Genre Drama
Espionage Theme music composer Stephen Oliver First episode date 17 November 1991 Network BBC One Director Christopher Morahan Written by David Pirie | Directed by Christopher Morahan Composer(s) Carl Davis Final episode date 8 December 1991 Number of episodes 4 Executive producer Michael Wearing | |
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Based on Ashenden: Or the British Agent by W. Somerset Maugham Starring Alex Jennings
Joss Ackland
Ian Bannen
Jason Isaacs | ||
Ashenden is a BBC1's four part miniseries based on the spy novel by W. Somerset Maugham, it loosely based on adaptations of "The Traitor" and "The Hairless Mexican" were written by David Pirie, it was produced by Kelso Films for BBC and that aired from 17 November to 8 December 1991, directed by Christopher Morahan, with Alex Jennings in the title role, Joss Ackland as Cumming, Ian Bannen as 'R' and Jason Isaacs as Andrew Lehman. Guest actors included Harriet Walter as Giulia Lazzari in the first episode, Alan Bennett as Grantly Caypor in the second, and Alfred Molina as Carmona, the titular character in the final story. A framing device at the start of each episode shows progressively more of an aged Ashenden living in France in the mid-1960s, reacting adversely to a piece of music on the radio. The final episode – which gives the context to this section – closes with a return to this "future" setting.
Contents
Cast
Episodes
- The Dark Woman (17 November 1991)
- The Traitor (24 November 1991)
- Mr Harrington's Washing (1 December 1991)
- The Hairless Mexican (8 December 1991)