Main title from the 1979 episode of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1979), Return to the Circus [part one] (1)

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1979)

Part One

(1979)

1 1 1 1 1
| TV Episode | United Kingdom | Colour | Drama, Mystery, Thriller | 49min |
PG
| Stars: Alec Guinness, Bernard Hepton, Terence Rigby
| E1 | 10th September, 1979

Retired espionage veteran George Smiley is called out on a top secret mission: to uncover a Soviet agent within MI6’s echelons

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1979) | Part One (1979) opening credits (3)
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1979)
In the bleak days of the Cold War, espionage veteran George Smiley is forced out of semi-retirement to uncover a Soviet agent within MI6’s echelons.

Episode cast

(17)
Photograph from Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1979) featuring Alec Guinness (as George Smiley) (1)
George Smiley
Bernard Hepton
Toby Esterhase
Terence Rigby
Roy Bland
Michael Aldridge
Percy Alleline
Ian Richardson
Bill Haydon
Alexander Knox
Control
George Sewell
Mendel
Ian Bannen
Jim Prideaux
Michael Jayston
Peter Guillam
Ted Edwards (Nigel Stock) in a scene from It Always Rains on Sunday (1947)
Roddy Martindale
Anthony Bate
Oliver Lacon
Hywel Bennett
Ricki Tarr
Milos Kirek
Barak
Eugene Lipinski
Czech Guard
Alec Sabin
Fawn
Brian Hawksley
Bookseller
Robert MacNeil
Himself
+ Show full cast (7 more)

Pictures

(9)
Main title from the 1979 episode of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1979), Return to the Circus [part one] (1)
Main title from the 1979 ‘Part One’ episode of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1979) (8). Director John Irvin
Main title from the 1979 ‘Part One’ episode of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1979) (7). Dramatised by Arthur Hopcraft
Main title from the 1979 ‘Part One’ episode of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1979) (6). Nigel Stock, Anthony Bate, Hywel Bennett
Main title from the 1979 ‘Part One’ episode of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1979) (5). Alexander Knox, George Sewell, Ian Bannen, Michael Jayston
Main title from the 1979 ‘Part One’ episode of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1979) (4). Also starring in order of appearance Bernard Hepton, Terence Rigby, Michael Aldridge, Ian Richardson
Main title from the 1979 ‘Part One’ episode of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1979) (3)
Main title from the 1979 ‘Part One’ episode of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1979) (2). John le Carré's
Main title from the 1979 ‘Part One’ episode of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1979) (1). Alec Guinness in

Production

(4)
Jonathan Powell
Producer
John Irvin
Director
Arthur Hopcraft
Writer (dramatisation)
John le Carré
Writer (novel)

Also known as

Return to the Circus

Companies

(3)
BBC
Production company
Paramount Pictures
Production company
Paramount Television
Production company