Created by David Farr.
The Night Manager first premiered on 21 February 2016 on BBC One in the United Kingdom.
Distributed by BBC Worldwide (international distribution).
The Night Manager (TV Series) Review
The Night Manager is a calm but exciting spy TV series that focuses on secrets, danger, and tough choices.
Season 1 (2016) follows Jonathan Pine, a quiet hotel night manager who gets pulled into a secret mission.
He must go undercover to stop Richard Roper, a powerful and charming arms dealer.
The story moves slowly but keeps you interested.
The acting is strong, especially from Tom Hiddleston and Hugh Laurie.
The show travels across beautiful locations and builds tension step by step.
Season 2 (2026) brings Jonathan Pine back years later.
This time, the threats are bigger and more modern.
New enemies appear, and Pine faces harder personal risks.
The season feels deeper and more serious, with more focus on trust and betrayal.
Overall, The Night Manager is stylish and smart.
It is best for viewers who enjoy slow-paced spy stories with strong characters and realistic drama.
CR Rating – 8/10
The Night Manager Actors
Tom Hiddleston as Jonathan Pine
DOB: February 9, 1981.
Bio: Trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), Tom Hiddleston built his early career in British theatre and television before achieving global recognition as Loki in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Known for his intelligence, restraint, and emotional precision, Hiddleston excels at playing inward, morally driven characters whose calm surfaces conceal deep conflict.
Role: Jonathan Pine is a former British Army officer whose life has drifted into anonymity as a luxury hotel night manager.
After witnessing the consequences of arms trafficking, Pine is recruited by British intelligence to infiltrate the inner circle of international arms dealer Richard Roper.
Seasons & Episodes: S1-2 (12 eps).
Interesting facts: Hiddleston served as an executive producer on the series.
His performance earned him the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Miniseries or Television Film.
Notable works: Thor franchise (Loki), Kong: Skull Island, Loki (Disney+).
Hugh Laurie as Richard “Dickie” Onslow Roper
DOB: June 11, 1959.
Bio: English actor, comedian, writer, and musician who first gained fame in British television comedy before achieving global stardom as Dr. Gregory House.
Over decades, he has mastered the art of playing charming, intelligent men whose wit masks moral emptiness.
Role: Richard Onslow Roper, known as “Dickie,” is a sophisticated, globe-trotting arms dealer who moves seamlessly through the world of wealth, politics, and high society.
Publicly, Roper is generous, cultured, and disarmingly affable.
Privately, he is a ruthless criminal responsible for mass suffering.
Seasons & Episodes: S1-2 (7 eps).
Interesting facts: Laurie won the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries or Television Film for this role.
Notable works: House M.D., Jeeves and Wooster, film roles and stage work.
Olivia Colman as Angela Burr
DOB: January 30, 1974.
Bio: An award-winning British actor celebrated for her versatility across drama and comedy.
Known for her ability to balance emotional depth, humor, and intelligence, Colman excels at portraying complex, principled characters.
Role: Angela Burr is a sharp, determined Foreign Office official tasked with investigating Richard Roper’s criminal empire.
She is the series’ moral compass, relentless, perceptive, and willing to navigate bureaucratic obstacles to achieve justice.
Seasons & Episodes: S1-2 (7 eps).
Interesting facts: Colman won the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress and earned an Emmy nomination for this performance.
Notable works: The Favourite, Broadchurch, The Crown, Fleabag, stage and film performances.
Elizabeth Debicki as Jemima “Jed” Marshall
DOB: August 24, 1990.
Bio: Elizabeth Debicki is an Australian actor trained in stage and screen, known for her statuesque presence, poise, and precise performances.
She excels at portraying complex women who combine intelligence, elegance, and emotional depth.
Role: Jemima “Jed” Marshall is the sophisticated and enigmatic girlfriend of arms dealer Richard Roper.
She becomes a complicated ally and love interest for Jonathan Pine.
Debicki’s Jed is charming, secretive, and morally ambiguous, protective of Roper’s operations while slowly revealing her own conflicted loyalties.
Seasons & Episodes: S1-2 (7 eps).
Interesting facts: Debicki’s performance was widely praised for blending glamour with moral ambiguity and subtle emotional complexity.
Notable works: The Great Gatsby, Tenet, The Crown (as Princess Diana), Widows, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.
Tom Hollander as Major Lance “Corky” Corkoran
DOB: August 25, 1967.
Bio: Tom Hollander is a highly regarded British character actor with extensive stage training and screen experience.
Known for his polished, controlled performances, he often plays witty, urbane, or morally ambiguous characters.
Role: Major Lance “Corky” Corkoran is the suave, slippery second-in-command to arms dealer Richard Roper.
As Roper’s fixer and front man, Corky smooths over deals, manipulates situations behind the scenes, and carries out the practical, often morally dubious work of Roper’s empire.
Seasons & Episodes: S1 (5 eps).
Interesting facts: Hollander’s knack for portraying polite but dangerous characters drew critical praise, especially in scenes opposite Hugh Laurie and Tom Hiddleston.
Notable works: In the Loop, Pride & Prejudice (2005), Bohemian Rhapsody.
Alistair Petrie as Alexander “Sandy” Langbourne
DOB: September 30, 1970.
Bio: Alistair Petrie is a seasoned British character actor with extensive classical theatre training and a diverse screen career.
He frequently portrays composed, authoritative figures with a veneer of respectability, making him ideal for roles that require subtle power and restraint.
Role: Alexander “Sandy” Langbourne is the financial mastermind behind Richard Roper’s operations.
Tasked with managing front companies, money laundering, and the legal scaffolding of illicit deals, Sandy is outwardly polite and professional, but Petrie conveys the quiet ruthlessness beneath his calm exterior.
Seasons & Episodes: S1-2 (7 eps).
Interesting facts: Petrie demonstrates the understated menace of financial power in crime, showing how a “respectable” appearance masks complicity in violence and corruption.
Notable works: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, The Terror, Deep State.
Douglas Hodge as Rex Mayhew
DOB: February 25, 1960.
Bio: Douglas Hodge is a Tony Award-winning British stage actor with a prolific career spanning theatre, television, and film.
Known for his versatility, he brings both gravitas and theatrical intensity to supporting roles, whether in musicals, dark drama, or character-driven narratives.
Role: Rex Mayhew is Angela Burr’s superior at the Foreign Office.
Tasked with overseeing delicate operations against international arms dealers, Rex is steady, cautious, and supportive, but also represents the limits and bureaucracy of government authority.
Seasons & Episodes: S1-2 (6 eps).
Interesting facts: Hodge’s extensive theatre background adds depth and authenticity to the Foreign Office setting.
Notable works: Diana, Middlemarch, The Great.
David Harewood as Joel Steadman
DOB: December 8, 1965.
Bio: David Harewood is a British actor with a commanding screen presence, known for smart, authoritative performances in television and film.
He brings credibility, moral seriousness, and procedural precision to roles that require both intelligence and physicality.
Role: Joel Steadman is an American ATF agent working alongside Angela Burr.
A pragmatic, tough-minded ally, Steadman provides overseas jurisdiction, muscle, and procedural expertise that complements the British investigative team.
Seasons & Episodes: S1 (5 eps).
Interesting facts: Harewood’s role underscores the international reach of the investigation and brings U.S. procedural leanings to the story.
Notable works: Homeland, Supergirl, The Vice, stage performances in classical and contemporary theatre.
Tobias Menzies as Geoffrey Dromgoole
DOB: March 7, 1974.
Bio: Tobias Menzies is a classically trained British actor known for his versatility and ability to play morally complex, often ambiguous characters.
He has received widespread acclaim for roles in The Crown, Outlander, and Rome, demonstrating a cool intelligence, precision, and subtle emotional depth.
Role: Geoffrey Dromgoole is a senior MI6 official who is wary of Angela Burr’s extra-official investigative tactics.
Menzies portrays Dromgoole as a composed bureaucrat, combining professional pride with political calculation.
Seasons & Episodes: S1 (5 eps).
Interesting facts: Menzies’ casting added a familiar face to British viewers; his cool, repressed style makes Dromgoole a quietly watchable antagonist.
Notable works: The Crown, Outlander, Rome, stage performances in classical and contemporary theatre.
Adeel Akhtar as Rob Singhal
DOB: N/A.
Bio: Adeel Akhtar is an award-winning British actor known for his versatility across comedy, drama, and genre work.
He won a BAFTA for his nuanced performances and is recognized for bringing subtlety, depth, and humanity to supporting and lead roles.
Role: Rob Singhal is Angela Burr’s second-in-command and a key operational figure within the enforcement team.
He balances empathy, procedural expertise, and practical judgment, often guiding colleagues through ethically and legally complex situations.
Seasons & Episodes: S1-2 (5 eps).
Interesting facts: Akhtar won praise for playing grounded, working-class competence in a highly polished cast.
Notable works: Four Lions, Utopia, Back to Life, stage and television credits across drama and comedy.
Antonio de la Torre as Juan Apostol
DOB: January 18, 1968.
Bio: Spanish actor celebrated for his intense, nuanced performances in film and television.
He has received multiple Goya Award nominations and wins and is known for bringing a naturalistic, lived-in presence to morally complex and high-stakes roles
Role: Juan Apostol is Richard Roper’s lawyer and international operative.
He manages legal maneuvering, financial scaffolding, and Spanish-language operations for the arms-dealing network.
Seasons & Episodes: S1 (4 eps).
Interesting facts: Casting a high-profile European actor broadened the show’s international texture and made the legal/financial scenes feel genuinely global.
Notable works: Multiple award-winning Spanish films, including La Isla Mínima, The Realm, and Marshland, among other acclaimed European cinema roles.
Michael Nardone as Frisky
DOB: January 20, 1967.
Bio: Scottish character actor with a long and varied career in television and film.
Known for bringing grit, physicality, and authenticity to supporting roles, he often plays complex, grounded characters that enhance ensemble dramas.
Role: Frisky is one of Richard Roper’s henchmen, a physically imposing, loyal operator who provides muscle, intimidation, and quiet menace for the arms-dealer’s operations.
Nardone plays Frisky as credible and grounded, avoiding cartoonish villainy, making the character a believable threat throughout the series.
Seasons & Episodes: S1-2 (7 eps).
Interesting facts: Nardone’s long career in UK TV and his physical presence make Frisky feel dangerous and believable rather than stunt-man shorthand.
Notable works: Rome, Durham County, Prime Suspect, other British and international TV/film credits.
More Actors
Season 1 (2016)
• Hovik Keuchkerian as Tabby.
• Noah Jupe as Daniel Roper.
• Natasha Little as Caroline Langbourne.
• Katherine Kelly as Permanent Secretary.
Season 2 (2026)
• Indira Varma as Mayra Cavendish.
• Camila Morrone as Roxana Bolanos.
• Annabel Mullion as Celia Mayhew.
• Diego Calva as Teddy Dos Santos.
FAQ – The Night Manager TV Series
What is The Night Manager about?
A hotel night manager, Jonathan Pine, is recruited to go undercover to expose an international arms dealer and the corrupt network protecting him.
Does Season 2 continue the same story from Season 1?
Yes, Season 2 follows Jonathan Pine years later as he gets drawn back into espionage and new international conspiracies after a long hiatus.
Is The Night Manager based on a book?
The first season adapts John le Carré’s novel, but future seasons continue beyond the book’s original story with new material.
How many episodes does Season 2 have?
Season 2 comprises six episodes, released weekly on Prime Video.
Is the TV series faithful to the book?
It follows the novel’s main plot but updates and reshapes elements for TV; David Farr’s adaptation modernizes aspects while keeping the le Carré spirit.
Where was it filmed?
Season 1 was shot in locations including Cairo, Switzerland and London; Season 2 expanded to new international locales for its updated story.
Where can I watch the series?
Season 1 is available to buy/stream on platforms like Amazon Prime Video (and to buy on Apple TV / digital storefronts); Season 2 aired on BBC in the UK and is available on Prime Video in some territories.
Conclusion
The Night Manager is a smart and suspenseful spy series about an ordinary man pulled into a dangerous world of arms dealers and secret intelligence.
Strong performances, especially from the lead cast, and a slow-building but gripping story make it stand out.
It focuses on tension, loyalty, and tough moral choices rather than nonstop action. Overall, it is a stylish, intense, and highly engaging drama worth watching.