Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
One of Britain's master spies is working for the enemy. Can George Smiley beat him at his deadly game?
Created by John le Carré, John Irvin
On BBC Two
A cerebral, paranoid Cold War espionage miniseries where an aging spy methodically uncovers betrayal through patient investigation rather than action.
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.
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Where to watch
Not available in United States — it streams in other countries.
Questions people ask
Is Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy one of a kind? Yes, very. More singular than 92% of series.
Is Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy sad? Yes, very. More sad than 91% of series.
Does Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy leave you hopeful? Barely. Less hopeful than 81% of series.
Is Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy easy watching? Barely. Less comforting than 75% of series.
Is Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy violent? Not especially. Less violent than 65% of series.
Is Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy scary? About average. Almost exactly mid-range.
These describe how the series comes across across its whole run, compared with other well-known series. They are not a content list — nothing here was counted or checked episode by episode, so for age-suitability or specific content use a classification board or a dedicated content-warning service.
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Cinnamon Score
How much this series gives you that nothing else will, and whether it delivers.
Distinctly its own thing.
How unlike any other series this one feels
How much more it delivers than it promises
How much audiences actually like it
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Everything like Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, and what each one shares →
Like Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Nearest across the full emotional profile.
Same Mood as Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Nearest on what's most distinctive about this one.
Like Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, But Darker
Similar, pushed toward heavier and more intense.
Like Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, But Lighter
Similar, pushed toward warmer and easier.
Like Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, But Less Popular
Same territory, far fewer people have seen it.
