Secret Servant, The (BBC-1 1984, Charles Dance, Jill Meager)

The Secret Servant as a strong three part espionage thriller based on the novel by Gavin Lyall and starring Charles Dance as SAS officer Harry Maxim who is seconded to bodyguard visiting nuclear scientist Professor John Tyler on a visit to Downing Street. Maxim soon discovers that Tyler’s visit is the catalyst for the unravelling of a major conspiracy.

Adapted by Thriller specialist Brian Clemens, The Secret Servant was one of three novels by Lyall to feature the character of Harry Maxim. Lyall is one of those British authors that wrote first class thrillers in the seventies and eighties but has been all but forgotten these days.

production details
UK / BBC One / 3×55 minute episodes / Broadcast 6 – 8 December 1984

Writer: Brian Clemens / Novel: Gavin Lyall / Script Editor: Maggie Allen / Music: Dave Greenslade / Production Design: Dugald Findlay / Producer: Bob McIntosh / Director: Alastair Reid

cast
Charles Dance as Harry Maxim
Jill Meager as Agnes Algar
Harvey Ashby as George Harbinger
Dan O’Herlihy as Professor John Tyler
Harry Jones as Charley Farthing
Julian Curry as Sir Anthony Sladen
Alexander Reid as Chris Maxim
Constantine Gregory as Komoscin
Willoughby Goddard as Master
John Graham as Rex Masson
Brown Derby as Bob Etheridge
Jill Balcon as Mary Jackaman
Charles Hodgson as Gerald Jackaman
Elizabeth Spender as Melinda Foy
Rom Anderson as Zuzana Kindl
Roger Ashton-Griffiths as Ivan
Helena Little as Markova
Patrick Monckton as Petrov