Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1979): cast, story & where to watch
1979 · Series · ★ 7.6
Released in 1979, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is a war & politics, drama and mystery series.
What it’s about. 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.
Who’s in it. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy stars Alec Guinness as George Smiley, Michael Jayston as Peter Guillam, Anthony Bate as Sir Oliver Lacon and George Sewell as Mendel, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 7.6/10, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy has been warmly received by audiences.
Where to watch. In GB you can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Amazon Video and Sky Store. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy page.
If you liked it. Fans of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy tend to enjoy Attack on Titan, Band of Brothers, Game of Thrones and Shōgun.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1979)?
- In GB, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is available to rent or buy from Apple TV Store, Amazon Video and Sky Store. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy worth watching?
- Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy holds an audience score of 7.6 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy war & politics, drama and mystery. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy?
- Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy stars Alec Guinness, Michael Jayston, Anthony Bate, George Sewell and Bernard Hepton.
- When was Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy released?
- Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy was released in 1979.