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The Bureau (Netflix)

The Bureau originally appeared without fanfare, settled in unobtrusively and went quietly about its business without drawing attention to itself. Now, though, its position is compromised and its cover blown – it has become a sleeper hit, a word-of-mouth sensation.

There are five series of this classy, suspenseful French thriller about the work of the DGSE – France’s equivalent of MI6. Season one begins with agent Malotru (Mathieu Kassovitz, right) recalled from his six-year mission in Damascus at very short notice.

At the bureau he is hailed as a returning hero but finds it tricky to slot back into his former life. He has an awkward reunion with his daughter. ‘What was your mission?’ she asks. ‘Did you kill people?’ Then, when he discovers that his Syrian ex-girlfriend is in Paris, he has to keep her presence secret from the DGSE, and not let her know his real identity. Assuming she is who she says she is.

It’s more George Smiley than

James Bond but it’s not all everyday mundanity, and soon we’re meeting Syrian intelligence officers, Russian agents and Islamic State terrorists. Matters are out of control in Algiers and in Tehran. And because of the show’s realism, when characters are beaten or tortured or killed, it’s much more shocking than when it happens in, say, a Jason Bourne movie.

It’s gripping, compelling and packs a real emotional punch.

Once The Bureau has its hooks in you, it doesn’t let go.