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Series · 1978 – 1980 · Drama

The Sandbaggers

The best spy series in television history.

★8.2 1978 – 1980 3 Seasons Ian Mackintosh TV-MA

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.

Seasons & episodes

3 seasons · 20 episodes

First Principles

Episode 01

First Principles

Sep 18, 1978 · 60 min

In 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.

A Proper Function of Government

Episode 02

A Proper Function of Government

Sep 25, 1978 · 60 min

When 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.

Is Your Journey Really Necessary?

Episode 03

Is Your Journey Really Necessary?

Oct 2, 1978 · 60 min

Alan Denson threatens to quit the Sandbaggers after a rough, unauthorized assassination mission near the Soviet border, so Burnside applies pressure to Denson's fiancee.

The Most Suitable Person

Episode 04

The Most Suitable Person

Oct 9, 1978 · 60 min

There 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.

Always Glad to Help

Episode 05

Always Glad to Help

Oct 16, 1978 · 60 min

Laura 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.

A Feasible Solution

Episode 06

A Feasible Solution

Oct 23, 1978 · 60 min

Caine 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.

Special Relationship

Episode 07

Special Relationship

Oct 30, 1978 · 60 min

Laura 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.

About the series

The Sandbaggers poster
Audience score
★ 8.2 /10

based on 12 votes

Synopsis

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.

DramaWar & Politics

Cast

5 principal cast

Roy Marsden

Roy Marsden

Neil Burnside

Ray Lonnen

Ray Lonnen

Willie Caine

Michael Cashman

Michael Cashman

Mike Wallace

Dennis Burgess

C

Sue Holderness

Sue Holderness

Marianne Straker

Where to watch The Sandbaggers

The Sandbaggers is available to stream on Flicksy via 6 verified sources, aggregated from publicly available embed providers. The drama from Ian Mackintosh has 3 seasons and 20 total episodes, rated 8.2/10 by 12 viewers.

Frequently asked

How many seasons does The Sandbaggers have?

The Sandbaggers has 3 seasons with 20 episodes in total.

Is The Sandbaggers still on the air?

The Sandbaggers has ended and is no longer in production.

What network airs The Sandbaggers?

The Sandbaggers airs on ITV1.

When did The Sandbaggers first air?

The Sandbaggers first aired on September 18, 1978.

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