"The Sandbaggers" (1978) TV series 1978-1980

Creator:

Ian Mackintosh
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3

Release Date:

18 September 1978 (UK)

Genre:

Thriller

Plot:

The missions of an elite British Intelligence covert operations unit.

Plot Keywords:

Spy | Espionage | Politics

Cast

Roy Marsden	...	Neil Burnside (20 episodes, 1978-1980)
Ray Lonnen	...	Willie Caine (20 episodes, 1978-1980)
Jerome Willis	...	Matthew Peele (20 episodes, 1978-1980)
Bob Sherman	...	Jeff Ross (17 episodes, 1978-1980)
Alan MacNaughton	...	Sir Geoffrey Wellingham (14 episodes, 1978-1980)
Michael Cashman	...	Mike Wallace (13 episodes, 1980)
Richard Vernon	...	'C' (12 episodes, 1978-1980)
Elizabeth Bennett	...	Diane Lawler (12 episodes, 1978-1980)

Series Directed by
Michael Ferguson		(8 episodes, 1978-1980)
Peter Cregeen		(7 episodes, 1980)
David Reynolds		(2 episodes, 1978)

Series Writing credits
Ian Mackintosh		(20 episodes, 1978-1980)
Gidley Wheeler		(2 episodes, 1980)

Series Produced by
Michael Ferguson	....	producer (16 episodes, 1978-1980)
David Cunliffe	....	executive producer (15 episodes, 1978-1980)

Series Original Music by
Roy Budd		(20 episodes, 1978-1980)

Series Film Editing by
Allen Jewhurst		(9 episodes, 1980)
Tim Ritson		(3 episodes, 1978)
Peter Taylor		(3 episodes, 1978)

Series Production Design by
Roger Andrews		(9 episodes, 1978-1980)
Jeremy Bear		(5 episodes, 1980)
Mary Rae		(unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Steve Haynes	....	film dubbing mixer (9 episodes, 1980)
Terry Cavagin	....	film dubbing mixer (7 episodes, 1978)
Don Atkinson	....	film sound recordist (6 episodes, 1978-1980)
Terry Ricketts	....	film sound recordist (5 episodes, 1978-1980)
Mike Donnelly	....	film sound recordist (3 episodes, 1978-1980)
Barrie Box	....	film sound recordist (3 episodes, 1980)
Ron Gunn	....	film sound recordist (3 episodes, 1980)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Alan Pyrah	....	film camera (9 episodes, 1978-1980)
Dick Dodd	....	film camera (3 episodes, 1980)
Peter Jackson	....	film camera (3 episodes, 1980)
Frank Pocklington	....	film camera (3 episodes, 1980)
Charles B. Wilson	....	film camera (3 episodes, 1980)

Series Music Department
Roy Budd	....	composer: theme music (6 episodes, 1978-1980)

Series Other crew
Mark Shelley	....	weapons armorer (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• Yorkshire Television (YTV)

Distributors

• BFS Entertainment & Multimedia Limited (2010) (USA) (DVD) (complete series)
• Independent Television (ITV)

Runtime:

60 min (20 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Singapore:PG | Iceland:12

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Company:

Yorkshire Television (YTV)

Trivia:

Creator Ian Mackintosh was developing the next season of Sandbaggers at the time of his disappearance. According to actor Ray Lonnen, MacKintosh was considering having the character Willie Caine promoted to D-Ops, while Neil Burnside (played by Roy Marsden) would move up to "C" (head of S.I.S.). However, after MacKintosh's (apparent) death, the producers decided to end the series because they felt no one could write Sandbaggers as well as MacKintosh.

Quotes:

Burnside:If I want to send an agent to the lavatory, I need the Foreign Secretary's permission. If I want him to do anything when he gets there, I need the Prime Minister's written approval!

Soundtrack:

The Sandbaggers Theme

Forget 007, forget UNCLE

"The Sandbaggers" is the best spy drama ever made for TV, and is certainly the most realistic. Focusing on a group of special agents of the British SIS, it shows spies as they probably really are: overworked, underpaid, under-appreciated and expendable.

The acting in the series is top notch by all of the cast, particularly Roy Marsden as the workaholic Burnside and Ray Lonnen as the amiable Caine. There's also particularly good work by Alan MacNaughton as the wily Wellingham. The plots rely less on action and more on intrigue, with battles won and lost in "drab dusty corridors in Whitehall", as Burnside puts it. There isn't any real gunplay until the sixth episode, in fact.

The first season of the series, with all episodes written by series creator Ian MacIntosh, is the best. It follows a rough story arc involving the introduction of troubled agent Laura Dickens (well-played by Diane Keen). It leads up to the powerful season finale "Special Relationship", which is a stunner.

The second season isn't as good. Other writers besides MacIntosh are involved and there are some ill-advised plot developments. Also, there are less-than-successful changes in some characterizations. But, still, it remains a superior and thoughtful drama.

I highly recommend this series. It's well-worth tracking down on video or on PBS. Just remember what Burnside says in the first episode: "If you want James Bond, go to a library."