Legacy of Spies series from BBC adds Black Doves star as filming begins on George Smiley drama

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After the BBC announced a new series based on John le Carré’s novels, titled Legacy of Spies, filming has officially started with the addition of new actors to the cast.

I’m so excited about this new series! It’s going to be eight episodes long and made by the team behind some really great shows. They’re basing it on John le Carré’s classic, ‘The Spy Who Came in from the Cold,’ but also weaving in elements from his later novel, ‘A Legacy of Spies.’ It sounds like they’re really building something special!

Matthew Macfadyen will lead the cast as George Smiley, a seasoned spy. He’ll be joined by Charlie Hunnam as Alec Leamas, Daniel Brühl as Josef Fiedler, and Devrim Lingnau Islamoğlu as Doris Quinz.

The series has added several new actors to its cast, including Agnes O’Casey, known for her role in Black Doves. She will be playing Liz Gold, a hopeful young woman who is a central character. O’Casey previously performed this same role in a stage production.

The cast also includes Felix Kammerer, known for his role in ‘Frankenstein,’ playing Hans-Dieter Mundt, a strict enforcer. Dan Stevens (‘Zero Day’) will portray Bill Haydon, an insider at the Circus. Jake Dunn (‘What It Feels Like for a Girl’) joins as Peter Guillam, a loyal aide to Smiley, and Safia Oakley-Green (‘The Bluff’) will play Molly Gibson, a new intelligence officer.

Ariyon Bakare, known for his role in ‘Mr Loverman’, will portray Cy Aflon, an American intelligence officer. Saskia Rosendahl, who appeared in ‘Fabian – Going to the Dogs’, will play Lotte Gamp, the sister of Doris. Patrick Güldenberg (‘Die Ibiza Affäre’) will take on the role of Dr. Karl Riemeck, and Volker Bruch, famous for ‘Babylon Berlin’, will play Emmanuel Rapp, an official with the Stasi.

The new series, created and written by Stephen Cornwell and Clarisa Ingram, follows Alec Leamas, a seasoned intelligence officer, who enlists the help of a bright, young woman from East Germany, Doris Quinz, to deliver sensitive documents to the West. This action triggers a dangerous chain of events set against the backdrop of Cold War Berlin.

Josef Fiedler (Brühl) and Hans-Dieter Mundt (Kammerer) are Stasi officers relentlessly hunting Leamas and Doris. They’re fiercely determined to stop the intelligence leak, but their competitive spirit and strong wills drive them to constantly try and one-up each other.

Liz Gold, a determined and hopeful young woman played by O’Casey, enters the story and challenges Leamas. Her strong beliefs push him into a dangerous situation filled with shifting alliances and constant deception.

Working from the shadows, the skilled but quiet intelligence leader George Smiley (played by Macfadyen) manages secret operations. Meanwhile, the mysterious Soviet agent Karla remains hidden, creating a dangerous situation that will impact an entire generation. In this intense world of espionage, personal relationships are damaged, and the difference between loyalty and love becomes unclear, turning every feeling into a potential tool.

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As a huge fan of le Carré, I’m genuinely excited about the new project! I read Macfadyen’s statement, and he really captures what makes this story special – it’s a classic tale of spies, the games they play for power, and the tough moral choices they face. He seems thrilled, but also a little intimidated, to be taking on the role of George Smiley – a character who’s known for being quiet, smart, and very private. And he’s really pleased to be working alongside such a talented cast and crew. It sounds like it’s going to be something special.

O’Casey described Liz Gold as someone with a remarkable talent for understanding people, seeing past any negativity. Playing her – a character so confident and full of life – has been a powerful experience. O’Casey said Liz is completely self-aware, and when she falls in love, it’s passionate and undeniable. She found the role incredibly enjoyable.

Legacy of Spies will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

Authors

James HibbsDrama Writer

James Hibbs writes about TV dramas for TopMob, covering shows on streaming services and traditional channels. Before becoming a writer, he worked in public relations, first at a business-to-business agency and then at Fremantle, an international TV production company. He has a BA in English and Theatre Studies and a Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.

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2026-04-13 17:37