One of the most exciting elements of the hit BBC series Spooks is that it is often filmed on the streets of London amongst real people. Working with a small crew the actors perform their roles right in thick of the hustle and bustle of daily London life. This approach to filming grounds the ambitious plots in a genuine sense of reality that would otherwise be difficult to achieve. The resulting visual authenticity aids in minimizing any possible implausibilities of the intricate story lines for which Spooks is renown.

The astute viewer might on occasion notice that this authenticity is sometimes betrayed by a bystander looking straight into camera. These shots are usually edited out but every now and then one slips through. While this may, for a split second, betray the dramatic illusion, it at the same time reinforces the feeling that the furtive world of Spooks (fictitious or otherwise) inhabits the same world we do.

Only the most reticent of London based Spooks fans will not admit to being on hyper-alert during the months when Spooks is filmed, quietly hoping to stumble upon Ros Myers or Lucas North in the course of their daily commute. Given the keen interest in the show, one of the consequences of filming among the general populous is that the general populous sometimes films back! Throughout the filming of Season 8, Spooks spotters conducted impromptu clandestine operations, surreptitiously acquiring and uploading a range of photographic, video and eye witness intelligence to Flickr, Youtube and Twitter.

Below I’ve assembled some of the Season 8 intel posted on the internet throughout April to July of this year. One imagines that Kudos would prefer these Spooks snippets would not make their way onto the internets, and as a fan who likes to remain ignorant of even the most incidental aspects of plot before they go to air, I can appreciate this view. But at the same time, one can’t deny the obvious appeal of fans spying on Spooks and giving the show a taste of its own medicine.

Spooks Spotting – Season 8

Spooks filming sighting on 5:12 AM Apr 3rd
From Twitter “They’re filming Spooks on the street where i work. keep trying to linger on the street to be an extra! no one biting sadly!”

Spooks filming at Royal Festival Hall
Uploaded to YouTube on May 17, 2009

Spooks Season 8 Shoot featuring Ros Myers (Hermione Norris)
Shot on Thursday 11 and Friday 12 June 2009, uploaded to YouTube June 13, 2009

Plus stills from the same shoot uploaded to Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/26eight/sets/72157619595533697/

Lucas North (Richard Armitage) at South Bank
Uploaded to Flickr on June 26, 2009
The Scoop! Image One | Image Two

Lucas North (Richard Armitage) meeting a contact at London Eye
Uploaded to YouTube on July 06, 2009

Video of Stills taken at Royal Festival Hall Shoot
Uploaded to YouTube on July 11, 2009

Spooks fans, please let me know if anything should be added to this list.