV drama Betrayal is scheduled to broadcast in 2026, though an exact transmission date has not yet been announced. This major role marks a significant and exciting departure for Zahra Ahmadi, showcasing her range beyond the beloved BBC franchise.
