

Web series
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
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.
- Status
- Ended
- Type
- Miniseries
- Last aired
- 1979-10-22
- Language
- Czech
BBC Two
- spy
- based on novel or book
- great britain
- traitor
- cold war
- kgb
- espionage
- miniseries
- mole
Seasons
Top billed cast














Behind the camera
Where to watch
Availability for United Kingdom. Provided by JustWatch through the TMDB API.
Buy
Apple TV Store
Amazon VideoBuy
Sky Store
Gallery







Videos
Air dates
- First aired
- 1979-09-10
- Latest episode
- 1979-10-22
- Status
- Ended
- Next release
- Completed
- Limited Series10 Sept 1979
Frequently asked questions
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is streaming on Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Sky Store in India. Use the official Watch now links in the Where to watch section above.
Audience reviews
2- P7/10
Peter McGinn
1/23/2023
I tried to watch this drama series a year or so ago and didn’t get far. It isn’t bad but it has a slow pace, which I am usually fine with, but I am not into spy stories. I gave it a second try recently and had no trouble finishing it this time. There is some action and a small amount of drama, but mostly it is conversation and a slow-burning tension running through it. I confess I occasionally wasn’t sure who was …
- C7/10
CinemaSerf
10/26/2024
With the Cold War at it's height, the head of the British counter-espionage agency - "Control" (Alexander Knox) is giving a clear impression that he is losing the plot. He is visibly ailing so his subordinates gather like vultures waiting to take his place. His preferred candidate is the redoubtable, semi-retired, "Smiley" (Sir Alec Guinness) and pretty swiftly we discover that is because the old man is not so doting…
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