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

User Rating:

8.9/10   

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 | MI6 | Political

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)

(more)

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

Series Writing credits
Ian Mackintosh		(18 episodes, 1978-1980)
Gidley Wheeler		(2 episodes, 1980)

Series Produced by
David Cunliffe	....	executive producer (7 episodes, 1978)
Michael Ferguson	....	producer (7 episodes, 1978)

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

Series Film Editing by
Tim Ritson		(2 episodes, 1978)
Peter Taylor		(2 episodes, 1978)

Series Production Design by
Roger Andrews		(5 episodes, 1978)
Jeremy Bear		(unknown episodes)
Peter Caldwell		(unknown episodes)
Mary Rae		(unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Terry Cavagin	....	film dubbing mixer (5 episodes, 1978)
Don Atkinson	....	film sound recordist (3 episodes, 1978)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Alan Pyrah	....	film camera (5 episodes, 1978)

Series Music Department
Roy Budd	....	composer: theme music (1 episode, 1978)

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

Production Companies

• Yorkshire Television (YTV)

Distributors

• Independent Television (ITV)

Runtime:

60 min (20 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Singapore:PG

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

Great program

While we watched the Sandbaggers on WLIW Long Island some years ago, we were taping it. At the end of the showing, we would rewind the tape and immediately watch the entire show again. Every word spoken played a role in the intrigue. We didn't want to miss one of those words. I never even noticed that the "action" consisted of dialogue in the office or MI5. Clever wording provided all the intensity and emotion that was needed. It was one of the most fascinating television shows we had ever seen. Since we did not get in at the beginning episode (although it was run a second time on WLIW), we never did see the very first episode. Thanks to the people who publish the DVD, we can make up for that loss.