Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy - 1 - Return To The Circus (1979)

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is a 1979 British seven-part spy drama by the BBC. John Irvin directed and Jonathan Powell produced this adaptation of John le Carré's novel Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1974). The serial, which stars Alec Guinness, Alexander Knox, Ian Richardson, Michael Jayston, Bernard Hepton, Anthony Bate, Ian Bannen, George Sewell and Michael Aldridge, was shown in the United Kingdom from 10 September to 22 October 1979, and in the United States beginning on 29 September 1980.

Le Carré cited the series as his favourite filmed adaptation of his work, attributing this to his experience collaborating with Guinness.
The series was shot on location in London, including some of the intelligence agency scenes which were shot in the BBC offices; in Glasgow for scenes in Czechoslovakia, at Oxford University, at Bredon School in Gloucestershire where the character Jim Prideaux was a master, and elsewhere.
The series was followed by Smiley's People in 1982.

Cast:
Alec Guinness as George Smiley / "Beggarman"
Alexander Knox as Control
Michael Jayston as Peter Guillam
Anthony Bate as Oliver Lacon
Bernard Hepton as Toby Esterhase / "Poorman"
Ian Richardson as Bill Haydon / "Tailor"
Ian Bannen as Jim Prideaux
Hywel Bennett as Ricki Tarr
Michael Aldridge as Percy Alleline / "Tinker"
Terence Rigby as Roy Bland / "Soldier"
George Sewell as Mendel
Beryl Reid as Connie Sachs
Joss Ackland as Jerry Westerby
Siân Phillips as Ann Smiley
Frank Moorey as Lauder Strickland
Nigel Stock as Roddy Martindale
John Standing as Sam Collins
Thorley Walters as Tufty Thessinger
John Wells as Headmaster
Patrick Stewart as Karla
Mandy Cuthbert as Molly Purcell
Warren Clarke as Alwyn
Joe Praml as Paul Skordeno
Susan Kodicek as Irina
Alec Sabin as Fawn
Hilary Minster as Boris
George Pravda as Polyakov
Duncan Jones as "Jumbo" Roach