Spycraft's First Cumming

Espionage nerd David Jason takes us inside the world of secret agents, including the inaugural MI6 boss’ car.

Think of all the gifts that Britain has bestowed upon the world: Shakespeare, steam power, the Beatles, best bitter – and, according to David Jason’s Secret Service (History, Sky 073, Monday, 7.30pm), modern spycraft.

Espionage has been around forever – just ask Sun Tzu – but as the 19th century became the 20th, increasingly ingenious methods were invented by MI6’s first director, Captain Sir Mansfield Cumming.

As a self-confessed espionage obsessive, Jason is jammily using the three-part series as an excuse to tool around in cool cars, starting with a 1910 racer known as the Beast of Turin. Needless to say, in his inimitable Del-Boy-speak, it “goes like the clappers”.