'Spooks: Code 9' meets 'The X Factor'

MI5 agents are an industrious and resilient bunch - none more so than a particular young recruit who shot to prominence in Spooks: Code 9. Reformed criminal Jez Cook was snapped up to serve his country in 2013, a year after the Olympic Games were subjected to a devastating nuclear attack that threw England into turmoil. After tackling more bombs, terrorists and moles, Jez has now been plunged back in time for his latest mission - to infiltrate the 2009 series of The X Factor. And his first appearance was on last Saturday's show.



A quick look at his Code 9 file, which features comments from his acting alter ego Heshima Thompson, shows that Jez has previously operated as part of Amy Winehouse's band. Presumably, Thames House must have a narcotics wing in operation. But his experience as a backing singer to someone with such massive exposure must have stood him in good stead for an assault on reality TV.

Jez is a man with nothing to lose, having lost his family in the 2012 attacks. Such personal grief lends itself to an excellent ‘sob story’ that would facilitate fast-tracking through to the advanced stages of The X Factor (along with frequent hugs from Cheryl Cole). Given the future nature of these events, suspicion might be cast upon Jez's identity if he revealed them. Yet this could also work to his advantage, as he would appear to be highly deluded and suffering from some form of mental illness - which pretty much guarantees good air time on the show.

Those who remember Jez's undercover mission with Kylie (Georgia Moffett) in Code 9, where the pair posed as a couple to investigate some dubious anti-radiation drugs, will know that his instinct is to be trusted. His knowledge of criminality, through his past forays on the other side of the law, mean that he has a fine understanding of dealing with financial and materially-obsessed figures.

The key question is - why have MI5 sent Jez on this X Factor mission? What is his end game? Just what threat do Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh, Cheryl Cole and Dannii Minogue pose to our nation?

Given the quality of Jez's audition, perhaps the objective is to ensure that a more decent standard of performers make it through to the latter stages - and the public is spared any more aural atrocities such as The Conway Sisters, Diana Vickers and ‘Dead Wife’ Daniel. Good luck, Jez!

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