Codename Kyril

Among an illustrious cast that includes Joss Ackland, Peter Vaughan, Richard E. Grant and Denholm Elliott, Edward Woodward (Callan) stars opposite Ian Charleson (Chariots of Fire) in a taut and skilfully plotted Cold War thriller.

 

Thought to be one of the last great made-for television spy series, produced as the Cold War era came to an end, Codename: Kyril offers complex characterisations and an intelligent treatment of the classic espionage theme of trust and betrayal. This compelling, evocative series is adapted by the award-winning John Hopkins – whose previous credits include Smiley’s People and Z Cars – and co-produced by Primetime Emmy winner Patrick Dromgoole (Robin of Sherwood). This release presents the complete two-part mini-series (usually only seen these days in a radically edited ‘TV movie’ form), originally screened in 1989.

 

The KGB has a particularly evasive spy to eliminate: a high-ranking Kremlin traitor who has been leaking crucial secrets to London. Bucharensky, code-name Kyril, is ordered to defect to catch the attention of the intelligence services of both East and West, setting himself up as a target and drawing fire from all sides as he makes his way across Europe to London; the object of his mission is to panic the traitor into making a mistake. But waiting in London is Kyril’s deadliest enemy: Royston, a KGB mole whose life now depends upon silencing Kyril before he can disclose Royston’s identity as a Soviet double agent...