Simon Pegg, 56, plays Danny Patrick, Director of Operations at GCHQ, in the second series of Channel 4's cyber-thriller The Undeclared War, which premieres on July 21. The actor reveals a deeply personal connection to the intelligence agency, having grown up near its Cheltenham headquarters during the Cold War.
Childhood fears near GCHQ
Pegg recalls that GCHQ loomed large over his early life in Brockworth, Gloucestershire, just five miles from the complex. During the 1980s, he and his schoolmates genuinely believed a nuclear war was imminent. “We knew GCHQ would be a prime target and because we all lived so close, we genuinely thought we'd be vapourised,” he says. “It was part of our daily conversations. Thankfully it didn't happen but getting to be part of GCHQ now, although in a fictional way, feels nicely circular.”
His family ties to GCHQ extend further: his brother Stephen, an electrician, wired the doughnut-shaped building in the 2000s, and two uncles, both named Tony, worked there as operatives bound by the Official Secrets Act. “We all knew it was where the Tonys worked but we weren't allowed to ask what they actually did,” Pegg says. One surviving uncle watched the first season and noted that the GCHQ he knew was “completely different,” with everything written down and filed away.
Embracing dramatic roles
While Pegg is best known for comedies like Spaced, Shaun of the Dead, and Hot Fuzz, he says he jumped at the chance to play a straight role. “I read all six episodes in one sitting because it was completely gripping. It was an immediate yes,” he explains. “People mainly know me for comedy and The Undeclared War is very much a drama. I'm really enjoying playing a straight role, though. It feels new and fresh to me.”
He adds that he will continue on this dramatic path until he and filmmaker Edgar Wright find their next funny film project. “I don’t really miss comedy – my life's quite funny as it is.”
Dramatising cyber warfare
The series imagines hidden battles in cyberspace, a challenge for television since much of the action involves typing. Director Paul McGuigan used innovative techniques, including mirror shots that layer computer displays over actors' faces. “We had to find ways to create drama and tension without simply showing people typing,” Pegg says. “Finding ways to dramatise a malware attack or a worm attack was a real challenge but the result is a genuinely tense show.”
Pegg notes that cyber warfare has become the new frontline. “When you watch the news and see a physical attack, an explosion or a terrorist incident, you're seeing the consequences of cyber crime. What you don't see is what's actually happening in cyberspace.”
Deeper character exploration
The second series delves into Danny Patrick's personal life, showing him outside GCHQ for the first time. The story runs parallel narratives of his home life and work life. “What's happening inside affects what's happening outside,” Pegg says. Director Paul McGuigan wondered “what Danny was like on the bus on the way back from work or sitting at home having a cup of coffee.”
Danny's relationship with his wife Barbara, played by Siân Brooke, is central. Both work at GCHQ, creating a marriage shaped by secrecy. “They make a great team. They've clearly been through a lot together. They love each other very much but because of the work they do there are things they simply can't discuss,” Pegg says. He praises Brooke's dedication, noting that even when the camera wasn't on her, she would have “tears streaming down her face.”
Set design and technical challenges
The recreated GCHQ operations centre impressed Pegg with its astonishing detail. “Every workstation has little personal touches – snacks, stress toys and family things. The news reports playing on the screens were all specially created for the show.”
Delivering technical jargon proved challenging. “You’d finally get through almost the whole speech and then fluff the very last word so you have to start all over again,” he laughs. Despite the serious subject matter, the cast often found moments of levity on set. “Sometimes the situation just struck us as funny.”
Local folklore and a Greggs secret
Pegg shares a bit of GCHQ trivia: “Apparently the Greggs in the Doughnut is the busiest Greggs in the country. I'm probably giving away a state secret there. Or rather... a steak secret.”
When asked if he could be a real GCHQ officer, Pegg demurs. “I don't think I've got it in me. In fact, I know I don’t. This is the next best thing, though, and, you know, it does feel a bit like destiny.”
The Undeclared War starts on Tuesday, July 21 on Channel 4.
