Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
“One of Britain's master spies is working for the enemy. Can George Smiley beat him at his deadly game?”
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.
Where to watch Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy in United States
Can I watch Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy in United States? Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy isn't currently available to stream in United States. Availability changes often — add it to your watchlist and check back.
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Click a service to open Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy there. Availability last verified on September 30, 2026.
Where is Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy streaming around the world?
| Country | Streaming on | Rent / Buy |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | BBC iPlayer | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Sky Store |
| Australia | Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads | — |
| Germany | FlimmerkisteTV Amazon Channel | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video |
| France | SFR Play | — |
| Spain | Filmin | — |
About Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is a 1979 English-language war & politics, drama and mystery series created by John Irvin and John le Carré. The cast is led by Alec Guinness, Michael Jayston, Anthony Bate. It spans 1 season and 7 episodes and has concluded. Viewers rate it 7.6/10 across 100 ratings.
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy was produced by BBC and Paramount Pictures and made in United Kingdom. It was first aired on September 10, 1979, and carries a PG certification.
- Created by
- John Irvin, John le Carré
- First aired
- September 10, 1979
- Last aired
- October 22, 1979
- Original language
- English
- Age rating
- PG
- Status
- Ended
- Seasons
- 1 (7 episodes)
- Network
- BBC Two
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Production
- BBC, Paramount Pictures
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy cast & crew
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy was created by John Irvin and John le Carré.
The cast features Alec Guinness as George Smiley, Michael Jayston as Peter Guillam, Anthony Bate as Sir Oliver Lacon, and George Sewell as Mendel.
Behind the camera, cinematography is by Tony Pierce-Roberts and it was produced by Jonathan Powell.
Is Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy worth watching?
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy holds an audience score of 7.6/10 from 128 ratings, marking it as well-reviewed war & politics series.
With 1 season and 7 episodes, it's a quick, bingeable run.
If you enjoy war & politics, drama, and mystery, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is worth a place on your watchlist.
How and where to watch Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy isn't currently available on major streaming services in United States. We track availability continuously — add it to your watchlist and we'll keep an eye out.
Streaming rights change country by country and month by month, so the options above reflect United States today — switch your country at the top of the where-to-watch section to see availability elsewhere.
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Cast of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Alec Guinness
George Smiley
Michael Jayston
Peter Guillam
Anthony Bate
Sir Oliver Lacon
George Sewell
Mendel
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy — FAQs
▸Where can I watch Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy in United States?
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is not currently available on major streaming services in United States. Availability changes often — check back soon.
▸What language is Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy in?
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is originally in English, with audio tracks including Czech, English, Russian. Subtitle and dub options vary by streaming service.
▸How many seasons of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy are there?
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy has 1 season with 7 episodes in total.
▸What is Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy rated?
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is rated PG. It holds a 7.6/10 audience score from 128 ratings.
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