Codename: Kyril

This spectacular, star-studded, action-packed thriller was filmed on location in Bristol, London, Amsterdam and Oslo. There is a top level traitor in Moscow Centre and Stanov, Chairman of the KGB, secretly lays a bait to flush him out. One of his officers – codename “Kyril” – stages a convincing defection and rumours circulate in both Moscow and London that the ‘defector’ carries with him the spy’s identity. But Kyril, with his misplaced loyalty, is being hunted by the KGB and British Secret Intelligence on his hazardous journey to London and does not realise that he is on a certain suicide mission.

Cast

Edward Woodward, Ian Charleson, Denholm Elliott, Joss Ackland, Richard E. Grant

Produced by

Beryl Vertue

Executive producer(s)

John Hopkins based on the novel by John Trenhaile

Written by

Ian Sharp

Directed by

Ian Sharp

Channel

ITV

First transmitted

29 March 1988 at 9pm

Duration

208 mins

Press comments

“A two-part winner sure to bamboozle, worry and delight viewers… The ins and outs, cunningly well defined, come together with a neat cynicism that marks the entire four-hour adventure… Surprises jump up like coiled springs unleashed… Beryl Vertue’s production looks smashing, with top-flight camerawork.” Variety