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Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

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

  • TV series
  • 1979
  • 1 season
  • 7 episodes

Created by John Irvin and John le Carré

7.6

TMDB audience rating
7.6 out of 10 from 131 votes

Where to watch Trailer

Overview

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.

Roughly 5h 50m to watch every episode. This is an estimate: 7 episodes at the typical episode runtime of 50 minutes.

Where to watch

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Trailer

Play trailer: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy trailer

Official video hosted on YouTube. The player loads only when you press play.

Series cast and crew

  • Alec Guinness

    Alec GuinnessGeorge Smiley
    7 episodes

  • Michael Jayston

    Michael JaystonPeter Guillam
    7 episodes

  • Anthony Bate

    Anthony BateSir Oliver Lacon
    7 episodes

  • George Sewell

    George SewellMendel
    7 episodes

  • Bernard Hepton

    Bernard HeptonToby Esterhase
    6 episodes

  • Robert MacNeil

    Robert MacNeilSelf – Host (uncredited)
    6 episodes

  • Ian Richardson

    Ian RichardsonBill Haydon
    5 episodes

  • Hywel Bennett

    Hywel BennettRicki Tarr
    5 episodes

  • Michael Aldridge

    Michael AldridgePercy Alleline
    5 episodes

  • Terence Rigby

    Terence RigbyRoy Bland
    5 episodes

  • Ian Bannen

    Ian BannenJim Prideaux
    4 episodes

  • Alec SabinFawn
    4 episodes

  • Beryl Reid

    Beryl ReidConnie Sachs
    3 episodes

  • Alexander Knox

    Alexander KnoxControl
    3 episodes

  • Duncan JonesRoach
    3 episodes

  • Daniel BeecherSpikely
    3 episodes

  • Frank ComptonBryant
    2 episodes

  • Frank Moorey

    Frank MooreyLauder Strickland
    2 episodes

Created by
John Irvin and John le Carré
Network
BBC Two

Seasons and episodes