The Hour is about to go live and there are tensions for all as they prepare to defy government instruction and deliver a controversial episode on the crisis in Suez. Freddie finally learns what happened to Ruth, and Hector and Bel come to a decision on their affair.

The war in Suez has the country divided and McCain steps up his pressure on The Hour to toe a pro-government line, but with a huge anti-war protest gathering in London, Freddie has other ideas. Meanwhile, pressure mounts on Bel and Hector when news of their affair gets out and Lix helps Freddie with an important lead.

It is Freddie's birthday and the effects of Tom's death are still being felt around the newsroom. Two huge news stories are breaking but Freddie has disappeared and it's a newly confident Hector who's leading the charge. Meanwhile, Bel and Hector's affair gathers steam and Isaac's got his eye on Sissy.

A weekend invite to a shooting party at Hector's in-laws gives Freddie an opportunity to quiz Adam Le Ray on his relationship with Ruth, whilst Hector struggles with his ailing marriage and his growing feelings for Bel. At the office, suspicion about Tom Kish is mounting and Isaac is on the case.

The Hour is struggling. The ratings are down, the reviews are terrible and Hector and Freddie are bickering like children. As events escalate in Suez, Bel knows their only hope is to pull off a brave interview with an Egyptian diplomat - but is Hector up to the challenge? Meanwhile, Freddie discovers a mysterious code which may well provide a clue to Ruth's death.

In 1956, two BBC reporters, Bel Rowley and Freddie Lyon, apply to join an ambitious new current affairs programme. A chance meeting involves Freddie in a dark conspiracy.