One of Britain's master spies is working for the enemy. Can George Smiley beat him at his deadly game?

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is a seven-part BBC2 spy drama written by Arthur Hopcraft, adapted from John le Carré's eponymous 1974 novel. The serial, which stars Alec Guinness, Alexander Knox, Ian Richardson, Michael Jayston, Bernard Hepton, Anthony Bate, Ian Bannen, George Sewell and Michael Aldridge, was broadcast from 10 September to 22 October 1979. George Smiley, the ageing master spy of the Cold War and once heir-apparent to Control, is brought back out of retirement to flush out a top level mole within the Circus. Smiley must travel back through his life and murky workings of the Circus to unravel the net spun by his nemesis Karla 'The Sandman' of the KGB and reveal the identity of the mole before he disappears.

Cast & crew

John Irvin

Creator

John le Carré

Creator

Alec Guinness

George Smiley

Michael Jayston

Peter Guillam

Anthony Bate

Sir Oliver Lacon

George Sewell

Mendel

Bernard Hepton

Toby Esterhase

Robert MacNeil

Self – Host (uncredited)

Ian Richardson

Bill Haydon

Hywel Bennett

Ricki Tarr

Michael Aldridge

Percy Alleline

Terence Rigby

Roy Bland

Ian Bannen

Jim Prideaux

A

Alec Sabin

Fawn

Beryl Reid

Connie Sachs

Alexander Knox

Control

D

Duncan Jones

Roach

D

Daniel Beecher

Spikely

F

Frank Compton

Bryant

Frank Moorey

Lauder Strickland

J

John Wells

Headmaster

T

Terry Pearson

Schoolmaster (uncredited)

Seasons

7 episodes

Limited Series1979 · 7 episodes