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24th May 2018

MI6 launches first TV ad to recruit spies in its 110-year history

James Dawson

The secret agency wants to recruit an additional 800 spies by 2021

If you ever fancied yourself as a bit of a James Bond then there’s some good news for you, because MI6 just launches a recruitment campaign.

MI6 airs its first ever TV advert today as it looks to attract ethnic minority recruits and expand its talent book more generally.

Watch the ad here:

It depicts an ethnic minority mum and her kid watching a shark in an aquarium – and is thought to be part of a concerted effort to move away from the ‘James Bond’ image of a spy that prevents a more diverse number of applicants coming forward for jobs in the secret service.

“We are intelligence officers, but we don’t do what you think,” the ad’s voiceover says.“It is not keeping your cool in the shark tank. It is picking up the silent cues that matter.” Then comes the payoff: “MI6 – secretly, we are just like you.”

The service is looking to expand its workforce by bringing in an extra 800 spies by 2021.

So, what are you waiting for spook in waiting?