TV Show65%

The Ambassador

Drama

The Ambassador is a British television drama series produced by the BBC written by Hugh Costello. The series starred Pauline Collins in the title role as Harriet Smith, the new British ambassador to Ireland and dealt with the personal and professional pressures in Harriet's life, as well as wider political themes. Other notable cast members were Denis Lawson and Peter Egan. Two series were made between 1998 and 1999.

Jan 4, 19982 seasons12 episodesEndedEN

Start Watching

Cast spotlight

Jump into full cast pages for bio, socials, and recent work.

Pauline Collins

Acting

View profile

Denis Lawson

Acting

View profile

Seasons

Season 1

6 episodes

Premiered Jan 4, 1998

Season 2

6 episodes

Premiered Apr 18, 1999

Episodes

1–6 of 6

No preview

Ep 1

Pilot - Innocent Passage

Jan 4, 1998

50m

The new British Ambassador to the Republic of Ireland, Harriet Smith, arrives in Dublin to discover that the Irish government is accusing the British of sinking one of their trawlers in the Irish Sea. Together with MI6 agent John Stone, Smith uncovers the truth.

No preview

Ep 2

Refugee

Jan 11, 1998

50m

Ambassador Smith gives the battered British wife of a Saudi diplomat refuge in the embassy when he beats her up and attempts to kidnap their son, even though this jeopardises a lucrative aircraft contract with Saudi Arabia.

No preview

Ep 3

Nine Tenths of the Law

Jan 18, 1998

50m

When a young British girl is jailed for drug smuggling, it seems a positive start to an Anglo-Irish initiative. Then Smith discovers that the girl works at the same bar as her 19 year old son Nate. Stone investigates whether he is connected to any illegal activity.

No preview

Ep 4

A Cluster of Betrayals

Jan 25, 1998

50m

The ambassador's assistant is held hostage by a man brandishing a canister of nuclear waste, in protest at the number of children he says are dying from nuclear waste pollution of the Irish Sea by British nuclear facilities.

No preview

Ep 5

Trade

Feb 1, 1998

50m

A young rent boy found dead in a Dublin hotel bedroom, after having sex with visiting British minister David McNaughton, leads a British government minister to order a cover-up, which is carried out by Stone too thoroughly.

No preview

Ep 6

Playing God

Feb 8, 1998

50m

MI6 fear that Smith has been targeted for assassination, but she refuses to compromise her official engagements. A former MI6 officer, Sir Robert Beauchamp, is intent on publishing his memoirs before he dies of cancer, facing Smith with more tough decisions.