'Action bureaucracy' - slow TV from a different age

[killer b]

Just been notified of this that seems to have it all - Codename Kyril, a 1988 spy thriller from the screenwriter who wrote Smiley's People: Edward Woodward as the head of MI6, Richard E Grant as a tousle-haired surly young lawyer, Peter Vaughan, Denholm Elliot...

Видео Codename Kyril (John Trenhaile-Ian Sharp ITV-1988) E01 of 2 | OK.RU

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m.ok.ru

 

[DaveCinzano]

Just been notified of this that seems to have it all - Codename Kyril, a 1988 spy thriller from the screenwriter who wrote Smiley's People: Edward Woodward as the head of MI6, Richard E Grant as a tousle-haired surly young lawyer, Peter Vaughan, Denholm Elliot...

Видео Codename Kyril (John Trenhaile-Ian Sharp ITV-1988) E01 of 2 | OK.RU

null

m.ok.ru

It's too earnest to be great, but its pedigree elevates it above mediocrity.

 

[A380]

I remember a series from the late 70s early 80s (although could have been repeated) about a British intelligence team that was almost complete paranoia anout other agencies and moles. Seem to remember it was almost entirely office based and the main spooks decent into madness was marked by hime having more and more electronic gadgets and clocks on his desk. Eventually his breakdown saw them all swept to the floor. Anyone have any idea what this might have been?

 

[DaveCinzano]

This 556 page doorstop may be of interest to thread subscribers:

Looking-Glass Wars: Spies on British Screens since 1960 by Alan Burton (Series in Cinema and Culture)

 

[redsquirrel]

(The 'there weren't any minority actors around' excuse doesn't really fly given things like Gangsters, which predates Reilly and was packed with people of various ethnicities.)

Just reviewing this thread - anyone want to take a bet if Gangsters will ever make an appearance on BritBox, iPlayer etc? Just can't see it, the opening credit sequence must damn it.
Which is stupid, because as Dave points out it was miles ahead of its time


EDIT: In fact there is probably another thread there - British TV series that are MIA. You could add The Lotus Eaters

 

[DaveCinzano]

Of possible interest to people here:

Welcome back to Spybrary, the ultimate podcast for spy books, spy movies, and spy TV series. In today's 'intel' episode, we share more about an upcoming Sandbaggers fan-organized virtual event featuring Roy Marsden (Neil Burnside.)

Paul Hodges of the Sandbaggers Facebook community shares 'that The Sandbaggers Facebook Group will be hosting our first global event, named “Sandbagger Two”, to commemorate the 45th Anniversary of the initial UK broadcast of The Sandbaggers. It will be a virtual voice+presentation event held via Zoom on Saturday, October 7, 2023 at 11am EDT, 8am PDT, 4pm BST, etc. for 120 minutes. Besides a robust agenda, I am so excited to share the news that Roy Marsden and Greg Rucka will be the keynote speakers at Sandbagger Two. More information is available at our Facebook Group which can be found by searching Facebook for The Sandbaggers Yorkshire Television 1978-1980. I hope to see you at Sandbagger Two.

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