Written by Ben Richards and produced by World Productions, The Diplomat sees Laura Simmonds team up with her colleague and friend at the Barcelona Consul Alba Ortiz, to help protect British nationals who get themselves into trouble in the city.

Simmonds and Ortiz take on the roles of lawyer, counsellor and cop as they try to handle the stream of problems they face.

The series begins with the death of a young British barman who had been working within Barcelona’s notorious marina, but despite the reason behind his death still a mystery, the Spanish police and Foreign Office are reluctant to open up a murder enquiry.

Simmonds supports and sympathises with the man’s angry father and, with Ortiz’s help, uncovers a link to organised crime and even the British security services.

As Simmonds digs deeper to find out the truth, she discovers secrets the British and Spanish will do anything to keep buried, putting her life in grave danger.

Writer and creator Ben Richards called working with UKTV as a “delight” and got to see their “ambition for innovative and exciting new drama.”

He added: “In The Diplomat I wanted to show a character who both loves her job and - supported by a team of funny and engaging characters - performs it beyond the call of duty. From helping Britons in distress to challenging the shady operations of international mafias, Laura has to deal with it all.”

UKTV drama commissioner Philippa Collie Cousins, commented: “Laura and Alba are contrasting professional working women dealing with murder, abductions and organised crime alongside managing their careers and love lives while avoiding diplomatic hierarchies and maintaining a tight friendship.

“It is “The Good Wife meets Spooks” for 2021, a feisty workplace drama set in Barcelona with cracking dialogue, abundant crime and a surprising series arc.”

The cast and director will be announced at a later date, with the series set to air on Alibi in 2021.