I've consumed Tinker, Tailor in every one of its many formats over the past 35 years (the novel, the Beeb series, the audiobook, the recent film), but this adaptation's streamlined linear narrative and little extra bits of exposition to help the OAPs follow along is the single best distillation of the novel's Byzantine plot I've ever heard. Outstanding, thank you so much for posting it!

@roysmith8602

3 жыл бұрын

35 years , every format..will give it a shot then :) there's a possibility you might be better informed them me

@clovelly1946

3 жыл бұрын

Me too,agree with you.after so many views and listenings,I still enjoy every word.Its Turkey great writing.

@CaroleRogersCSL

3 жыл бұрын

After seeing the comments I am more than looking forward to listening. Having read the book, seen the series and, recently watched the film with Gary Oldman as Smiley (superb, by the way) I'll be interested to hear how it's done.

@drtonyhaworth6287

3 жыл бұрын

Hi do you know of any other film versions of any smiley stories ?? Or any spy films good ones and I’ve watched and listened to all the different versions of this and is there anything for smileys people ?? Please advice if you know ??

@dancontrino1911

2 жыл бұрын

Same here! I also think the casting is perfect.

Mr. Hepton sounded almost exactly like Alec Guinness as Smiley in the TV series. Amazingly great imitation!

@martinlagrange8821

Күн бұрын

He would know best - he was Toby Esterhase with Sir Alec Guinness in the two TV miniseries

I am so grateful to be able to listen to this version, which I did not know. Like so many others I am mad about Bernard Hepton, and will never forget him dancing around Thun in Switzerland in 'Smileys People' with the most superb accent, using his team to entrap a Russian for Smiley. Wonderful actor and I have watched the BBC TV series time after time.

@philippankhurst6680

3 жыл бұрын

Is there anyone who has only seen TTTS and People just once ? The absolute pinnacle of TV drama, in my opinion...

@rorybone100

3 жыл бұрын

It IS delicious.

Bernard Hepton, such a talent. In fact, great listening to all of the actors. I never tire of this version. Thank you all round and also for posting.

@Th0ughtf0rce

4 ай бұрын

I listen to it again and again on long drives. Listening to Bernard, my mind conjure up a more sly and cynical Smiley than Alec Guinness' rendition.

It's quite weird hearing Bernard Hepton as Smiley - particularly when he is talking to Esterhase. The BBC TV serial actors still are the yardstick for Le Carre's characters.

I like Hepton's Smiley. Always have, since I picked this up on cassette tape in the 90s. But his Toby Esterhase? PERFECTION.

@vze1lxls

3 жыл бұрын

P

@darrylwiggins1156

3 жыл бұрын

Could not have said it better.

@tourismtiger

3 жыл бұрын

Totally agree. Perfect, actually....

@jacquelinestack9086

3 жыл бұрын

@@vze1lxls q

Bernard Hepton had such a deft touch at everything he did....Colditz, I Clavdivs, BBC TV Le Carre, Secret Army. Also delighted to hear the excellent and also late James Grout as Percy. Thanks for posting this.

@roddyteague6246

4 жыл бұрын

Versatile as well. Remember him in The Squirrels?!

@annquinn6780

3 жыл бұрын

Brilliant in Bleak House .

@roddyteague6246

3 жыл бұрын

@@annquinn6780 Morning Ann. Yes he was. You helped me recall him in Get Carter-soon to be 50 years old!

Wow, I‘d never heard this version before, such fun hearing Bernard Hepton as Smiley in conversation with Toby Esterhazy whom he plays in the TV version. Lovely production. Thank you.

@mikewellwood1412

4 жыл бұрын

Same here, and I thought I'd heard pretty much all there was, le Carre-related, on the BBC. This was a great version. Partly because of Hepton - such a class act - and partly because it told the story logically, more or less in chronological order, and not in flashback mode (or much less so), than in the original novel (or in the famous TV version). Many thanks to Nerdsworth for uploading it.

@rpm1796

3 жыл бұрын

Binga Loved Hep...Secret army...

@davehappablap5549

3 жыл бұрын

@@mikewellwood1412 5: e__.+=

RIP, John le Carré. Legend.

You can absolutely hear how Gary Oldman’s Smiley’s voice and cadence was inspired by Bernard Hepton’s. Hepton was wonderful.

@karlmeyer9473

2 жыл бұрын

Oldman was crap

@dermotriordan4046

2 жыл бұрын

The film version is an abomination

@donepearce

2 жыл бұрын

Sorry but the Oldman movie was nonsense. Gunness's Smiley in the BBC miniseries was great. And moving Hepton over to Toby Esterhase was inspired.

@karpizan

Жыл бұрын

@@doublewhopper67 Yeah. Completely unnecessary

@howard1beale

11 ай бұрын

The film was not good. The TV series was much better. This is better than the film even though its changed a lot from the book

Absolutely brilliant and you know what? I never heard it before. A gem.

A fantastic story, well performed, thank you.

Hepton was a magnificent actor, pure gold this production

@DeSilsky

4 жыл бұрын

He made a lot of Radio Dramas. The Windbear is a master piece, and also eight episodes of the Baroness Orczy, and some more.

@muttleycrew

4 жыл бұрын

Nick De Silsky thanks will definitely check those out!

@donepearce

3 жыл бұрын

He played Toby Esterhase to Alex Guinness's Smiley in the TV version. Both versions seem to have struck gold.

@muttleycrew

3 жыл бұрын

Indeed@@donepearce! He also played Claudius' emancipated slave Palas in _I, Claudius._ Of course that's a famously low-budget, high-value, talent-heavy production in which Bernard Hepton effortlessly steals scenes from the great Derek Jacobi. Now Derek Jacobi is so good as Claudius it should have been pretty much impossible to steal even small parts of scenes from him but Bernard Hepton was just that good he could steal them right from under Jacobi's prosthetic nose.

Excellent. I can never get enough of this story. Apart from Hollywood's recent drivel adaption. I cant count the number of times I've watched the BBC's adaption with Alec Guiness - Gold!

This is amazing. Thanks so much for posting. Love this dramatization. Genius

I cannot thank you enough for this upload - I have been searching for this version in a listenable format for YEARS! I don't think it was ever issued as a CD, just tape. I heard it when first broadcast in 1988. I'm a huger admirer of Bernard Hepton - he is his usual brilliant self here & Rene Basilico is a brilliant radio adaptor.

@DeSilsky

4 жыл бұрын

Rene Basilico made also "Alliens in the Mind", with Peter Cushing and Vincent Price. I guess you know that one. If not, search for it right now!!!!

@mathonamoore123

3 жыл бұрын

Listenable is not a word, audio format', is what you should say.

@dermotriordan4046

2 жыл бұрын

Listenable IS a word. Get back in your box.

@brettsidaway2691

2 жыл бұрын

@@dermotriordan4046 of course it is a word as most intelligent literate people know! Thanks for your support.

R.I.P. John le Carré. You are in from the Cold. We have to stay out a bit longer.

@paegarbosco714

3 жыл бұрын

What a poem RIP

I’ve been listening to this while I work, and so enjoying it, thank you very much!

I've read the books, watched the show and film multiple times over the past couple years. I love how this radio drama has slight little details that are not in the book or show. This story never gets old.

Listening puts a totally different yet very nice perspective on the story. It’s also pleasant to hear the English language spoken well.

@jamisbillson4872

3 жыл бұрын

Mike Pollock...it’s a moronic fashion to speak like gangsters and halfwits these days. Innit cuzbruv fam and ting!

@ikrat9456

3 жыл бұрын

What kind of English would that be?

@shanemanchester

3 жыл бұрын

I once asked a fellow fan of Alec Guinness’s Tinker why he liked the show so much. He simply replied, “it’s the way they speak to each other.” Says it all. 😀😀👍

@karenduncan7707

3 жыл бұрын

@@ikrat9456 ggggfygygyddfffddffđuyyygydtdyydyyyyfffttdyygdtþþftffftttftftfftftfttftffftftffffttftfftfftftffttfftftftffftfftftfftffttftftfttftttfftfftfftfftftftftfttftffyfttfffftfttftftffffttfffttftttftftffffttfffftftftffftfffttfftftfttfftþfttfttftfftfftftfffftfftfftfffftfttftffftttfttftftftttffftfffftfffftftfttftfttfttfttfftfftftffttttffttfffftffffffttftftftftftffffftfftfttftftftftffffftftffff

@robbiereilly

3 жыл бұрын

John le Carre (David Cornwall) also reads his stories and he has a beautiful voice, er, had, I should say, as he passed away just the other day. I'm rewatching TTSS (of course the Alec Guinness miniseries, not that gawdawful unnecessary remake they made in 2015. ) Rest in Peace, David Cornwall

thank you so much for this upload, I much prefer this version to the later one with Simon Russel Beale - not because of his acting but because of the script. I have been searching for this for ages!

La Carre and Hepton. I think I may faint from happiness...

@zoyablake9538

4 жыл бұрын

😂 my thoughts exactly!

@davidw.2791

3 жыл бұрын

With BBC miniseries’s Toby being George in this, and BBC Miniseries’s Peter reading the audiobook... 🥰

@johnlindsay6923

3 жыл бұрын

May I faint with you 😊

To date (01/02/21) no finer espionage tale. Takes you back to the genesis of the spy novel.

Thanks for uploading this its been a very long time since I heard this version its very well done thanks again

John le Carre' died today. 12/13/2020. RIP

Thank you, this is wonderful! I just listened to John Lecarre reading Agent Running in the Field. I got it through Overdrive from my local library.

Thank you. This is my very favourite version.

This was the first version of Tinker, Tailor that I ever discovered. I bought it on tape while visiting the UK and have never been able to upgrade to CD or download which is an absolute shame. I suppose the first iteration encountered becomes the definitive version. I’ve listened to it innumerable times; Hepton’s Smiley is such a comforting listen. I’m so glad that the BBC released A Small Town in Germany, A Perfect Spy and The Russia House on download. I suppose they’ve withheld this and Hepton’s Smiley’s People so their epic season of Smiley staring Simon Russell Beals has a free run. It was excellent but doesn’t quite measure up to Hepton’s two outings as Smiley.

@freemo515

3 жыл бұрын

Yes I agree. What a great find.

@adriantwiss600

3 жыл бұрын

Russel Beale’s “A Call for the dead” was excellent.

@drmaggie12

3 жыл бұрын

Omaha you

This is an excellent adaptation. Top notch👍🏼

Thank you for the uploads. I have been searching for Bernard Hepton radio dramas. Superb quality upload of very rare content. Excellent productions.

@DeSilsky

3 жыл бұрын

Look for something called Baroness Orczy. 8 episodes with Bernard Hepton starring. Also a Jekyll & Hyde version when he is Utterson. And a great drama called The Windbear, also starred by Hepton.

@decordobauk

3 жыл бұрын

@@DeSilsky Thank you, will do so.

Brilliant..thanks for posting it👍

I love this show…. Thank you….

Thanks for uploading these

A fantastic production of John LeCarre's novel. I have seen and listened to all previous TV, film and radio productions and this one sits high on the list. Thank you for posting

Much better than the one they made later. Much much better. Thanks for sharing!!!!

This radio adaptation was my introduction to TTSS, so until I caught up with the TV series, Smiley was the soft spoken Hepton, perfect for radio. I lost my cassette copy of this over the years, so I'm delighted to be able to hear it again here, thanks for that! I too have consumed TTSS in all its formats over the years, well all of John le Carré's books actually, and here's a tip, the final novel, written when he was close to 90 years old and le Carré's final novel to be published before his death in 2020, Agent Running in the Field is very nearly as good!

@K1lostream

11 ай бұрын

TTSP = Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Pie?

@geoffmurrell

11 ай бұрын

😄@@K1lostream

@K1lostream

11 ай бұрын

@@geoffmurrell Ohhh! You meanie! You can't edit your post now! lol! (clearly you can! haha!)

So excellent!!! Thank-You$

This is interesting version - I've seen the BBC TV version, the more recent movie version and the audio book. This is well done - shows how a long work can be abridged and condensed.

3rd listen lol - brilliant, thanks so sooo much for the upload!

This is fantastic quality!! :D

Thank you

Thank you so much!!!

"You scratch my conscience, I'll drive your jag."

Thank you for this download. Been looking for this for years. Heard it originally on BBC Radio 4 in the days when they did real drama, instead of the weak soap opera rubbish of the 'Archers' that is now in the ascendancy. This is a brilliant adaptation with a stellar cast. Just as thrilling as the classic series with Alec Guinness.

@arthurdick9553

3 жыл бұрын

No it isn't 😀😀

@lizroberts1569

10 ай бұрын

You should listen to Drama on BBC sounds I’ve been listening for over 40 years and they’re still fantastic best radio plays etc broadcast. One long running soap is fine even if it’s not to your taste or mine.

Safe journey Mr. Le Carre. Thanks for all the intrigue.

Read the book at least thrice, seen the TV series, the film and probably this in the mists of time. Spent this stupidly hot afternoon listening to this all the way through. Slight differences but still hugely enjoyable. Fawn is still my favourite character, few lines but every one counts...

I heard John le Carre passed away. I am very sorry.. Rest in peace..John..

Greetings from Dili, Timor-Leste in Southeast Asia. Wonderful drama, great aco

superb adaptation, immensely better than the last film version

Well done!

I’ve never heard this one, thanks! I love the recent version with Simon Russell Beale playing George Smiley, but this is enjoyable as well 🙂. Just a bit confusing if you’re used to Bernard Hepton playing Toby in the TV version!

@DeSilsky

4 жыл бұрын

I think this version is far much better than the one by Russell Beale. Russell Beale is excellent of course but the rest of the cast have so similar voices that sometimes you don't know who is speaking. In this version you have Douglas Blackwell, Charles Kay, Edward De Souza. They are a bit histrionic but so brilliant. By the way, Alleline is Charles Grout, that years later was the chief of Morse in the TV legendary series.

@awhite3747

3 жыл бұрын

@@DeSilsky You mean James Grout :-)

@yvonneheald3616

3 жыл бұрын

Bernard Hepton is by far a more polished and incisive actor than Simon Russell Beale. Hepton was a great actor. Not so for Russell Beale.

@DeSilsky

3 жыл бұрын

@@yvonneheald3616 I saw Russell Beale in Penny Dreadful and he was just brilliant. Perhaps Hepton is better but hard to say. But considering only voices, I prefer Hepton.

@yvonneheald3616

3 жыл бұрын

The actors in this production with Hepton as Smiley, are in another league in the delivery of text and acting competence; compared to the Russel Beale version. As for Smiley the nuanced performance by Bernard Hepton, in all his quiet spoken glory nullifies the Simon Russel Beale verison of Smiley.

I will await listening to this properly and so interesting to have the newer version to compare it to. The BBC version with Simon Russell Beale as Smiley is incredible.

Thoroughly enjoyed this. Apparently there are now 300 more variations to get through before I become a TinkerTailor Spyista.

The best part of this recording is the scene with Connie Sachs. Amazing!

Brilliant adaptation. " Who can spy on the spies?"

One of my favourite stories - the book is brilliant as is the BBC adaptation. It's not just a spy story, Le Carre examines friendship, loyalty, trust and betrayal and principles and ideals mixed with patriotism. I can't get my head around Bernard Hepton (Toby) playing Smiley....I supposed I'm too familiar with the BBC series! And Percy sounds like the actor who plays Roddy Martindale in the BBC adaptation. Everybody's love to Ann! :)

@clairefort1252

4 жыл бұрын

I

@TheSorub

3 жыл бұрын

this is a bbc radio production

@Nately22

3 жыл бұрын

@@TheSorub Yep, but here I meant he the BBC television series adapted from the book.

@TheSorub

3 жыл бұрын

@@Nately22 its a classic got it on dvd

@Nately22

3 жыл бұрын

@@TheSorub Same here. Stunning - one of the best tv series ever made by the BBC.

Wow, didn't know these existed! I am only familiar with the Simon Russell Beale dramas, which are excellent in their own right.

Bloody marvelous adaptation......

Thanks you🥳🥳Great play🧐

It helps to have read the book first in order to understand the dynamics in this production.

Nice interpretation

Wonderful

I’m with almost everyone here, that this new version is refreshing. I must’ve experienced all forms, with my favorite having Simon Russell Beale as Smiley. Adding this to the collection

Brilliant...

Great Gem! Thank's

Excellent.

Brilliant!

Wow, the movie is awesome, but the book... Priceless...

@Nerdsworth: now we are wondering what else you have beyond these three radio adaptations...until then, thanks for these.

THIS is the best!

Brilliant.

The best adaptation I’ve heard Hepton is great as smiley

My comfort listening...again ❤

Absolute Gold!

the series was amazing. the movie good. I'm liking this as well

One of my favourite audio books ...so worth listening to ..love Alec Guinness

@sallyscott4892

2 жыл бұрын

Silly me not Alec Guinness 😂

Bernard Hepton is excellent here, as always.

The best one on youtube

Broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 1988. I hope this has a longer half-life on KZread than all the other BBC programmes I had saved for later - all the Charles Paris and Rumpole programmes have vanished in one fell alleged-copyright-infringement swoop. Better luck with le Carre, I hope.

@rhocroft5898

3 жыл бұрын

Look at BritBox. It is a subscription series but the price is reasonable. It has many of the old series, and some new ones. Sadly it does not have either the Alec Guinness Tinker Tailor or Smiley's People yet.

Hepton is brilliant in this RIP David John Moore Cornwall Why wasn’t he knighted ?

@halfdayofthejackal9372

2 жыл бұрын

He had too much class, too sophisticated for that nonsense. That's my deduction anyway.

Great adaptation, a version I had never come across before. I am familiar with the book and the great BBC TV adaptation. Even the Hollywood version is half decent, but this is just perfect.

@mckavitt13

3 жыл бұрын

Rough & Ready Guitars Are “half decent” productions worth all the time & money, not to mention the British talent who could be making excellent British films? How complacent can we get?

@nicknewman7848

2 жыл бұрын

@@mckavitt13 How would you know if a film adaptation of this type will be "excellent" or "half decent" before you've even made it and then make an informed decision to make an "excellent British film" instead? Do you want a guarantee of excellence before the project starts? You can only go by the script which in this case is heavily based on the source material. I'm not sure you understand how collaborative creative processes work. You therefore lose your right to have your criticism taken seriously because you're talking bollocks. Thank you for your time.

The bit about Welsh names at the discrete hotel is hilarious.

I found it easier to see the plot/story without the visuals.

Thank you, SO MUCH for this. I assume this is blasphemy. But I actually prefer Bernard Hepton over Alec Guinness for Smiley (though only by a little). And I realize the roles are written differently for radio vs. TV. ☮

BBC Four tv are re-showing classic this tv series again start 29/05/21

Had this version on tape unfortunately one of the cassette tapes got badly mangled. Although I have it audible, kindle and paperback, its nice to Bernard's version of Smiley. I think he also did Smiley's people, if so any chance of an upload?

Isn't that Nigel Stock who played Roddy "bloody" Martindale in the TV adaptation in the beginning of the recording? This is like a cast remix of the TV series!

@Nately22

4 жыл бұрын

Yes, exactly what I thought; 'Percy Puppet' being played by Roddy.

@Nately22

4 жыл бұрын

Just saw it's Charles Grout (the actor who plays Morse's boss) playing Alleline, not Nigel Stock!

@timelordtardis

4 жыл бұрын

@@Nately22 It's James Grout, not Charles.

@Nately22

4 жыл бұрын

@@timelordtardis Ah cheers!

@davidgladstone6588

4 жыл бұрын

Yes, Nigel Stock!

You can buy all the Le Carre's which were on tape...now in a box of dvds...bought myself a set and a set for my son, NEVER lend them out ❤

No one ever thinks that George set the whole thing up to get revenge on Anne and bill

Hello Control, how is Mrs. Control?

Best spy novels

Really good this I always liked alex Guinness. But I found this just a entertaining... after reading spycatcher the I think this must have been suspected by the people in the service .

I prefer this reading however once you have seen the film,you can’t help but imagine Colin Firth as Haden. the voice is IDENTICAL.

That marvellous actor who plays Connie… her name eludes me, but I know it so well! Can any listener help me?

@jenniferweaver9339

2 жыл бұрын

Rosemary Leach! Of course! 👍😎

Is the actor playing Jerry Westerby, Brian Cox? This radio version is an excellent adaptation.

A1 production

All the characters in this are a lot "nicer" than in the great BBC 70s series and book. Ricky was a rogue, Control was a serpent , Lacon was a self serving creep and Alleline was a pompous Scot.

@arthurdick9553

3 жыл бұрын

You did not mention your preference ? Mine is the Bbbc series. Alec Guinness is perfect.

@obadiahspong2300

3 жыл бұрын

@@arthurdick9553 The BBC's late 70s production of TTSS and SP are two of the finest pieces of television ever produced. Sadly we no longer have that quality of actors or producers anymore.

@arthurdick9553

3 жыл бұрын

Obadiah Spong Right. Wolf Hall was very special, but I certainly agree for the most part. The recent film was poor and the Cumberbatch role was Hollywood woke.

@obadiahspong2300

3 жыл бұрын

@@arthurdick9553 I agree Arthur, the recent TV version of Little Drummer Girl was poor and the costumes and attitudes didn't even reflect the era. Even the old 1984 Hollywood version with Kinski and Keaton was better. I thought the 1981 TV version of Brideshead Revisted was excellent.

@philippankhurst6680

3 жыл бұрын

@@obadiahspong2300 How right you are. They have never been bettered and probably never will be.

Even better the second time around.

Connie is absolutely fabulous!

Mr Wu's a Window Cleaner Now.