Series
The Sandbaggers
“The best spy series in television history.”
DramaWar & Politics
The Sandbaggers is a British television drama series about men and women on the front lines of the Cold War. Set contemporaneously with its original broadcast on ITV in 1978 and 1980, The Sandbaggers examines the effect of the espionage game on the personal and professional lives of British and American intelligence specialists.
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Seasons & episodes
1First Principles18 Sept 1978 · 60mIn Westminster there stands a drab building, peopled by ambitious men wielding great power in total secrecy, Among its staff are Neil Burnside and Willis Caine, for whom the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) is not just a way of life, but life itself. Neil Burnside, the Director of Operations SIS, objects to sending his best agents, the Sandbaggers, on a mission into Russia for Norway's Secret Service.
2A Proper Function of Government25 Sept 1978 · 60mWhen Sir Donald Hopkins, a top government advisor, is unexpectedly seen in Vienna, it is suspected that he intends to defect. The Sandbaggers are sent to Vienna to keep tabs on him. Meanwhile, an East African dictator has been executing British citizens, and SIS has put together a proposal for his assassination.
3Is Your Journey Really Necessary?2 Oct 1978 · 60mAlan Denson threatens to quit the Sandbaggers after a rough, unauthorized assassination mission near the Soviet border, so Burnside applies pressure to Denson's fiancee.
4The Most Suitable Person9 Oct 1978 · 60mThere has never been a woman in SIS's Special Operations Section, but with only one Sandbagger left to him, Burnside faces a crisis. The Training School can offer no one... except the enigmatic Laura Dickens. Sandbagger One Willie Caine goes to Gibraltar to investigate the murder of an SIS agent, and the new potential Sandbagger Laura Dickens goes to Morocco to get more clues in the case.
5Always Glad to Help16 Oct 1978 · 60mLaura Dickens is assigned to find out where an Arab sheik's sympathies lie, while Burnside clashes with Deputy Chief Matthew Peele and the Ministry of Defence over a covert scuba-diving operation.
6A Feasible Solution23 Oct 1978 · 60mCaine and an agent fresh out of field school, go to Cyprus on the trail of some missing rocket scientists, while Neil lets his romantic guard down at home.
7Special Relationship30 Oct 1978 · 60mLaura Dickens is the most qualified agent for a risky mission in East Berlin and Burnside has to double-deal to make sure her presence there won't pose other security risks as well.
Details
- Created by
- Ian Mackintosh
- First aired
- 18 Sept 1978
- Last aired
- 28 Jul 1980
- Status
- Ended
- Language
- English
- Network
- ITV1
- Episodes
- 20
- Votes
- 12 on TMDB
Where to watch (US)
Amazon Prime Video
Britbox Apple TV channel
BritBox
BritBox Amazon Channel
Amazon Prime Video with Ads
Shout! Factory Amazon Channel
Plex
Plex Channel
Amazon Prime Video Free with Ads
Tubi TV
Amazon MX Player
Cast
Roy MarsdenNeil Burnside
Ray LonnenWillie Caine
Michael CashmanMike Wallace- DDennis BurgessC
Sue HoldernessMarianne Straker
