Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy 1979

Overview

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is a seven-part BBC2 spy drama written by Arthur Hopcraft and adapted from the 1974 novel of the same name by John le Carré. The serial aired from 10 September to 22 October 1979 and features a cast that includes Alec Guinness, Alexander Knox, Ian Richardson, Michael Jayston, Bernard Hepton, Anthony Bate, Ian Bannen, George Sewell, and Michael Aldridge. The narrative follows George Smiley, an ageing master spy of the Cold War who was once the heir-apparent to the individual known as Control. After being brought out of retirement, Smiley is tasked with identifying a high-level mole operating within the organization referred to as the Circus. To succeed in his mission, Smiley is required to investigate the history of his own life and examine the complex, murky workings of the Circus. The production serves as a television adaptation of the original literary work, focusing on the internal tensions and intelligence operations characteristic of the era.