Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1979): Where to Watch, Cast & Facts

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1979) — an evergreen reference for this TV series: the essentials, the cast, where to watch and what to watch next. One of Britain's master spies is working for the enemy. Can George Smiley beat him at his deadly game?

Where to watch

Streaming availability changes by country and date — check TMDB or your local streaming app for current options.

Cast

Alec Guinness as George Smiley; Michael Jayston as Peter Guillam; Anthony Bate as Sir Oliver Lacon; George Sewell as Mendel

About Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

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.

More like Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

• Restless
• Smiley's People
• The Company
• Foyle's War
• The Bourne Identity
• The State Within
• Fleming
• The Avengers

Figures and availability come from public TMDB data and are provided as a sourced reference.