Main content
Return to the Circus
Episode 1 of 7
Was George Smiley sacked after a scandal, or is he merely retired? When he is summoned by the cabinet watchdog for intelligence affairs, Smiley agrees to head the hunt for a secret service mole.
Last on
Tue 30 Dec 2025
22:10
More episodes
Previous
You are at the first episode
Credits
| Role | Contributor |
|---|---|
| George Smiley | Alec Guinness |
| Toby Esterhase | Bernard Hepton |
| Roy Bland | Terence Rigby |
| Bill Haydon | Ian Richardson |
| Control | Alexander Knox |
| Percy Alleline | Michael Aldridge |
| Author | John Le Carre |
Broadcasts
Featured in...
![]()
Retro Drama Classics
Take a trip down memory lane with these 80s, 90s and 00s iconic dramas.
![]()
Spies, Sleuths and Suspense
Subterfuge plots, super sleuths and maverick detectives, versus criminal masterminds.
![]()
Classic Drama Collection
Nostalgia Alert: Some of the best dramas from the 80s, 90s and 00s
![]()
Landmark Drama
Boundary-pushing and era-defining dramas that changed TV - and Britain - forever
![]()
iPlayer 麻豆社 Four Channel :: Featured Episodes
iPlayer 麻豆社 Four featured programmes
