Jo Portman

Jo Portman
Spooks character
First appearance	Series 4, Episode 5
Last appearance	Series 8, Episode 3
Portrayed by	Miranda Raison
In-universe information
Gender	Female
Occupation	Junior Case Officer, Section D; Former: Journalist
Family	Mother (S05E10)

Joanna "Jo" Portman (1979–2009) was a fictional Field Operative in the Counter-Terrorism department at MI5, featured in the British television series, Spooks, also known as MI5 in the United States. She was played by Miranda Raison. A former aspiring journalist, she joined the team in the fifth episode of Series 4 after being recruited by Adam Carter; Jo retained her journalist occupation as her MI5 cover. She was by far the most sympathetic member of the team. She was killed in a volatile hostage situation in the third episode of the eighth series.

Character history

Series 4-5

Throughout series 4 and 5, she is shown to be having a growing relationship with fellow MI5 member, Zafar Younis, although this has been kept to subtle flirting. Zaf did offer that she moved in with him after she explained that she was having trouble keeping secrets from her flatmate when she was drunk. It is unknown if she took up the offer, although Adam said that she should. It is also hinted that she cares very deeply for her mother, who is ill.

As a junior case office, she divides much of her time between grid based activities and field missions. She takes part in many operations during her time on the grid, including serving as bodyguard (albeit secretly at first) to the Prime Minister's university aged son in series five, where she successfully helps him elude capture by a reactionary group of anti-government activists.

Series 6-7

At the end of Series 6, after Adam and Jo have been captured by the Redbacks, Jo pleads with Adam in their holding cell for him to kill her before the gang torture her. The episode concludes with Special Forces storming the house where they are being held, just as the gang are preparing to carry out the torture, and with Adam sitting against a wall with a seemingly lifeless Jo in his lap. In episode 1 of Series 7 it is revealed that Adam did not kill Jo - she merely pretended to play dead. However, traumatized by the ordeal she is taking a leave of absence. At the end of the first episode of the seventh series, she rejoins Section D.

After rejoining Section D, Jo suffers from post traumatic stress and struggles to readjust to her duties. She's particularly rattled when Adam is killed by a car bomb and soon after is almost killed herself in an explosion. Throughout the seventh series, she finds herself distracted by visions of one of her former captors, despite the fact he's long since dead, and almost risks the success of several missions in her distraction.

After several of her colleagues take note of her compromised state, Ros offers to talk to her and reminds her of how hard it is for a woman in a job like this. During this conversation, it is revealed that Jo was not only tortured during her imprisonment at the end of series six, but was raped by her captors too. However, after her discussion with Ros, she appears more composed and prepared for life on the Grid again.

Later in the series, she is shocked by the murder of colleague Ben Kaplan at the hands of Connie James. After expressing her bafflement at Connie's actions, she asks Harry if she might break the news of Ben's death to his family.

Series 8 and Death

In series eight, Jo is instrumental in getting the newly returned Ruth back on the grid. After the latter is forced out of hiding, her lover is murdered by terrorists and her relationship with Harry is left frosty. Jo steps in to affirm that Ruth has been missed from the team and that she should talk to Harry. This seems to work, and Harry later thanks her and jokingly threatens to have her deported if she becomes involved in his private life again.

Later, a small group of terrorists take a meeting of industrial billionaires hostage and begin a series of "trials", broadcast via an internet stream bringing the businessmen's crimes out in the open. After the first of those put on trial is executed, both the US and UK governments plan a counter strike against the terrorists, which would mean death for everybody caught up in the hostage situation. With Ros, who is also taken hostage, out of radio contact with Harry and the rest of the grid, Harry instead sends Jo down to meet with the terrorists in an attempt to turn them against the group's leader and bring the situation to a close. It at first seems Jo is successful in her attempts, turning several of the group against each other. However, the cell's leader reaches for a detonator that would cause a lethal explosion. Jo manages to apprehend him and prevent him from detonating, but is caught in an awkward hold with the terrorist; a fatal shot is the only way to bring the situation to an end. Realizing the bullet must pass through her as well as the terrorist, Jo selflessly sacrifices herself, nodding to cue a now armed Ros to take the shot. Ros does so, killing both the terrorist and Jo.

Ros is shaken after her part in the self sacrifice of Jo, and her death continues to haunt her throughout the remainder of series eight. Soon after, Harry is forced to break the news of Jo's demise to a teasrful Ruth and in the subsequent episode, Sarah Caulfield and her associates send flowers and condolences to Section D.